Cullen Foundation
Cullen Foundation was a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York, focused on education and theatre and performing arts in Erie County. Its website describes the Cullen Foundation of Western New York, Inc. as serving Erie County residents through support for pre-K–12 education and the performing arts.
Cullen Foundation at a glance
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cullen Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 250 Delaware Avenue Suite 820, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 800-4280
Website: https://www.thecullenfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Cullen Foundation
Cullen Foundation Performing Arts Action Grant
Cullen Foundation
Amount
Up to $10,000 per year
Deadline
Rolling
Individual Charter School Grants
Cullen Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Responsive Grant- Performing Arts
Cullen Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $125,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Cullen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
477 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 378 grants of 477 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated service area was Erie County, New York. Its website said education programs outside the county had to serve at least 80% Erie County residents; it also described an exception under which performing arts organizations outside the county could apply if they met the foundation’s stated conditions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is Cullen Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 72 of 157 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $63K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 44% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2022 it paid out 117% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2022). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $4.8M (2021) to $6.1M (2022). In 2022 it made 189 grants totaling $6.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TNTP New York, NY | Buffalo Urban Teaching Fellows Launch | $600,000 |
| Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc Buffalo, NY | 2022 Sayyes Buffalo Summer Camp | $278,250 |
| City Year Inc Boston, MA | Teacher Pathways Program | $250,000 |
| Research Foundation for State University of New York (Ub) Albany, NY | Ub Teacher Residency Program Extension | $240,450 |
| Education Collaborative of WNY Buffalo, NY | Cullen Scholars Scholarships 2022 | $235,900 |
| Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School Buffalo, NY | Buffsci 2.0 - School Replication | $217,300 |
| Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School Buffalo, NY | Good to Great Grant | $201,200 |
| Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Implement Common Assessments with Local Sap Programs | $191,766 |
| Education Analytics Inc Madison, WI | Charter Data Collaborative & Dashboarding | $190,000 |
| Buffalo Collegiate Charter School Buffalo, NY | Strengthening Data, Coaching, & Retention | $175,125 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $112,298,735 | $977,820 | $12,523,131 | $6,145,509 | 189 | $7,432,706 | $3,827,398 | $6,377,957 |
| 2021 | $115,865,929 | $16,357,498 | $7,924,159 | $4,808,453 | 126 | $5,660,580 | $15,240,556 | $7,231,537 |
| 2020 | $97,811,655 | $4,629,920 | $9,433,183 | $5,850,621 | 162 | — | $2,935,714 | $5,984,125 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated vision was to improve quality of life for Erie County residents. Its mission was to enhance pre-K–12 education and advance theatre and the performing arts.
Its website described education priorities that included direct, measurable academic outcomes, particularly for economically disadvantaged students, as well as supplemental academic programs, school talent development, charter schools, and scholarships for students attending private middle and high schools. In performing arts, it supported music, dance, singing, and theatre, with a priority for organizations focused on community performances.
Examples of past education grantees include Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc., whose stated mission is to remove barriers to educational attainment, workforce participation, and economic mobility for students in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and Buffalo Academy of Science Charter, which describes itself as a tuition-free, college-preparatory charter school. TNTP Inc., which received two grants in 2022, states that its mission is to transform education so every young person thrives.
Grantmaking
In 2022, Cullen Foundation reported $6,145,509 in grants across 189 grants, an average of about $32,516 per grant. Notable 2022 grants included $600,000 to TNTP Inc.; $278,250 to Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc.; $235,900 to Education Collaborative of WNY Inc.; $217,300 to Buffalo Academy of Science Charter; $201,200 to Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter; $190,000 to Education Analytics Inc.; and $175,125 to Buffalo Collegiate Charter School. TNTP Inc. also received a separate grant of $131,086 that year.
The filing states that the foundation made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The website described an online process with an initial letter of intent, an application for invited organizations, and a site visit. It also required eligible applicants to be 501(c)(3) organizations and to submit audited or reviewed financial statements prepared by a CPA. These are descriptions of the foundation’s past processes, not current application instructions, because the foundation filed a final return.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Michael R. McGee, Charles W. Chiampou, Roger B. Simon, and Warren B. Gelman as trustees, and Florine Luhr as president. The foundation’s website also listed Ramone Alexander and Caitlin Corr Reilly as directors.
Cullen Foundation is led by Florine Luhr, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Florine Luhr
President
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$197K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Charles W. Chiampou
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Michael R. McGee
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Roger B. Simon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Warren B. Gelman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $198K, to Florine Luhr (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Cullen Foundation
What does Cullen Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated vision was to improve quality of life for Erie County residents. Its mission was to enhance pre-K–12 education and advance theatre and the performing arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cullen Foundation?
Cullen Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check thecullenfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
Where does Cullen Foundation make grants?
The foundation’s stated service area was Erie County, New York. Its website said education programs outside the county had to serve at least 80% Erie County residents; it also described an exception under which performing arts organizations outside the county could apply if they met the foundation’s stated conditions.
What is Cullen Foundation's EIN?
Cullen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1691396. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Cullen Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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The Cullen Foundation of Western New York funds measurable pre-K–12 education programs, especially for economically disadvantaged students, and community-focused theatre and performing arts benefiting Erie County residents. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,260 to $400,000, with a median of $28,700. It accepts unsolicited requests through two annual grant cycles, generally beginning in January and July.
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