Chautauqua County > Jamestown

County: Chautauqua

Population: 28,712


One tradition says the community was named after its founder, James Prendergast; another says it was named for Jamestown, VA.


More than three decades after her death, the city’s most famous native is still helping her hometown. Comedian and actress Lucille Ball was born here in 1911. Jamestown’s community theatre is named for her, and the National Comedy Center encompasses the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum.

Another former resident who keeps on giving is artist-naturalist Roger Tory Peterson, who died in 1996. The Roger Tory Peterson Institute, which preserves his work, is a regular recipient of foundation support.

The Gebbie Foundation is a major local funder, focusing its grants on downtown revitalization. The foundation was started in 1964 by daughters of Frank Gebbie,  founder of the Mohawk Condensed Milk Company.


School districts: Jamestown City School District
Libraries: James Prendergast Library Association

Hospitals: Womans Christian Association Hospital

Emergency services: Chautauqua County Ambulance Service, Jamestown Fire Department

Fraternal organizations: American Legion, Elks, Lions, Masons, Moose, VFW, Zonta

Not-for-profit cemeteries: Conewango Cemetery, Greenwood Cemetery, Lakeview Cemetery, Levant Cemetery, Maple Grove Cemetery

Change agents:

Grants to local organizations have funded urban renewal, theater improvements, food security, ice center improvements, and other initiatives.


Recent grants:
GRANT KEY:


A Children's Place
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $5,000  (2024)

American Red Cross
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $25,000  (2024)

American Red Cross
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $6,500  (2024)

Audubon Community Nature Center
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $12,000  (2024)

Audubon Community Nature Center
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $10,000  (2024)

Audubon Community Nature Center
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $10,000  (2024)

Boys & Girls Club
  David P Brody Charitable Trust  -  Tacoma, WA  -  $17,000  (2024)

Boys & Girls Club
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $40,000  (2024)

Boys & Girls Club
  NYS Dormitory Authority  -  Albany, NY  -  $260,000  (2025)

Boys & Girls Club
  R R & Clara J Gould Foundation  -  Milwaukee, WI  -  $1,440  (2024)

Boys & Girls Club
  Wright Lucile Miller Trust  -  Wilmington, DE  -  $106,698  (2024)

Busti Historical Society
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $17,310  (2024)

Chautaugua County Community Cultural Educational and Philanthropic Fund
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $112,000  (2024)

Chautauqua County Blind Association
  William B. & Juliet J. Anderson Rosch Charitable Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $16,387  (2024)

Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce
  Western New York Foundation  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $7,500  (2024)

Chautauqua County Humane Society
  Ruth Gutekunst Trust  -  Pennington, NJ  -  $14,795  (2024)

Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District
  NYS Department of Environmental Conservation  -  Albany, NY  -  $20,000  (2025)

Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District
  NYS Department of Environmental Conservation  -  Albany, NY  -  $143,680  (2024)

Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District
  NYS Department of Environmental Conservation  -  Albany, NY  -  $573,540  (2024)

Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $50,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $31,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
  Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation  -  Detroit, MI  -  $100,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
  Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation  -  Detroit, MI  -  $500,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
  Wake Family Charitable Foundation  -  Pennington, NJ  -  $30,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
  William B. & Juliet J. Anderson Rosch Charitable Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $10,913  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
  Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $2,710,126  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $80,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $5,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation
  Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation  -  Detroit, MI  -  $125,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation
  Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation  -  Detroit, MI  -  $100,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation
  Regional Economic Development Councils  -  Albany, NY  -  $180,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet
  NYS Council on the Arts  -  New York, NY  -  $25,000  (2026)

Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet
  NYS Council on the Arts  -  New York, NY  -  $40,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Striders
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $23,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Striders
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $15,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Striders
  Mother Cabrini Health Foundation  -  New York, NY  -  $110,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy
  Blanchard Family Foundation  -  Chadds Ford, PA  -  $2,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy
  Crittenden Foundation  -  Nashville, TN  -  $1,000  (2024)

Chautauqua Works
  Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation  -  Detroit, MI  -  $130,000  (2024)

Child Advocacy Program
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $15,000  (2024)

Christ First United Methodist Church
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $30,000  (2024)

Christian Radio for Russia
  Burke Family Charitable Foundation  -  Wilmington, DE  -  $2,000  (2024)

Christian Radio for Russia
  Duim Family Foundation  -  Issaquah, WA  -  $80,000  (2024)

Citizens Opportunity for Development & Equality
  NYS Homes and Community Renewal  -  Albany, NY  -  $75,000  (2024)

Citizens Opportunity for Development & Equality
  NYS Homes and Community Renewal  -  Albany, NY  -  $75,000  (2024)

City of Jamestown
  Community Development Block Grant  -  Albany, NY  -  $922,300  (2025)

City of Jamestown
  Consumer Product Safety Commission  -  Washington, DC  -  $176,297  (2024)

City of Jamestown
  Pro-Housing Community Program  -  Albany, NY  -  $250,000  (2026)

City of Jamestown
  Regional Economic Development Councils  -  Albany, NY  -  $60,000  (2025)

City of Jamestown
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  -  Washington, DC  -  $187,672  (2024)

City of Jamestown
  U.S. Department of Homeland Security  -  Washington, DC  -  $330,270  (2024)

City of Jamestown
  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  -  Washington, DC  -  $1,390  (2025)

City of Jamestown
  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  -  Washington, DC  -  $297,243  (2024)

City of Jamestown
  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  -  Washington, DC  -  $1,104,668  (2024)

City of Jamestown
  U.S. Department of Justice  -  Washington, DC  -  $16,754  (2025)

City of Jamestown
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  -  Washington, DC  -  $982,633  (2024)

Conduit Ministry
  Riecker Charitable Foundation  -  Wilmington, DE  -  $3,000  (2024)

Cornell Cooperative Extension
  Buffalo Bills Foundation  -  Orchard Park, NY  -  $5,000  (2024)

Cornell Cooperative Extension
  Western New York Foundation  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $5,000  (2024)

Cornell Cooperative Extension
  Western New York Foundation  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $52,500  (2024)

Diamond Dawgs Travel Baseball
  Riecker Charitable Foundation  -  Wilmington, DE  -  $1,000  (2024)

Dibert Boys and Girls Club
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $13,000  (2024)

Dibert Boys and Girls Club
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $12,500  (2024)

Dream It Do It
  Grigg-Lewis Foundation  -  Lockport, NY  -  $25,000  (2024)

Dream It Do It
  Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation  -  Detroit, MI  -  $150,000  (2024)

Family Service of the Chautauqua Region
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $14,319  (2024)

Family Service of the Chautauqua Region
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $8,200  (2024)

Family Service of the Chautauqua Region
  R R & Clara J Gould Foundation  -  Milwaukee, WI  -  $1,060  (2024)

Fenton Historical Society
  Tw George C Fowler-Charitable Tr  -  Norwich, NY  -  $1,160  (2024)

Filling the Gap
  Equitable Foundation  -  New York, NY  -  $1,400  (2024)

First Covenant Church
  William B. & Juliet J. Anderson Rosch Charitable Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $10,688  (2024)

First Lutheran Church
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $5,000  (2024)

First Lutheran Church
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $7,500  (2024)

Friends of the Chautauqua County Child Advocacy Program
  NYS Office of Victim Services  -  Albany, NY  -  $253,011  (2025)

Friends of the Chautauqua County Child Advocacy Program
  Regional Economic Development Councils  -  Albany, NY  -  $33,728  (2024)

Fund for the Arts of Chautauqua County
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $6,000  (2024)

Fund for the Arts of Chautauqua County
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $17,000  (2024)

Fund for the Arts of Chautauqua County
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $13,500  (2024)

Grow Jamestown
  David P Brody Charitable Trust  -  Tacoma, WA  -  $10,000  (2024)

Impact Campus Fellowship
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $5,000  (2024)

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
  Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust  -  West Palm Beach, FL  -  $10,000  (2024)

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $20,952  (2024)

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $20,000  (2024)

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $56,480  (2024)

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
  NYS Council on the Arts  -  New York, NY  -  $49,500  (2026)

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
  NYS Council on the Arts  -  New York, NY  -  $25,000  (2024)

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
  Western New York Foundation  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $30,000  (2024)

Italian American Charity Golf Association
  Equitable Foundation  -  New York, NY  -  $1,700  (2024)

Italian-American Charity Golf Assoc
  Dan and Terese Heintzelman Family Fnd  -  Winchester, MA  -  $2,500  (2024)

James Prendergast Library
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $19,000  (2024)

James Prendergast Library
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $20,000  (2024)

Jamestown Center City Development Corp.
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $2,181,036  (2024)

Jamestown Center City Development Corp.
  Regional Economic Development Councils  -  Albany, NY  -  $450,000  (2024)

Jamestown Center City Development Corp.
  Riecker Charitable Foundation  -  Wilmington, DE  -  $5,000  (2024)

Jamestown Community College
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $10,000  (2024)

Jamestown Community College
  Moulton Harold E Scholarship Fund 18362340  -  Ithaca, NY  -  $3,000  (2024)

Jamestown Community College
  Moulton Harold E Scholarship Fund 18362340  -  Ithaca, NY  -  $3,000  (2024)

Jamestown Community College
  Regional Economic Development Councils  -  Albany, NY  -  $3,000,000  (2024)

Jamestown Community College
  Strategic Workforce Development  -  Albany, NY  -  $177,590  (2024)

Jamestown Community College
  Strategic Workforce Development  -  Albany, NY  -  $860,100  (2024)

Jamestown Community College
  Strategic Workforce Development  -  Albany, NY  -  $362,500  (2024)

Jamestown Community College
  Strategic Workforce Development  -  Albany, NY  -  $168,950  (2024)

Jamestown Community College
  U.S. Department of Education  -  Washington, DC  -  $119,764  (2024)

Jamestown Community College Foundation
  JP Morgan Chase Foundation  -  New York, NY  -  $2,000  (2024)

Jamestown Community College Foundation
  JP Morgan Chase Foundation  -  New York, NY  -  $2,000  (2024)

Jamestown Community College Foundation
  Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation  -  Detroit, MI  -  $950,000  (2024)

Jamestown Community Learning Council
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $10,000  (2024)

Jamestown Community Learning Council
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $6,500  (2024)

Jamestown Community Learning Council
  Mother Cabrini Health Foundation  -  New York, NY  -  $250,000  (2024)

Jamestown Farmers Market
  Western New York Foundation  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $10,000  (2024)

Jamestown Farmers Market
  Western New York Foundation  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $8,000  (2024)

Jamestown Farmers Market
  Western New York Foundation  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $10,000  (2024)

Jamestown Fire Department
  Edgerley Family Foundation  -  Overland Park, KS  -  $7,000  (2024)

Jamestown Pendergast Library
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $15,000  (2024)

Jamestown Police Department
  NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services  -  Albany, NY  -  $285,400  (2024)

Jamestown Renaissance
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $114,250  (2024)

Jamestown Renaissance
  Preservation League of New York State  -  Albany, NY  -  $20,000  (2024)

Jamestown YMCA
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $23,500  (2024)

Jamestown YMCA
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $37,420  (2024)

Jamestown YMCA
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $31,000  (2024)

Jamestown YMCA
  R R & Clara J Gould Foundation  -  Milwaukee, WI  -  $5,175  (2024)

Love Elementary School
  Riecker Charitable Foundation  -  Wilmington, DE  -  $10,000  (2024)

Lucile M. Wright Air Museum
  R R & Clara J Gould Foundation  -  Milwaukee, WI  -  $1,000  (2024)

Lucy Desi Museum
  Emanuel Bachmann Foundation  -  Los Angeles, CA  -  $1,250  (2024)

Lutheran Social Services
  Corporation for National and Community Service  -  Washington, DC  -  $75,000  (2025)

Lutheran Social Services
  Corporation for National and Community Service  -  Washington, DC  -  $77,500  (2024)

Lutheran Social Services
  Edwardson Family Foundation  -  Boca Grande, FL  -  $200,000  (2024)

Lutheran Social Services
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $150,000  (2024)

Lutheran Social Services
  Tw M Hultquist Fbo Eo Hultquist Inf  -  New York, NY  -  $57,389  (2024)

Lutheran Social Services
  Tw M Hultquist Fbo Eo Hultquist Inf  -  New York, NY  -  $57,389  (2024)

Lutheran Social Services
  William B. & Juliet J. Anderson Rosch Charitable Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $210,000  (2024)

Mental Health Association
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $65,000  (2024)

National Comedy Center
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $400,075  (2024)

National Comedy Center
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $25,000  (2024)

National Comedy Center
  NYS Council on the Arts  -  New York, NY  -  $25,000  (2026)

National Comedy Center
  Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation  -  Detroit, MI  -  $100,000  (2024)

National Comedy Center
  Regional Economic Development Councils  -  Albany, NY  -  $550,000  (2025)

National Comedy Center Operator
  National Endowment for the Humanities  -  Washington, DC  -  $10,000  (2024)

Prevention Works
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  -  Washington, DC  -  $125,000  (2024)

Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation
  Isabella M Sheldon Trust  -  Chicago, IL  -  $1,743,351  (2024)

Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $75,000  (2024)

Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
  NYS Council on the Arts  -  New York, NY  -  $25,000  (2026)

Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
  NYS Council on the Arts  -  New York, NY  -  $25,000  (2024)

Resource Center
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $60,000  (2024)

Robert H. Jackson Center
  Bruce & Susan Neckers Foundation  -  Grand Rapids, MI  -  $5,000  (2024)

Robert H. Jackson Center
  Crittenden Foundation  -  Nashville, TN  -  $2,000  (2024)

Robert H. Jackson Center
  David P Brody Charitable Trust  -  Tacoma, WA  -  $35,000  (2024)

Robert H. Jackson Center
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $25,000  (2024)

Robert H. Jackson Center
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $15,000  (2024)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation  -  San Francisco, CA  -  $10,000  (2024)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $50,000  (2024)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $7,500  (2024)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  Institute of Museum and Library Services  -  Washington, DC  -  $20,374  (2024)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $5,000  (2024)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  National Endowment for the Humanities  -  Washington, DC  -  $9,474  (2024)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  NYS Council on the Arts  -  New York, NY  -  $49,500  (2026)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  NYS Council on the Arts  -  New York, NY  -  $25,000  (2024)

Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  Wolf Creek Charitable Foundation  -  West Conshohocken, PA  -  $5,000  (2024)

Salvation Army
  NYS Office of Victim Services  -  Albany, NY  -  $181,352  (2025)

Salvation Army
  William B. & Juliet J. Anderson Rosch Charitable Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $7,125  (2024)

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
  Empire State Development  -  Albany, NY  -  $500,000  (2025)

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
  Kate Ashwall Trust - St. Luke  -  Norwich, NY  -  $2,554  (2024)

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
  Norton L Peck and Barbara B Peck Family Foundation  -  Tualatin, OR  -  $3,500  (2024)

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
  NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets  -  Albany, NY  -  $49,950  (2025)

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
  R R & Clara J Gould Foundation  -  Milwaukee, WI  -  $1,270  (2024)

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
  Regional Economic Development Councils  -  Albany, NY  -  $500,000  (2024)

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
  U.S. Department of Agriculture  -  Washington, DC  -  $250,000  (2025)

St. Susan Center
  Buffalo Bills Foundation  -  Orchard Park, NY  -  $39,520  (2024)

St. Susan Center
  David P Brody Charitable Trust  -  Tacoma, WA  -  $40,000  (2024)

St. Susan Center
  Empire State Development  -  Albany, NY  -  $100,000  (2025)

St. Susan Center
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $15,000  (2024)

St. Susan Center
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $50,000  (2024)

St. Susan Center
  Regional Economic Development Councils  -  Albany, NY  -  $100,000  (2024)

St. Susan Center
  Western New York Foundation  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $2,500  (2024)

United Christian Advocacy Network
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $5,000  (2024)

United Christian Advocacy Network
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $15,000  (2024)

United Way of Southern Chautauqua County
  Gebbie Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $101,000  (2024)

United Way of Southern Chautauqua County
  Highmark Foundation  -  Pittsburgh, PA  -  $2,000  (2024)

United Way of Southern Chautauqua County
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $60,000  (2024)

United Way of Southern Chautauqua County
  Jessie Smith Darrah Fund  -  New York, NY  -  $40,000  (2024)

UPMC Chautauqua WCA
  Appalachian Regional Commission  -  Washington, DC  -  $458,705  (2024)

UPMC Chautauqua WCA
  Health Foundation for Central and Western NY  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $10,000  (2024)

UPMC Chautauqua WCA
  Kate Ashwell Trust fbo WCA  -  Norwich, NY  -  $6,520  (2024)

YWCA
  Holmberg Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $12,000  (2024)

YWCA
  Hultquist Foundation  -  Jamestown, NY  -  $25,000  (2024)

YWCA
  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  -  Washington, DC  -  $162,820  (2025)

YWCA
  Western New York Foundation  -  Buffalo, NY  -  $5,000  (2024)


Largest nonprofits in Jamestown (by assets) include:

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Gebbie Foundation
Nysarc
Reginald A and Elizabeth S Lenna Foundation
Jamestown Community College Foundation
National Comedy Center Operator
Jamestown Center City Development Corporation
National Comedy Center
Southern Tier Building Trades Welfare Plan
Lutheran Social Services Foundation of Upstate New York
WCA Foundation
Hultquist Foundation
Ralph C Sheldon Foundation
James Prendergast Library Association
Carnahan-Jackson Foundation
Chautauqua Resources
Waterfront Foundation
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
IBEW Health and Welfare Benefit Trust Fund – Local Union 106
William B Anderson and Juliet J Anderson Rosch Charitable
Young Mens Christian Association Jamestown
Lake View Cemetery Association
Holmberg Foundation
Robert H Jackson Center
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers