The John R. Oishei Foundation

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The John R. Oishei Foundation

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We work with communities to change systems and build financial prosperity for a racially just region John R. Mr. and Estelle L. Oishei's son, R.

Oishei's role in the development of the automobile windshield wiper was the result of a harrowing accident in 1916. Oishei was driving along Delaware Avenue near Virginia Street in downtown Buffalo in a rainstorm when a bicyclist ran into the National Roadster he was driving at the time. Oishei never saw him coming, and although the cyclist was not seriously injured, Oishei vowed to never let that happen again. He sought out the best technology available at the time to create the first automobile wiper blades and grew the idea from a storefront cottage industry to world-wide patented acclaim. 1917, John R. Oishei founded Trico Products Corporation (headquartered in Buffalo), which eventually became one of the world's leading manufacturers of automotive windshield wiping equipment. Oishei established the Foundation, formerly known as the Julia R. Foundation, in 1940; thereafter he funded it with annual contributions and with charitable remainder trusts. The principal assets of the Foundation also include the assets of the estates of Mr. John Oishei and his wife Jean, and his daughter, Patricia Oishei Colby. Oishei served as President of the Foundation from its founding until his death in 1968. Under his leadership, the Foundation concentrated its support to hospitals and schools in the Buffalo area with the balance being directed to cultural and social services needs. Until 1997, all Foundation contributions were made on an anonymous basis. This was consistent with the procedures Mr. Oishei followed with regard to the substantial charitable gifts he personally made during his lifetime. His penchant for total anonymity was driven by his strong sense of modesty and of equally strong belief that anonymity allowed him to make his philanthropic decisions with greater objectivity. Oishei was devoted to the Buffalo community. It was there that he built Trico into the city's largest private employer. His appreciation of Buffalo and its citizens, particularly those who became employees of Trico, was the basis of his strong desire that the work of the Foundation be directed to Buffalo-connected activities.

09/22/2026

The Power & Possibilities Summit brings together leaders from Buffalo's East Side for a day of shared learning, meaningful connection, collective action, and personal restoration.

Bring what you know, what you've experienced, and what you're imagining for your organization and your community.

The event is free, and space is limited. Learn more and express your interest today: https://oishei.org/events/event:power-and-possibilities-summit-2026/

09/08/2026

The stories we tell—and who gets to tell them—matter.

Through StoryGrowing WNY, nonprofit organizations build the skills and confidence to tell their own stories, elevate the experiences of the communities they work alongside, and use communications as a tool for advocacy and change.

We’re proud to partner once again with the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York to support StoryGrowing, beginning with a free kickoff this October.

09/01/2026

We're excited to welcome Shatorah Roberson as our new Vice President of Strategic Communications & Advocacy.

Shatorah brings deep experience in civil rights advocacy, public policy, coalition building, and economic development, as well as a personal connection to this work as a Buffalo native.

We're thrilled to welcome her to the Oishei team!

Learn more about Shatorah and this newly-created role: https://oishei.org/news/article:shatorah-roberson-joins-as-vp-strategic-communications-and-advocacy/

📷 : Onion Studio

06/03/2026

Thriving communities require thriving organizations.

As part of the Organizational Power focus area of our Community Power-Building Framework, we're pleased to once again partner with Perrin Associates to offer "Building for the Long Term: Financial Sustainability & Operations Strengthening", the second in our Lunch & Learn workshop series for nonprofits serving Buffalo's East Side.

Led by Nakiea Cook, MBA, CFEI®, DBA(c), participants will explore practical tools for strengthening financial sustainability, improving operations, and building a stronger foundation for long-term impact.

FREE to attend; registration required. https://luma.com/4lusif2o

05/13/2026

Please join us in welcoming Jerrell Mason to the Oishei Foundation as Community Impact Program Director, Joy, Restoration, Resilience / Individual Power.

Jerrell’s leadership is grounded in relationship-building and a deep commitment to Buffalo’s East Side communities. In this role, he will help advance work focused on healing, opportunity, individual agency, and long-term community power-building.

More about Jerrell and the work he'll help lead here: https://oishei.org/news/article:jerrell-mason-joins-as-community-impact-director/

05/12/2026

Strong organizations are essential to lasting change.

As part of our Community Power-Building Framework, we’re investing in Organizational Power: supporting the leadership, systems, and sustainability of community-based organizations across Buffalo’s East Side.

To begin bringing this work to life, we’re excited to partner with Perrin Associates to launch a new workshop series for nonprofit leaders.

First session: Strategic Crisis Communication on May 21

Learn more and register here: https://oishei.org/news/article:strengthening-organizational-power-a-new-lunch-and-learn-series-for-east-side-nonprofits/

02/20/2026

Lessons Learned, led by Aitina Fareed-Cooke and Get Fokus'd Productions, brings creative leaders together to talk planning, process, and project management in the digital storytelling industry — the often unseen work that makes powerful stories possible.

If you’re a storyteller, creative entrepreneur, nonprofit communicator, student, or anyone managing narrative work, this is a conversation worth being part of. Spaces like this help practitioners share knowledge, strengthen relationships, and build sustainable creative ecosystems.

Buffalo, NY — Aitina Fareed-Cooke, The Creative Arts Strategist, Founder of Get Fokus’d Productions and Buffalo’s Poet Laureate, presents Lessons Learned, an ongoing series of conversations with leaders in the creative economy. Produced in collaboration with Get Fokus’d Productions and Villa Maria College, Lessons Learned brings together celebrated voices from digital storytelling and the literary arts to share insights, strategies, and practical advice for thriving in today’s creative marketplace.

Join us Feb 25th at for a panel discussion centered around Planning, Process & Project Management in the Digital Storytelling Industry

Panelists include:

Moderated by

01/06/2026

We’re growing our Community Impact team!

Two new positions are now open at the Oishei Foundation, focused on supporting healing, belonging, and leadership in our community.

Learn more and apply (and please share with your networks): https://oishei.org/news/article:were-hiring-1/

12/16/2025

You’ve been asking where the Oishei Foundation is headed. In this update, we share how we’ve been honoring longtime partnerships, completing our transition effort, and building new internal systems and practices that reflect our commitment to racial equity, relationships, and community power-building.

Read the full post here: https://oishei.org/news/article:behind-the-scenes-with-purpose/

12/12/2025

Many thanks to Kelsey Anderson, host of WIVB/WNLO-TV (Nexstar Media Group)'s Buffalo Brief podcast, for having our president, Christina Orsi, on the show this week!

During their conversation, Christina shared about the Foundation’s history, how our strategic direction is taking shape, and what’s ahead as we deepen our work on community power-building and equity—especially on Buffalo’s East Side.

She also highlighted the WNY Forward Fund, a collaborative effort by 13 funders (including Oishei!) to help strengthen the region’s nonprofit sector.

👉 If your organization is exploring partnerships or shared services, there’s still time to apply—proposals are due today by 4 PM!

👉 Catch the episode here: https://www.wivb.com/video/buffalo-brief-shine-goldoishei-foundation/11341285/

👉 Learn more or apply to the WNY Forward Fund: https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/wny-forward-fund/

Address

726 Exchange Street, Ste 510
Buffalo, NY
14210

Telephone

+17168569490

Website

http://www.oishei.org/

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