The Buffalo Together Community Response Fund Investment Report: More Than a Plan. A Heartfelt Commitment to Buffalo’s East Side.
By Buffalo Together, Inc.
On May 14, 2022, our community was forever changed when a racially motivated attack claimed the lives of 10 innocent Black individuals on Buffalo’s East Side. This heartbreaking tragedy also left three more wounded and countless others traumatized. In the wake of that dark day, we vowed not only to mourn but to rise in solidarity, fueled by a collective desire for lasting change.
Out of this moment of profound grief, the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund was born. Formed through the collaboration of 14 local funding organizations, with guidance from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, this Fund has since served as a beacon of hope, inspiring action for a more just and inclusive future. Under the direction of the 14 local funders this fund immediately released $655,000 to 86 community based organizations on the East Side who were on the frontlines for healing and recovery. The direction of spending for the remaining portion of the fund was given to a community-led steering committee co-chaired by Thomas Beauford, President and CEO of the Buffalo Urban League, and Dr. Lavonne Ansari, President and CEO of the Community Health Center of Buffalo. The steering committee was charged with creating a long-term, community investment strategy for the East Side.
In the months that followed, the committee conducted a national search, engaging in a rigorous Request for Proposals (RFP) process which led to the selection of Rainbow Research, a Black-led, social justice-focused firm, to guide the strategy. The firm’s work included engaging with local stakeholders to identify key priorities for East Side revitalization. The process included the Steering Committee embarking upon on a deep and transformative learning journey to understand and confront the systemic issues—especially structural oppression— which contributed to the tragedy. “Our mission has always been more than a response; it is a commitment to dismantling the very systems that have oppressed and disinvested entire communities, especially on Buffalo’s East Side,” said Thomas Beauford, Co-Chair of Buffalo Together. “This journey has focused on crafting sustainable, impactful strategies that will drive long-term transformation and truly elevate the community.”
Today, we share the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund Investment Report, a bold blueprint for the future, one that commits to healing, rebuilding, and empowering the East Side community. The Community Investment Report outlines an ambitious set of recommendations to foster long-term, meaningful change with the following priorities identified:
Buffalo Together HUB: A Coordinating and Advocacy Entity
Establish a Long-Term Fundraising that includes Creating an Investment for East Side Community Projects
Advocate for Policies, Practices, and Legislation that Ensure Development without Displacement for East Side Residents
Expand Food Access - Innovative Housing Strategy
Pilot Private Equity Strategy - Buffalo Together Community Dividend
Buffalo Together Community Land Trust - Impact Investing
“We know that the road ahead will not be easy. But this strategy is not just a roadmap—it is a heartfelt commitment to Buffalo’s East Side, to our collective future, and to future generations,” said Dr. LaVonne Ansari, Co-Chair of Buffalo Together. “In response to the May 14, 2022, massacre, we are not just dreaming of a better Buffalo; we are making it a reality.” On February 26, 2025, Buffalo Together released the report to the community at Elim Christian Fellowship. The community meeting provided an opportunity for Buffalo Together to discuss the priorities, answer questions and announce a request for proposals which is open for nonprofits with 501c3 status to apply for funding up to $25,000. The RFP can be found at www.buffalotogetherfund.org. For a deeper look at the Buffalo Together Community Investment Report and the next steps in this vital mission, please visit BuffaloTogetherFund.org.