DETROIT – Two local nonprofits are among the 15 receiving philanthropy fellowships thanks to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

The foundation, created with funds from the sale of the Buffalo Bills, reported $2.9 million for fellowships in Western New York and southeastern Michigan.

Allegany County Area Foundation received aid for Alyssa Bump in communications to enter the program, while the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation received aid for Christian Riethmiller in data and learning, to participate. Joining in the effort, the Michigan-based Herrick Foundation has also provided support for three Herrick Foundation Philanthropy Fellows in additional communities it serves.

Foundation officials said that many rural community foundations operate with lean staffing structures and limited access to specialized expertise. By investing directly in additional leadership capacity, this program addresses those constraints and enables foundations to respond more effectively to emerging community needs and opportunities.

“Our community foundation partners bring unmatched local knowledge and a deep understanding of the most pressing needs and emerging opportunities within the communities they serve,” said Maura Dewan, vice president of programs at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “By investing in their organizational capacity, and in the next generation of philanthropic leaders, we are helping ensure they can act quickly, innovate locally, and advance community-driven solutions that create lasting impact.”

Reflecting the needs of the communities they serve, each community foundation determined the strategic priority for their fellowship position and led the recruitment and hiring process directly within their organization. The variety of fellowship focuses include communications, public policy engagement, data and learning, impact investing and community engagement. By embedding this functional expertise locally, the program strengthens each foundation’s ability to advance strategic priorities while building long-term institutional resilience.