First Niagara Financial Group Inc. will once again provide $500,000 for nonprofit mentoring programs in New York state.

The bank's Mentoring Matters program is in its fifth year. It has distributed approximately $2 million to 175 mentoring programs across the state. This year, it expects to top $2.5 million in grants awarded to Upstate New York nonprofit agencies and $3.25 million in grants  awarded throughout its four-state footprint.

Grants between $5,000 and $25,000 will be awarded to nonprofit agencies in Western New York - specifically Erie, Niagara, Genesee and Orleans counties - and throughout Upstate New York.

Applications are due Sept. 2.

First Niagara is set to become the largest bank in Western New York following the July 31 announcement that it will buy 195 HSBC Bank USA N.A. branches.

Information about the application process is available at the following: http://www.fnfg.com/InTheCommunity/Mentoring/