Erie County > East Aurora
East Aurora is a popular tourist destination in Western New York, primarily because of the Roycroft Campus, a preserved complex devoted to the Arts & Crafts Movement. (A popular side trip for visitors is Vidlers 5 & 10 Store on Main Street, an eclectic mix of housewares, toys, foods and the unexpected.)
Upstate geographic quirk: East Aurora is a two-hour drive west of Aurora, NY, which is on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake.
School districts: East Aurora Union Free School District
Libraries: Aurora Town Public Library, East Aurora Library
Emergency services: East Aurora Fire Department
Fraternal organizations: American Legion, Lions, Masons, Moose, VFW
State parks: Knox Farm State Park
Not-for-profit cemeteries: Evergreen Cemetery, Maple Rest Cemetery, Oakwood Cemetery, Wales Cemetery
2020 Paycheck Protection Program: Loans to nonprofits in Erie County

Change agents:
Grants to local organizations have funded renovation of the Knox Estate Mansion, trail design, forest protection, and other initiatives.
Recent grants:

Arabian English Performance Association
Richard J and Georgiann L Ames Family - Jordan, MN - $25,000 (2023)
Aurora Adult Day Care Services
Buffalo Rehab Group Foundation - Tonawanda, NY - $2,000 (2023)
Aurora Historical Society
Linton Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $20,000 (2023)
Aurora Players
Ferguson Stillman Charitable Fund - Clarence, NY - $1,500 (2023)
Baker Memorial Methodist Church
Linton Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $10,000 (2023)
Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora
Catt Family Foundation - Bella Vista, AR - $1,000 (2023)
Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora
Forst Foundation - Fort Washington, PA - $5,000 (2023)
Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora
J&S Laidig Family Foundation - Mishawaka, IN - $1,000 (2023)
Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora
J&S Laidig Family Foundation Inc 3717 - Mishawaka, IN - $1,000 (2024)
Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora
Linton Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $10,000 (2023)
Boys and Girls Club of East Aurora
NYS Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program - Albany, NY - $141,099 (2024)
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Buffalo Bills Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $90,747 (2023)
Cornell Cooperative Extension
John R. Oishei Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $6,000 (2023)
East Aurora
New York State Land Trust Alliance - Albany, NY - $50,000 (2023)
East Aurora
New York State Land Trust Alliance - Albany, NY - $100,000 (2023)
East Aurora
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $32,000 (2024)
East Aurora
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $75,000 (2023)
East Aurora Farmers Market
Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation - Getzville, NY - $1,000 (2023)
East Aurora High School PTO
Buffalo Bills Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $1,243 (2023)
East Aurora Police Department
NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services - Albany, NY - $44,234 (2024)
East Aurora Public Library
J&S Laidig Family Foundation - Mishawaka, IN - $1,000 (2023)
East Aurora Union Free School District
New York State Office of Mental Health - Albany, NY - $25,000 (2023)
Environment Next
Quail Roost Foundation - Radnor, PA - $1,000 (2023)
Environment Next
Shell USA Company Foundation - Houston, TX - $2,496 (2023)
Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District
International Paper Company Foundation - Memphis, TN - $1,280 (2023)
Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District
Melinda Gray Ardia Environmental - East Amherst, NY - $2,000 (2023)
Fish of East Aurora
John R. Oishei Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2023)
Flag Bio
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - Seattle, WA - $500,000 (2023)
Friends of Knox Farm State Park
NYS Environmental Protection Fund - Albany, NY - $35,000 (2024)
Friends of Knox Farm State Park
NYS Park and Trail Partnership Grant - Albany, NY - $35,000 (2024)
Girls Education Collaborative
Bank of America Charitable Foundation - Charlotte, NC - $1,000 (2023)
Girls Education Collaborative
Crescent Porter Hale Foundation - San Francisco, CA - $8,000 (2023)
Girls Education Collaborative
Edwin M. Johnston Jr. Family Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $10,000 (2023)
Girls Education Collaborative
J&S Laidig Family Foundation - Mishawaka, IN - $1,000 (2023)
Girls Education Collaborative
J&S Laidig Family Foundation Inc 3717 - Mishawaka, IN - $1,000 (2024)
Girls Education Collaborative
Rockefeller Foundation - New York, NY - $3,000 (2023)
Hawk Creek Wildlife Center
Amazonsmile Foundation - Seattle, WA - $1,045 (2023)
Iroquois Youth Sportsmans Club
Elsie P & Lucius B McCowan Private Foundation - Elma, NY - $10,000 (2023)
Iroquois Youth Sportsmans Club
Elsie P & Lucius B McCowan Private Foundation - Elma, NY - $10,000 (2023)
Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center
Clement and Karen Arrison Family Charitable Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $3,000 (2023)
Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center
Ferguson Electric Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $2,500 (2023)
Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center
Marjorie and John Buyers Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $5,000 (2023)
Roycroft Campus
Linton Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $10,000 (2023)
Roycroft Campus
New York State Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $40,000 (2024)
Roycroft Campus
New York State Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $25,000 (2023)
Roycroft Campus
Western New York Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $1,000 (2023)
Roycroft Chamber Music Festival
Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2023)
Roycrofters-at-Large Association
Cullen Foundation of Western New York - Buffalo, NY - $7,500 (2023)
Roycrofters-at-Large Association
Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust - Buffalo, NY - $3,000 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Baird Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Buffalo Bills Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $4,904 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Children's Foundation of Erie County - Kenmore, NY - $7,500 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Cullen Foundation of Western New York - Buffalo, NY - $30,000 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Cutco Foundation - Olean, NY - $2,500 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
East Hill Foundation - North Tonawanda, NY - $16,350 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Foundation 214 - Williamsville, NY - $5,000 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Frank G. Raichle Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
James H. Cummings Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $50,000 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
John R. Oishei Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $30,000 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust - Buffalo, NY - $3,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $250,000 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $2,500 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Scott Bieler Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $505,000 (2023)
Rural Outreach Center
Western New York Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $20,350 (2023)
St. Matthias Episcopal Church
Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust - Buffalo, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Town of Aurora
Linton Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $4,925 (2023)
Unitarian Universalist Church
Moglia Family Foundation - Bellevue, NE - $20,000 (2023)
Universal Possibilities
Paul J. Koessler Foundation - Williamsville, NY - $25,000 (2023)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Earl C. Hull Charitable Trust - New York, NY - $2,876 (2023)
Western New York Land Conservancy
East Hill Foundation - North Tonawanda, NY - $80,000 (2023)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Empire State Development - Albany, NY - $1,120,387 (2025)
Western New York Land Conservancy
George and Marjorie Mansius Charitable Foundation - Greensboro, NC - $43,200 (2023)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $300,000 (2023)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Red Top Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $2,500 (2023)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Scott Bieler Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $122,784 (2023)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Western New York Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2023)
Largest nonprofits in East Aurora (by assets) include:
Environment Next
W H Greene Foundation
Crag Burn Golf Club
East Aurora Educational Foundation
Roycroft Campus Corporation
Rural Outreach Center
Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora
East Aurora Country Club
Carner Family Trust
Aurora Ice Association
Hawk Creek Wildlife Center
NBC Family Charitable Foundation
Title Insurance Rate Service Association
Arabian English Performance Association
East Aurora Lodge No 370 Loyal Order of Moose
East Aurora Community Nursery
Aurora Historical Society
Robert D Flickinger Foundation
East Aurora Volunteer Fire Department
Mandala School
Aurora Players Inc Hamlin Park
Friends of Knox Farm State Park
Eternal Choice of Love
American Legion
Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center
Saved by Grace Ministry
Harvard Business School Club of Buffalo
Girls Education Collaborative
Fish of East Aurora
Praxiis Foundation
Aurora Adult Daycare Center
Vaika
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