The Cullen Foundation of Western New York, Inc. serves the residents of Erie County by providing funding and support that significantly enhances the education of students in grades pre-K through 12 and advances theatre and the performing arts.
A large share of Cullen Foundation’s recent giving is tied to teacher pipelines and school improvement in Buffalo: a $600,000 grant launched the Buffalo Urban Teaching Fellows, and another $250,000 supported City Year’s Teacher Pathways Program. The foundation also backs charter-school growth and data systems, including $217,300 for Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School’s replication work and $190,000 for Education Analytics Inc. for the Charter Data Collaborative & Dashboarding. Alongside education, Cullen funds performing arts organizations that serve Erie County audiences, with support for capital, operations, and programming. Recent examples include $100,000 to Shea’s Performing Arts Center for capital improvements at 710 Main and $100,000 to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for general operating support. Scholarships are another visible part of the portfolio, including Cullen Scholars awards routed through local scholarship partners. The pattern is local, practical, and tied to specific programs, schools, and institutions rather than broad unrestricted support. Cullen also funds individuals through fellowships and scholarships, extending its education and arts work beyond organizational grants.
In education, Cullen supports teacher preparation, tutoring, literacy, and college-ready pathways. It gave $240,450 to the Research Foundation for State University of New York (UB) for the UB Teacher Residency Program Extension and $125,000 to Canisius College for tuition support for WNY teacher residents. The foundation also invested in student support programs, including $278,250 to Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc for the 2022 Say Yes Buffalo Summer Camp and $75,000 to Read to Succeed Buffalo for Experience Corps volunteer tutoring. Charter-school strategy is another thread: $201,200 went to Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School for a Good to Great grant, and $73,000 supported West Buffalo Charter School’s CTG-ANet and EL Education continuation work. In the arts, Cullen funded both institutions and performances, including $75,000 to Shaw Festival Foundation for Bridging Borders and Re-Engaging WNY Audiences.
Cullen Foundation’s typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $31,574 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also shows several larger strategic awards, but the center of gravity is around smaller, targeted grants. Its structure mixes responsive grantmaking with strategic investments: some programs accept unsolicited applications, while others are invitation-only or partnership-based. The same grantees can appear across years and in multiple lines of work, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-off support. Cullen also funds individuals through scholarships and fellowships, including direct tuition support and professional advancement awards.
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Most grants fall between $5K and $32K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$32K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Cullen Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 188 | $6.1M | 99.5% |
| 2 | Canada | 1 |
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Cullen’s giving is highly concentrated in New York, with 96% of grants to recipients in the HQ state and NY as the top state by grant count. Most recipients are in Buffalo, including Buffalo-based schools, arts groups, and scholarship partners. Other New York recipients appear in Albany and New York City, while a smaller share reaches outside the state, such as Boston, Madison, and Chicago. One Canadian grant in the recent list went to Niagara-on-the-Lake, showing occasional cross-border arts support tied to Erie County audiences.
The foundation funds Pre-K through 12 education, with a strong emphasis on teacher pipelines, academic enrichment, literacy, college and career readiness, and charter-school strategy. Recent grants include support for teacher residency, summer learning, tutoring, data systems, and early college pathways.
Yes. It funds music, dance, singing, and theatre organizations, with support for general operating, program, capital, and capacity-building needs. Recent awards include support for a performing arts center, an orchestra, and a festival-based audience engagement project.
The typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $31,574 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include both smaller action grants and larger strategic education and arts investments.
It is highly local. The foundation’s geographic scope is local, 96% of grants go to recipients in New York, and most grants land in Buffalo and Erie County. The recent recipient list also includes a small number of grants outside New York, including one in Canada.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals through scholarships and fellowships. Its programs include Cullen Scholars tuition scholarships and Cullen Fellows awards for professional advancement activities tied to performing arts leadership.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $75K |
0.5% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from Cullen Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Intended for Western New York performing arts sector members and organizations. Specific organizational eligibility and award amounts were not provided.
Deadline: No deadline specified; recommendations may be submitted by contacting Cullen staff.
Who can apply: Must be a past Cullen performing arts grantee since 2015, have no open Cullen grant, meet all standard Cullen eligibility criteria (501(c)(3), reviewed/audited financials), and not be disqualified by specific exclusions (arts education, art therapy, sponsorships, events hosted by non-performing-arts orgs, activities serving primarily membership, programs starting <100 days from submission).
Deadline: Rolling submissions; processed within approximately six weeks.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TNTP | NEW YORK, NY | $600,000 | 2023 | BUFFALO URBAN TEACHING FELLOWS LAUNCH |
| SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP INC | BUFFALO, NY | $278,250 | 2023 | 2022 SAYYES BUFFALO SUMMER CAMP |
| CITY YEAR INC | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2023 | TEACHER PATHWAYS PROGRAM |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (UB) | ALBANY, NY | $240,450 | 2023 | UB TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM EXTENSION |
| EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE OF WNY | BUFFALO, NY | $235,900 | 2023 | CULLEN SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIPS 2022 |
| BUFFALO ACADEMY OF SCIENCE CHARTER SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $217,300 | 2023 | BUFFSCI 2.0 - SCHOOL REPLICATION |
| PERSISTENCE PREPARATORY ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $201,200 | 2023 | GOOD TO GREAT GRANT |
| CHAPIN HALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $191,766 | 2023 | IMPLEMENT COMMON ASSESSMENTS WITH LOCAL SAP PROGRAMS |
| EDUCATION ANALYTICS INC | MADISON, WI | $190,000 | 2023 | CHARTER DATA COLLABORATIVE & DASHBOARDING |
| BUFFALO COLLEGIATE CHARTER SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $175,125 | 2023 | STRENGTHENING DATA, COACHING, & RETENTION |
| TNTP | NEW YORK, NY | $131,086 | 2023 | BUFFALO EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE WORKGROUP 2.0 |
| CANISIUS COLLEGE | BUFFALO, NY | $125,000 | 2023 | TUITION SUPPORT FOR WNY TEACHER RESIDENTS SY 2022-23 |
| KLEINHANS MUSIC HALL MANAGEMENT INC | BUFFALO, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | FIRE ALARM, LIGHTING AND SOUND COMPONENTS AT KHM |
| SHEA'S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | BUFFALO, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | 710 MAIN: CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: SEATS, SOUND, LIGHTING, INTERIOR PAINTING |
| BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA | BUFFALO, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NORTHEAST CHARTER SCHOOLS NETWORK | ALBANY, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | TEACHER COMP ANALYSIS; ENROLL BUFFALO COMMON APPLICATION |
| READ TO SUCCEED BUFFALO | BUFFALO, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | EXPERIENCE CORPS VOLUNTEER TUTORING |
| SHAW FESTIVAL FOUNDATION | NIAGARAONTHELAKE | $75,000 | 2023 | BRIDGING BORDERS AND RE-ENGAGING WNY AUDIENCES |
| SHEA'S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | BUFFALO, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | ALL FOR ONE PRODUCTIONS AT 710 MAIN STREET |
| TNTP | NEW YORK, NY | $73,345 | 2023 | BUFFALO URBAN TEACHING FELLOWS (BUTF) PLANNING GRANT |
| WEST BUFFALO CHARTER SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $73,000 | 2023 | CTG-ANET AND EL EDUCATION CONTINUATION GRANT |
| BUFFALO CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY | BUFFALO, NY | $71,158 | 2023 | COLLEGE AND CAREER PREP PROGRAM |
| THE BISON CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND INC | BUFFALO, NY | $57,600 | 2023 | CULLEN SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIPS 2022-2023 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA BUFFALO | BUFFALO, NY | $55,535 | 2023 | ASPIRING SCHOOL LEADER FELLOWSHIP |
| BUFFALO COMMONS CHARTER SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $50,880 | 2023 | CAPACITY BLDG WITH ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK |
| BUFFALO PREP | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | TUITION PAYMENT FOR CULLEN SCHOLARS IN BFLO PREP PROGRAMS |
| ROAD LESS TRAVELED PRODUCTIONS | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| TORN SPACE THEATER | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | INTERSECTION PERFORMANCE SERIES |
| SPRINGVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | SPRINGVILLE, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | MONGERSON THEATER BLAST OFF/PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHARTER SCHOOL FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | EARLY COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS - SUMMER BRIDGE |
| BUFFALO CITY SWIM RACERS | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | CITY SWIM PROJECT: ACADEMIC PRGM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY DISTRICT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INC | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | EXPANDING DATA-BASED INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF YOUTH PROGRAM |
| BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT CAC YOUTH ACADEMIC |
| REACH ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $48,900 | 2023 | TEACHER RETENTION WORK |
| SOUTH BUFFALO CHARTER SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $46,475 | 2023 | SPRINGBOARD AND DATA WISE PROGRAMS AT SBCS |
| BUFFALO CREEK ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $44,910 | 2023 | DATA WISE TRAINING & LAVINIA LITERACY COACHING |
| KENAN CENTER INC | LOCKPORT, NY | $44,000 | 2023 | TAYLOR THEATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| ERIE REGIONAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION DBA THE BELLE CENTER | BUFFALO, NY | $40,000 | 2023 | LATINO TASK FORCE HS COMPLETION PROJECT |
| BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER | BUFFALO, NY | $40,000 | 2023 | CAMP EVERYTHING (2020-2023) |
| SHAKESPEARE IN DELAWARE PARK INC | BUFFALO, NY | $40,000 | 2023 | GEN OP SUPPORT & CAPITAL FOR INCREASED AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT |
| BUFFALO URBAN LEAGUE | BUFFALO, NY | $40,000 | 2023 | YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE (YOLO) PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE NORTHTOWNS | BUFFALO, NY | $40,000 | 2023 | ACADEMIC PRGM & EVALUATION SUPPORT |
| D'YOUVILLE COLLEGE | BUFFALO, NY | $40,000 | 2023 | KAVINOKY THEATRE'S PRODUCTION MANAGER |
| HORIZONS NATIONAL | WESTPORT, CT | $37,634 | 2023 | HORIZONS SUMMER PRGM AT RESOURCE COUNCIL OF WNY |
| COLORED MUSICIANS CLUB OF BUFFALO INC | BUFFALO, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS FOR 2023 |
| SENECA STREET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BUFFALO, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | YOUTH PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| IRISH CLASSICAL THEATRE COMPANY | BUFFALO, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | STRATEGIC AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (UB) | ALBANY, NY | $31,574 | 2023 | UB-BPS: IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES |
| PRIMARY HALL PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $31,100 | 2023 | DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION RECRUITMENT |
| ARTPARK & COMPANY INC | LEWISTON, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING 2020-2022 |
RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (UB)
$240,450UB TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM EXTENSION
EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE OF WNY
$235,900CULLEN SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIPS 2022
BUFFALO ACADEMY OF SCIENCE CHARTER SCHOOL
BUFFSCI 2.0 - SCHOOL REPLICATION
IMPLEMENT COMMON ASSESSMENTS WITH LOCAL SAP PROGRAMS
BUFFALO COLLEGIATE CHARTER SCHOOL
$175,125STRENGTHENING DATA, COACHING, & RETENTION
CANISIUS COLLEGE
$125,000TUITION SUPPORT FOR WNY TEACHER RESIDENTS SY 2022-23
FIRE ALARM, LIGHTING AND SOUND COMPONENTS AT KHM
SHEA'S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$100,000710 MAIN: CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: SEATS, SOUND, LIGHTING, INTERIOR PAINTING
BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
NORTHEAST CHARTER SCHOOLS NETWORK
$100,000TEACHER COMP ANALYSIS; ENROLL BUFFALO COMMON APPLICATION
SHAW FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
$75,000BRIDGING BORDERS AND RE-ENGAGING WNY AUDIENCES
SHEA'S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$75,000ALL FOR ONE PRODUCTIONS AT 710 MAIN STREET
WEST BUFFALO CHARTER SCHOOL
$73,000CTG-ANET AND EL EDUCATION CONTINUATION GRANT
CULLEN SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIPS 2022-2023
TEACH FOR AMERICA BUFFALO
$55,535ASPIRING SCHOOL LEADER FELLOWSHIP
BUFFALO COMMONS CHARTER SCHOOL
$50,880CAPACITY BLDG WITH ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK
TORN SPACE THEATER
$50,000INTERSECTION PERFORMANCE SERIES
SPRINGVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$50,000MONGERSON THEATER BLAST OFF/PROGRAM SUPPORT
CHARTER SCHOOL FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES
$50,000EARLY COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS - SUMMER BRIDGE
BUFFALO CITY SWIM RACERS
$50,000CITY SWIM PROJECT: ACADEMIC PRGM SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INC
$50,000EXPANDING DATA-BASED INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF YOUTH PROGRAM
BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT CAC YOUTH ACADEMIC
REACH ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
$48,900TEACHER RETENTION WORK
SOUTH BUFFALO CHARTER SCHOOL
$46,475SPRINGBOARD AND DATA WISE PROGRAMS AT SBCS
BUFFALO CREEK ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
$44,910DATA WISE TRAINING & LAVINIA LITERACY COACHING
ERIE REGIONAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION DBA THE BELLE CENTER
$40,000LATINO TASK FORCE HS COMPLETION PROJECT
SHAKESPEARE IN DELAWARE PARK INC
$40,000GEN OP SUPPORT & CAPITAL FOR INCREASED AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
D'YOUVILLE COLLEGE
$40,000KAVINOKY THEATRE'S PRODUCTION MANAGER
HORIZONS NATIONAL
$37,634HORIZONS SUMMER PRGM AT RESOURCE COUNCIL OF WNY
COLORED MUSICIANS CLUB OF BUFFALO INC
$35,000GENERAL OPERATIONS FOR 2023
IRISH CLASSICAL THEATRE COMPANY
$35,000STRATEGIC AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT
RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (UB)
$31,574UB-BPS: IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
PRIMARY HALL PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL
$31,100DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION RECRUITMENT
ARTPARK & COMPANY INC
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING 2020-2022