BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University announced today that it will expand its Western New York Prosperity Fellowship Program with a $400,000 grant from The Bryant Foundation and Prentice Family Foundation. The fellowship develops entrepreneurial-minded students who demonstrate the potential to drive economic growth, create meaningful jobs and strengthen the long-term vitality of the region. The grant represents an increase in support from prior years and will broaden access to tuition assistance, paid internships and enrichment opportunities for the 2026-27 cohort of fellows – expanding on the program’s current cohort of 22 fellows.
“Canisius University has been strategically growing its cohort of Western New York Prosperity Fellows in recent years to prepare more emerging professionals who will drive job creation and economic development across the region,” said Shawn O’Rourke, PhD, dean of the Division of Business, Communications & Health Studies at Canisius University. “This increased support from The Bryant and Prentice Family Foundations will allow us to help even more talented students gain the experiences and resources they need to build their careers and make a difference right here in Western New York.”
The Western New York Prosperity Fellowship Program provides up to $25,000 per student in scholarship support and paid, credit-bearing internships to assist fellows in acquiring both academic and practical experiences in their intended professions. Fellows intern in their chosen fields of interest, working alongside leaders in upper-level management who serve as mentors. They also participate in cohort-specific enrichment programming designed to enhance their professional development and build critical soft skills. In exchange, Prosperity Fellows must commit to working in Western New York for at least three of the 10 years following their graduation.
“What sets this program apart is its comprehensive approach to developing the next generation of leaders,” added O’Rourke. “Canisius fellows don’t just receive financial support, they gain real-world experience, build meaningful professional networks, and develop the leadership skills that will enable them to make a lasting impact on our economy and in our communities.”
The Western New York Prosperity Fellowship Program is open to full-time graduate students from all Canisius master’s level programs and senior-level undergraduate students in the Wehle School of Business.
Applications to the program are being accepted through March 1, 2026.
The Prentice Family Foundation and The Bryant Foundation were established in 2007 and 2023, respectively, by generous benefactors Bryant and Joan Prentice to serve as a philanthropic organization that leverages economic development through scholarship support to ultimately make a multi-generational impact on Western New York.
Learn more about the program by visiting Western New York Prosperity Fellowship at Canisius.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
