The Puffin Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Puffin Foundation backs artists and art organisations working on topical issues such as climate, health care, social justice and civil rights, with themes spanning environmental artistic activism, film and video, fine arts, music, photography and theatre, so it suits applicants whose work fits those themes and whose project or organisation budget is not more than $250,000.
- Most requests should be modest: grants are generally up to $3,500, though across its recent filings half of its 93 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less, and the filings do show one grant of $755,000 that exceeds the stated maximum, so treat that as an outlier rather than a realistic target.
- A large majority of its grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings, so this looks like a relationship-led funder, though it says it welcomes new and emerging artists and gives special consideration to communities under-served by the arts, with established artists considered where they can show fiscal need.
- To apply, first mail a paper request form so the Foundation can set up portal access; deadlines run in the fall for film/video, fine arts, music, photography and theatre, and from February for environmental artistic activism.
- Do not apply if the project involves travel, education, or the writing or publishing of books, partisan activities, advocacy of violence, support for terrorist activity as defined by US law, or material generated by AI even as critique.
Overview
The Puffin Foundation is a US private foundation based in Teaneck, NJ.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Puffin Foundation supports artists and art organisations often excluded from mainstream opportunities because of their identities or social philosophies. Its grants cover environmental artistic activism, film and video, fine arts, music, photography and theatre. It is interested in art that educates the public on topical issues, including climate, health care, social justice and civil rights, and gives special consideration to communities under-served by the arts. It welcomes new and emerging artists; established artists are considered where they can demonstrate fiscal need. Projects in the United States are prioritised. Its review considers an applicant's standing and qualifications, the project's budgetary need, audience and impact, subject matter, feasibility and fit with the Foundation's mission.
Themes
- Topical-issue art
- Environmental artistic activism
- Film and video
- Fine arts
- Music
- Photography
- Theater
Geographic Focus
US.
What They Don't Fund
- Projects with budgets over $250,000
- Organizations with an annual budget of more than $250,000
- Travel, education, or the writing or publishing of books
- Partisan activities
- Projects, individuals, or entities who advocate violence
- Individuals or entities who engage in or support terrorist activity as defined by US law
- Projects that include material generated by AI, even if the project is itself a critique upon AI
How to apply
Applicants seeking a proposal through the portal first mail a paper request form. Once the form is approved, the Foundation creates portal access for them.
Deadlines:
- Requests for film/video, fine arts, music, photography and theater take place in the fall.
- Environmental artistic activism requests begin in February.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 91% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 93 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation gives special consideration to communities under-served by the arts.
- It welcomes new and emerging artists; established artists are considered when they can demonstrate fiscal need.
- It prioritises projects that take place in the United States.
- It considers budgetary need and the amount requested.
- It considers how established the applicant is in their field.
- It considers the project's potential audience and impact.
- It considers the topic addressed in the proposal.
- It considers project feasibility.
- It considers the applicant's qualifications to carry out the project.
- It considers the proposal's pertinence to its mission.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 20% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to organisations The Puffin Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 28 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Institute for Public Affairs · Unrestricted grant to support the organization's exempt purpose.$362,5002024 tax year
- Type Media Centerthe Nation Institute · Unrestricted grant to support the organization's exempt purpose.$335,0002024 tax year
- Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives · Support history museums.$245,0002024 tax year
- Andrew Goodman Foundation · Unrestricted grant to support the organization's exempt purpose.$150,0002024 tax year
- Nation Fund for Independent Journalism · Unrestricted grant to support the organization's exempt purpose.$150,0002024 tax year
- Democracy Now Productions · Unrestricted grant to support the organization's exempt purpose.$150,0002024 tax year
- Museum of the City of New York · Support history museums.$115,7002024 tax year
- Teaneck Creek Conservancy · Parks and playgrounds.$95,4502024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Sabine Rosenstein — Secretary
- Gladys Miller-Rosenstein — Vice-President
- Neal S Rosenstein — President / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,556,418 | $3,721,633 | $68,516,027 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,636,056 | $2,540,449 | $77,991,646 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,023,138 | $2,527,328 | $86,927,755 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Puffin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (201) 836-8400
- grants@puffinfoundation.org
- no-reply@puffinfoundation.org
- Teaneck, NJ
- puffinfoundation.org
Applying to The Puffin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (201) 836-8400
- grants@puffinfoundation.org
- no-reply@puffinfoundation.org
- Teaneck, NJ
- puffinfoundation.org