Lawrence H. Cook II

Larry has been with the Foundation since 2008 and serves as Senior Vice President of Programs, primarily supporting the human and social services sectors in WNY and overseeing work in our self-sufficiency and building stable neighborhood focus areas. His responsibilities include review and recommendation of grant proposals and programs, and monitoring grant and program outcomes. He also plays a critical role in convening partners and capacity building as necessary for our grantee partners.

He is also engaged in forwarding the mission of the Mobile Safety-Net Team, an initiative developed by the Foundation that works within communities throughout Erie and Niagara Counties to strengthen the safety net of human and social services. The team works to identify and prioritize community concerns, leverage public and private sector resources, promote data-informed decision-making, and develop networks and coalitions toward addressing community concerns among stakeholders and service providers combined.

Larry has served the non-profit sector for over 20 years and has deep experience in the Arts sector. He currently serves on the New York State Council for the Arts, having been appointed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in 2021.  Prior to his tenure at the Foundation, Larry was the Arts Council in Buffalo & Erie County’s Deputy Director and an active panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts and Erie County’s Public Benefits Oversight Committee for several years.

He has served on numerous boards and panels including his current role as Chair of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. He has also chaired the East Side Avenues Funders Advisory Committee and served on the SUNY Erie Presidential Search Committee. Larry has served on the University at Buffalo’s Educational Opportunity Center Advisory Council and KeyBank’s WNY Advisory Council. He is also a recipient of the Director’s Award from the Community Missions of Niagara Frontier.

He earned a BA in Public Communication from Buffalo State College and an Accounting & Finance Certificate from SUNY at Buffalo. He is the recipient of the Buffalo State College Communication Department’s Professional Achievement Award.