Program offers communications expertise to help accelerate nonprofit impact and influence narrative change
(Buffalo, NY) Ten nonprofit organizations have been selected from a field of more than 40 applicants to participate in StoryGrowing WNY in 2026. This is the fifth cohort of the program, a communications capacity-building effort presented by the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York and The John R. Oishei Foundation.
The program offers six months of in-person, in-depth workshops focusing on communications skills that can support a nonprofit organization’s growth, help them reach their mission, and equip them to advocate for systems-level issues and narrative change. In reflection of ongoing threats and capacity strain faced by many nonprofits due to shifts in federal funding and related changes, the program has been enhanced to ensure the curriculum reflects those urgent and long-term needs.
The selected teams are:
- Buffalo Juneteenth
- Cooperation Buffalo, Inc.
- Dumas R.I.S.E. Providers, Inc.
- Family Promise of Western New York
- Karen Society of Buffalo
- King Urban Life Center
- Leadership Buffalo
- Matt Urban Human Services
- Peaceprints of WNY
- Voice Buffalo
The free program offers teaching, coaching, and mentoring and will help organizations influence positive change in the community by building their internal capacity in advocacy, organizational identity, in-person storytelling, digital media, crisis communications, and more.
In addition to the workshops, each team is assigned a team advisor who are communications experts to guide them through the program. Teams also can take advantage of additional coaching hours from the workshop instructors.
After an open application process, the cohort was selected based on their communications needs and current resources, their community impact, and their commitment to using storytelling as a tool for change.
“Nonprofit organizations hold our community together, but they are facing significant challenges in capacity, funding, and long-term sustainability due to the abrupt changes we’ve witnessed this year,” said Nora Suric, PhD, President, Health Foundation for Western & Central New York. “It’s a privilege to once again partner with The John R. Oishei Foundation to provide this capacity-building effort and to support these organizations as they continue to have an incredible impact on the people of western New York.”
“StoryGrowing reflects the power of narrative to strengthen not just communications, but the long-term infrastructure that enables organizations to lead transformative work,” said Christina Orsi, President of the Oishei Foundation. “It aligns with our commitment to organizational power-building—investing in the staffing, systems, and structures strong nonprofits need to scale and sustain community-driven solutions. We’re proud to support this year’s StoryGrowing cohort and all they’re doing to shape a stronger, more connected Western New York.
Learn more at www.storygrowingwny.org.
