Mission
Build and sustain a living memorial site that honors the lives stolen on May 14, 2022, and supports those most impacted by the tragedy.
The strategic plan
A roadmap for lasting action.
Guided by survivors, families, community members, and partners, the Foundation is preserving the legacy of those we lost while creating spaces, programs, and partnerships that advance healing, equity, education, and opportunity.
The Foundation enters this next chapter at a pivotal moment. This three-year plan provides a roadmap for transforming the organization into a sustainable, community-centered institution—one built on trust, transparent decisions, and accountability to the people most impacted.
The Living Memorial & Healing Center will be more than a monument frozen in time. It will be an active campus where people can access services, explore art, learn history, gather, and feel safe.
“We have been irrevocably and painfully changed by what happened that day, but we refuse to be reduced by it.”
The Foundation
Mission, vision, and the values that guide the work.
Vision
Build the Living Memorial & Healing Center into a lasting symbol of restoration: honoring memory, advancing healing, and shaping a national model for purposeful, dignified response.
CompassionEmpathy, understanding, and care for all impacted by tragedy.
CommunityUnity, partnership, and collective action to create change.
Social JusticeEquity, respect, and attention to the roots of hate and violence.
HealingEmotional, physical, and spiritual well-being for individuals and communities.
Racial EducationLearning, awareness, and dialogue that build understanding and prevent harm.
IntegrityHonesty, transparency, and accountability in all that we do.
The evolution of impact
Three phases. One commitment.
The Foundation will move from building the institution, to activating community impact, to sustaining the vision for generations to come.
01
Build the Foundation
Establish the physical campus and the organization capable of carrying the mission forward.
- Strengthen governance and Board effectiveness
- Build fundraising and donor stewardship infrastructure
- Launch listening sessions and early healing initiatives
- Publish a Year One Impact Report
02
Activate Community Impact
Bring the completed Center to life through programs, partnerships, and meaningful participation.
- Expand staff, volunteer, and partnership capacity
- Grow healing, wellness, and educational programs
- Increase Center events and public participation
- Diversify funding and grow giving
03
Sustain the Vision
Evaluate impact, refine services, and prepare the Foundation for its next chapter.
- Measure trust, engagement, and outcomes
- Evaluate programs and organizational capacity
- Advance regional and national partnerships
- Develop the 2030–2032 Strategic Plan
The strategic framework
Six connected pillars.
Healing, Community Engagement, and Education drive the Foundation’s programmatic impact. Space Activation brings that work to life. Operational Excellence and Financial Stewardship make it sustainable.
Pillar 01
Healing &
Wellness
Be a trusted center for emotional, mental, spiritual, and collective well-being for individuals, families, and communities impacted by trauma.
Focus
- Culturally responsive healing and wellness programs
- Trauma-informed services through strategic partnerships
- Spaces for reflection, resilience, and restorative dialogue
Measure progressPrograms offered, participation, active wellness partnerships, and participant-reported well-being.
Pillar 02
Community
Engagement
Cultivate authentic, inclusive relationships that empower community voices and inspire collective action.
Focus
- Regular conversations, listening sessions, and neighborhood meetings
- Volunteer and ambassador programs
- Transparent, two-way communication and digital storytelling
Measure progressEngagement events, participation, volunteer retention, trust surveys, and digital reach.
Pillar 03
Education
Educate current and future generations about May 14 while promoting racial equity, cultural understanding, and civic responsibility.
Focus
- Educational experiences, exhibits, curriculum, and toolkits
- School, college, and youth engagement
- Lectures, symposiums, and public education series
Measure progressPrograms delivered, student and educator participation, partnership growth, and learning outcomes.
Pillar 04
Space Activation
& Partnerships
Create vibrant, welcoming spaces for healing, education, remembrance, and community connection.
Focus
- Year-round Center activation and programming
- A Jefferson Corridor anchor and hub for services
- Partnerships across nonprofit, arts, health, and education sectors
Measure progressFacility utilization, events hosted, partnership quality, attendance, and renewal rates.
Pillar 05
Operational
Excellence
Build a high-performing, accountable organization with the governance, people, systems, and practices to fulfill its mission.
Focus
- Complete the Center on time and within budget
- Strengthen policies, systems, staffing, and leadership
- Use Board assessment, dashboards, and key performance indicators
Measure progressStrategic milestones, staffing and retention, Board results, annual work plans, and organizational assessments.
Pillar 06
Financial
Stewardship
Ensure long-term sustainability through responsible management, diversified revenue, and transparent resource stewardship.
Focus
- Annual giving, major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and planned giving
- Financial policies, reserve targets, and donor communications
- A comprehensive $35 million endowment campaign
Measure progressRevenue, donor growth and retention, grants and sponsorships, operating reserves, and audit results.
From vision to action
How we will stay accountable.
QuarterlyBoard Committee implementation reports and Executive Director updates.
AnnualOrganizational goals and work plans, financial review, and an Annual Community Impact Report.
OngoingCommunity feedback, stakeholder engagement, construction milestones, budget adherence, and operational readiness.
Our commitment
The future is defined by hope.
The 5/14 Memorial Foundation was created from unimaginable loss. Its future will be shaped by purposeful action, transparent leadership, and lasting investment in Buffalo’s East Side.
“We honor the past. We heal in the present. We build hope for the future.”