Chautauqua County > Jamestown
County: Chautauqua
Population: 28,712
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:
American Red Cross
Allegany County United Way - Wellsville, NY - $13,000 (2023)
American Red Cross
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $38,000 (2022)
American Red Cross
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $5,000 (2022)
Audubon Community Nature Center
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $18,000 (2022)
Audubon Community Nature Center
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $10,000 (2022)
Boys & Girls Club
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $30,000 (2022)
Boys & Girls Club
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $10,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Adult Day Care
United Way of Northern Chautauqua County - Dunkirk, NY - $7,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $100,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $31,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Health Foundation for Western & Central New York - Buffalo, NY - $10,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation - Cortland, NY - $38,750 (2022)
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $250,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation
Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $2,500 (2023)
Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation - Cortland, NY - $100,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $350,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Region Industrial Development
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $120,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet
New York State Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $40,000 (2024)
Chautauqua Striders
First Niagara Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $20,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Striders
First Niagara Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $25,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Striders
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $20,000 (2022)
Chautauqua Striders
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $15,000 (2022)
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System
New York Department of Education - Albany, NY - $797,344 (2023)
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System
New York Department of Education - Albany, NY - $797,344 (2022)
Children's Love Fund
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation - Cortland, NY - $10,092 (2022)
Christ First United Methodist Church
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $35,000 (2022)
City of Jamestown
Federal Emergency Management Agency - Washington, DC - $284,291 (2023)
City of Jamestown
NYS revenue sharing (Aid and Incentives for Municipalities) - Albany, NY - $4,572,280 (2023)
City of Jamestown
U.S. Department of Justice - Washington, DC - $20,694 (2023)
City of Jamestown Police Department
NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services - Albany, NY - $285,400 (2024)
Community Helping Hands
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $30,000 (2022)
Dibert Boys and Girls Club
Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $37,000 (2023)
Dream It Do It
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $101,465 (2022)
Filling the Gap
Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $5,000 (2023)
Friends of Child Advocacy Program
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $3,500 (2022)
Fund for the Arts of Chautauqua County
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $16,000 (2022)
Fund for the Arts of Chautauqua County
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $10,000 (2022)
Impact Campus Fellowship
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $5,000 (2022)
Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $45,926 (2022)
Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
New York State Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $25,000 (2024)
Infinity Visual and Performing Arts
New York State Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $30,000 (2023)
James Prendergast Library
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $5,000 (2022)
Jamestown
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation - New York, NY - $104,377 (2023)
Jamestown
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation - New York, NY - $100,000 (2023)
Jamestown
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $432,555 (2023)
Jamestown
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets - Albany, NY - $423,403 (2023)
Jamestown
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets - Albany, NY - $38,170 (2023)
Jamestown
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets - Albany, NY - $104,737 (2023)
Jamestown
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets - Albany, NY - $308,571 (2023)
Jamestown
Strategic Workforce Development - Albany, NY - $177,590 (2024)
Jamestown
Strategic Workforce Development - Albany, NY - $860,100 (2024)
Jamestown
Strategic Workforce Development - Albany, NY - $362,500 (2024)
Jamestown
Strategic Workforce Development - Albany, NY - $168,950 (2024)
Jamestown Center City Development Corp.
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $1,831,751 (2022)
Jamestown Center City Development Corp.
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $20,000 (2022)
Jamestown Community College
Appalachian Regional Commission - Washington, DC - $105,180 (2022)
Jamestown Community College
Cutco Foundation - Olean, NY - $100,000 (2022)
Jamestown Community College
Cutco Foundation - Olean, NY - $1,000 (2022)
Jamestown Community College
Cutco Foundation - Olean, NY - $2,000 (2022)
Jamestown Community College
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $119,528 (2022)
Jamestown Community Learning Council
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $6,500 (2022)
Jamestown Renaissance
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $471,014 (2022)
Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $10,000 (2022)
Jamestown YMCA
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $117,000 (2022)
Lutheran Social Services
Health Foundation for Western & Central New York - Buffalo, NY - $10,000 (2022)
Mental Health Association
Appalachian Regional Commission - Washington, DC - $500,000 (2022)
National Comedy Center
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $385,244 (2022)
National Comedy Center
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $100,000 (2022)
National Comedy Center
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $1,000 (2022)
National Comedy Center
Regional Economic Development Councils - Albany, NY - $490,000 (2023)
National Comedy Center
Regional Economic Development Councils - Albany, NY - $150,000 (2022)
Prevention Works
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $124,998 (2022)
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $25,000 (2022)
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $52,000 (2022)
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
New York State Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $25,000 (2024)
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts
New York State Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $25,000 (2023)
Resource Center
First Niagara Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $25,000 (2022)
Resource Center
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $95,000 (2022)
Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Corporation for National and Community Service - Washington, DC - $225,000 (2022)
Roger Tory Peterson Institute
New York State Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $25,000 (2024)
Roger Tory Peterson Institute
New York State Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $30,000 (2023)
Rotary Club of Jamestown
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $3,000 (2022)
Salvation Army
United Way of Northern Chautauqua County - Dunkirk, NY - $11,000 (2022)
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Washington, DC - $49,989 (2022)
United Christian Advocacy Network
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $10,000 (2022)
United Way of Southern Chautauqua
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $50,173 (2022)
United Way of Southern Chautauqua
United Way of Northern Chautauqua County - Dunkirk, NY - $6,386 (2022)
United Way of Southern Chautauqua County
Gebbie Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $101,000 (2022)
United Way of Southern Chautauqua County
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $55,000 (2022)
United Way of Southern Chautauqua County
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation - Cortland, NY - $10,000 (2022)
United Way of Southern Chautauqua County
Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $27,500 (2023)
YMCA
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $23,000 (2022)
YMCA
Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $3,000 (2023)
YMCA
Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $5,000 (2023)
YWCA
Health Foundation for Western & Central New York - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2022)
YWCA
Hultquist Foundation - Jamestown, NY - $43,510 (2022)
YWCA
Jessie Smith Darrah Fund - New York, NY - $4,000 (2022)
YWCA
U.S. Department of Justice - Washington, DC - $600,000 (2023)
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