Sponsorship
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Canisius WNY Prosperity Fellowship
Also known as: Western New York Prosperity Fellowship
Canisius University · Buffalo, NY
The Western New York Prosperity Fellowship, funded by the Prentice Family Foundation and The Bryant Foundation, is an innovative program for full-time graduate students and senior undergraduate students at Canisius University with entrepreneurial drive and a commitment to Western New York's economic development. The program combines significant scholarship support with paid, credit-bearing internships and enrichment programming.
Quick fit check
- Offers direct funding
- No equity required
- Currently active
- Verified by research
Key numbers
Funding range
$25,000 – $25,000
Scholarship, Internship Stipend
Equity
None
Application
Annual
Campus Wide
Last activity
2025-12-09
High confidence
Application and Timing
Applications open January 25, close March 5 annually. 2025-26 cohort: 22 fellows. $400K grant (December 2025) to expand 2026-27 cohort. Fellows must commit to working in WNY for at least three of the 10 years following graduation.
Participants
Full-time graduate students from any Canisius master's-level program and senior-level undergraduates in the Wehle School of Business. US citizens or permanent residents. Demonstrated interest in job creation and economic development in WNY.
Funding and Equity
Up to $25,000 per student per academic year in scholarship support, based on demonstrated financial need. Paid summer internship at $20/hour for up to 200 hours ($4,000 maximum stipend). Enrichment Fund up to $1,000 for experiential learning opportunities. No equity taken. No repayment requirement beyond WNY work commitment.
Recent Activity
December 2025: $400,000 grant from The Bryant Foundation and Prentice Family Foundation to expand program for 2026-27 cohort. Current cohort of 22 fellows represents growth from earlier cohorts (13 fellows in 2023-24). Program has been running since at least 2010-11.
Verification Gaps
- Cohort size by year (only 2023-24 individual recipients and 2025-26 total known).
- Alumni outcomes and follow-on business creation rates.
- Specific enrichment programming content.
Canisius WNY Prosperity Fellowship
Known Recipients
2025-26 cohort (22 fellows) includes Daniel Bowen '24 (MBA, former Division-I swimmer, sales/leasing consultant at West Herr Toyota). Previous cohorts (2010-11 through 2018-19) documented with 13 recipients in 2023-24 including Kiarra Beshaw, Daniel Bowen, Isabella Chelini, Angelina Dentice, Grace DeRoo, Aspen Flynn, Zoe Kaminski, David Marotto, Nyles Moore, Thmwee Paw, Andrew Perreault, Britney Upshaw, and Madison Vanderlip.
Additional research notesShow
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Canisius WNY Prosperity Fellowship at Canisius University.
4 sources
History of Entrepreneurship at Canisius
Canisius University
Canisius University
History of Entrepreneurship at Canisius
Comprehensive institutional history page documenting the development of the entrepreneurship program from 1982 (first MBA-level course) through the present. Covers founding of the Entrepreneurship Center (1990), Congressional grant ($150K), launch of the major (1998), Ji-Hee Kim's curriculum development (2006+), Enactus/SIFE founding (2004), EOC formation, and CEO chapter success.
Read on Canisius University
Canisius University
Student Startups at Canisius
Institutional feature article profiling Canisius entrepreneurship program through alum startup stories. Covers Susie Cuke's Pickles (Michael Gzyl '11), Ambitious Enterprises (Alex and William Severyn '13), EOC network and dues structure, CEO club and competitions, and entrepreneurship major growth.
Read on Canisius University
Canisius University
Canisius WNY Prosperity Fellowship
Official program page for the Western New York Prosperity Fellowship, funded by the Prentice Family Foundation. Provides up to $25,000 in scholarship and internship support per academic year for full-time graduate students and senior undergraduates with entrepreneurial drive.
Read on Canisius University
Canisius $400K Grant for Prosperity Fellowship
Canisius University
Canisius University
Canisius $400K Grant for Prosperity Fellowship
News article announcing $400,000 grant from The Bryant Foundation and Prentice Family Foundation to expand the WNY Prosperity Fellowship for the 2026-27 cohort. Current cohort: 22 fellows. Program provides up to $25,000 per student in scholarship support and paid internships.
Read on Canisius University