Puffin Foundation Ltd

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,540,449 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 3-4 months
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $3,500 (typically around $1,750)
• Geographic Focus: National (US)

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.puffinfoundation.org
• Phone: (201) 836-3400 (weekdays 9:00am-5:00pm EST)
• Email: info@puffinfoundation.org / grants@puffinfoundation.org
• Address: 20 E. Oakwood Ave., Teaneck, NJ 07666

Overview

Founded in 1983 by Perry Rosenstein and named in honour of his first wife Dorothea, who worked on puffin conservation with the National Audubon Society, the Puffin Foundation Ltd is a progressive grant-making organisation dedicated to amplifying the voices of artists and activists whose work might otherwise go unnoticed due to their race, gender, or social philosophy. With annual giving of approximately $2.5 million, the foundation operates from its headquarters in Teaneck, New Jersey, and maintains the Puffin Cultural Forum, a public gallery and performance space. Perry ran the foundation with his wife Gladys Miller-Rosenstein (Executive Director) and son Neal Rosenstein. Perry Rosenstein passed away in April 2020. The foundation's mission centres on supporting emerging artists and small organisations that are often excluded from mainstream opportunities, with a particular focus on art for social justice and projects that encourage open communication and expression of diverse viewpoints.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

• Annual Artist Grant: $1,000 - $3,500 (typical grant around $1,750)

  • Open to individual artists and small organisations
  • Annual cycle with specific application deadlines
  • Focus on projects with social justice themes
  • Genres rotate in 2-year cycles (fine arts, music, photography in even years; dance, film/video, performance art/theatre in odd years)
  • Environmental artistic activism is open every year

• Puffin Foundation Investigative Fund: $3,500 to $10,000

  • Supports investigative journalism projects
  • Partnership with Type Media Center (formerly The Nation Institute)
  • Separate application process

Priority Areas

• Art and activism that addresses social justice issues
• Projects by emerging artists from underrepresented communities
• Civil liberties and civil rights initiatives
• Environmental justice projects
• Community-based arts programmes
• Documentary film and photography with social impact
• Theatre and performance art addressing contemporary issues
• Music programmes serving underserved populations

What They Don't Fund

• Projects with budgets over $250,000
• Organisations with annual budgets over $250,000
• Travel expenses
• Education expenses
• Writing or publishing of books
• General operating expenses (unless directly tied to a specific project)
• Capital campaigns or building funds
• Academic research without community engagement component
• International projects (primarily funds US-based work)
• Religious activities
• For-profit ventures

Governance and Leadership

The foundation was established by Perry Rosenstein, a successful manufacturer who, along with his wife Gladys Miller-Rosenstein, wanted to support artists whose work challenges the status quo. The foundation continues to be family-run, with the Rosenstein family maintaining active involvement in grant decisions. The foundation also operates the Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck, which serves as a community space for exhibitions, performances, and educational programmes.

Key leadership philosophy includes the belief that "art is a powerful tool for social change" and that "the arts are not a luxury but a necessity in the struggle for social justice."

Application Process & Timeline

Eligibility

• Must be US residents with a social security number, US-based non-profits, or current DACA recipients with social security numbers
• Projects must have budgets under $250,000
• Organisations must have annual budgets under $250,000

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the foundation's online portal at puffinfoundation.org. The foundation uses a two-stage application process:

1. Submit an application request form during the designated request period (postmarked by deadline)
2. Upon approval, receive portal access credentials
3. Complete the full application form with project details
4. Upload required supporting materials (work samples, budget, timeline)
5. Submit completed proposal by final deadline

Pre-application inquiries can be directed to grants@puffinfoundation.org, though the foundation encourages applicants to review guidelines thoroughly before reaching out.

Decision Timeline

• Applications reviewed annually with specific deadlines
• Decisions typically made within 3-4 months of submission deadline
• Notifications sent via email on a rolling basis from approximately one month after the deadline
• Genre focus rotates every two years (environmental artistic activism accepted annually)

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Funded applicants must skip the next grant cycle before reapplying (1-year wait period). Each applicant, including organisations, is limited to one proposal in any given year.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and funded projects:

• Clear Social Justice Connection: Projects must articulate how they advance social justice, civil rights, or address inequality
• Community Impact: Demonstrate direct benefit to underserved or marginalised communities
• Artistic Merit Combined with Activism: Show how artistic excellence serves the social mission
• Realistic Budget: Most successful applications request between $1,000-$2,000; maximum grant is $3,500
• Local Grassroots Focus: Foundation favours community-based projects over large institutional initiatives
• Documentation of Past Work: Include strong work samples that demonstrate both artistic quality and social impact
• Collaboration: Projects involving multiple community partners or cross-sector collaboration are viewed favourably
• Budget Alignment: Ensure project budget is under $250,000 and organisational annual budget is under $250,000

The foundation specifically looks for "projects that open doors for those whose voices are not always heard" and values "art that challenges accepted norms and inspires social change."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on the intersection of art and social justice - pure art or pure activism alone is less competitive
• Keep grant requests modest ($1,750 average) - larger requests are rarely funded and maximum is $3,500
• Emphasise how your project serves communities traditionally excluded from mainstream funding
• Demonstrate grassroots community connections rather than institutional backing
• Include strong visual documentation or work samples that clearly show social impact
• Be explicit about how your project challenges systemic inequities or amplifies marginalised voices
• Check the genre rotation schedule to ensure your discipline is eligible in the current cycle
• Ensure both project and organisational budgets are under $250,000
• Note that travel, education, and book publishing costs are not funded

References

• Puffin Foundation Official Website (https://www.puffinfoundation.org) - Accessed May 2026
• Puffin Foundation Grant Guidelines and Application Portal - Accessed May 2026
• Puffin Foundation FAQs (https://www.puffinfoundation.org/faqs/) - Accessed May 2026
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - 990 Filing Data for EIN 47-1164496
• Type Media Center (formerly The Nation Institute) - Puffin Foundation Investigative Fund information
• Various grant recipient announcements and project profiles from foundation website
• Puffin Cultural Forum programmes and exhibitions information