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:
GRANT KEY:
Arabian English Performance Association
Richard J and Georgiann L Ames Family Foundation - Jordan, MN - $25,000 (2024)
Aurora Players
Citizens Charitable Foundation - Johnston, RI - $1,000 (2024)
Aurora Players
Scott Bieler Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $64,019 (2024)
Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora
Buffalo Bills Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $1,747 (2024)
Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora
J&S Laidig Family Foundation Inc 3717 - Mishawaka, IN - $1,000 (2024)
Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora
Tower Family Fund - Buffalo, NY - $10,000 (2024)
Boys and Girls Club of East Aurora
NYS Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program - Albany, NY - $141,099 (2024)
Boys and Girls Club of East Aurora
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $10,000 (2024)
Boys and Girls Club of East Aurora
Scott Bieler Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $50,000 (2024)
Carbonfund.org Foundation
JP Morgan Chase Foundation - New York, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Carbonfund.org Foundation
JP Morgan Chase Foundation - New York, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Buffalo Bills Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $93,564 (2024)
Cornell Cooperative Extension
John R. Oishei Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $10,000 (2024)
Cornell Cooperative Extension
John R. Oishei Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $6,000 (2024)
East Aurora Police Department
NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services - Albany, NY - $44,234 (2024)
Elma Historical Society
Elsie P & Lucius B McCowan Private Foundation - Elma, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Elma Historical Society
Elsie P & Lucius B McCowan Private Foundation - Elma, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Environment Next
Shell Usa Company Foundation - Houston, TX - $1,688 (2024)
Fish of East Aurora
John R. Oishei Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2024)
Fish of East Aurora
Robert J. and Martha B. Fierle Foundation - Williamsville, NY - $5,000 (2024)
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
Cravens Foundation - Brooklyn, NY - $50,000 (2024)
Girls Education Collaborative
Crescent Porter Hale Foundation - San Francisco, CA - $5,000 (2024)
Girls Education Collaborative
J&S Laidig Family Foundation Inc 3717 - Mishawaka, IN - $1,000 (2024)
Iroquois Youth Sportsmans Club
Elsie P & Lucius B McCowan Private Foundation - Elma, NY - $10,000 (2024)
Iroquois Youth Sportsmans Club
Elsie P & Lucius B McCowan Private Foundation - Elma, NY - $10,000 (2024)
Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center
Carner Family Trust - East Aurora, NY - $180,000 (2024)
Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center
Marjorie and John Buyers Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $6,000 (2024)
Nativity Lutheran Church
Carner Family Trust - East Aurora, NY - $10,000 (2024)
Pet Connection Programs
Jason Debus Heigl Foundation - Burbank, CA - $1,000 (2024)
Roycroft Campus
NYS Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $25,000 (2026)
Roycroft Campus
NYS Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $40,000 (2024)
Roycroft Campus
Western New York Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $40,000 (2024)
Roycroft Chamber Music Festival
Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2024)
Roycrofters-at-Large Association
Cullen Foundation of Western New York - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Baird Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $7,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Children's Foundation of Erie County - Kenmore, NY - $7,500 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Chur Family Foundation - Williamsville, NY - $40,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Chur Family Foundation - Williamsville, NY - $40,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Cullen Foundation of Western New York - Buffalo, NY - $30,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
East Hill Foundation - North Tonawanda, NY - $16,920 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Health Foundation for Central and Western NY - Buffalo, NY - $5,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
John R. Oishei Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $15,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
John R. Oishei Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $30,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
John R. Oishei Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $15,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation - New York, NY - $190,197 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Odd Fellow & Rebekah Benefit Fund - Lockport, NY - $50,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust - Buffalo, NY - $3,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation - Getzville, NY - $30,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $100,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Robert J. and Martha B. Fierle Foundation - Williamsville, NY - $30,000 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
Scott Bieler Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $8,318 (2024)
Rural Outreach Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $125,000 (2024)
St. Matthias Episcopal Church
Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust - Buffalo, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Western New York Land Conservancy
East Hill Foundation - North Tonawanda, NY - $47,500 (2024)
Western New York Land Conservancy
East Hill Foundation - North Tonawanda, NY - $80,000 (2024)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Empire State Development - Albany, NY - $1,120,387 (2025)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Margaret L. Wendt Foundation - Buffalo, NY - $26,000 (2024)
Western New York Land Conservancy
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $44,583 (2025)
Western New York Land Conservancy
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $32,000 (2024)
Western New York Land Conservancy
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $1,120,387 (2024)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation - Getzville, NY - $3,000 (2024)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation - Detroit, MI - $140,690 (2024)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Regional Economic Development Councils - Albany, NY - $675,000 (2025)
Western New York Land Conservancy
Scott Bieler Foundation - Orchard Park, NY - $202,695 (2024)
Western New York Land Conservancy
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Washington, DC - $169,459 (2024)
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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