The Cullen Foundation of Western New York, Inc. is an independent, private foundation based in Buffalo, New York, dedicated to enhancing education and advancing theatre and performing arts in Erie County. The foundation was created by the late John S. "Jack" Cullen II, whose estate provided the initial funding. The foundation was established in 2004.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Revenue
—
Net Investment Income
—
Expenses
—
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: The Cullen Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for residents of Erie County.
Mission: The Cullen Foundation 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.
Education Focus
The foundation prioritizes funding programs with direct, measurable academic outcomes. Support is available for academic enrichment, tutoring, and specialized learning initiatives for pre-K through 12 students.
Performing Arts Focus
The foundation supports organizations where the primary focus is community performances, specifically in the disciplines of music, dance, singing, and theatre.
Grantmaking
The Cullen Foundation offers multiple grant programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves Erie County, New York, with a primary focus on residents of Western New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Based on available financial data, the Cullen Foundation has assets of approximately $112.3 million. The foundation reported expenses of approximately $12.5 million and revenue of $977,820 in its most recent fiscal period.
Contact Information:
- Address: 250 Delaware Avenue, Suite 820, Buffalo, NY 14202
- Phone: 716-800-4280
- Website: www.thecullenfoundation.org
- EIN: 73-1691396
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | $112,298,735 |
| Revenue | — | — | $977,820 |
| Expenses | — | — | $12,523,131 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | $7,432,706 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | $3,827,398 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | $6,377,957 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Cullen Foundation
Individual Charter School Grants
CULLEN FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Responsive Grant- Performing Arts
CULLEN FOUNDATION
Amount
US $5,000 - US $125,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Supplemental Academic Program - Education Grant
CULLEN FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Michael R. McGee, Chair
- Ramone Alexander, Director
- Charles W. Chiampou, Director
- Warren B. Gelman, Director
- Caitlin Corr Reilly, Director
- Roger B. Simon, Director
Staff:
- Florine Luhr, President (716-800-4265)
- Nick Schifano, Program Officer (716-800-4278)
- Mary Lou Rubé, Program Officer (716-800-4266)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL R MCGEE | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| CHARLES W CHIAMPOU | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| ROGER B SIMON | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| WARREN B GELMAN | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| FLORINE LUHR | PRESIDENT | 50 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Cullen Foundation awarded a three-year grant to Read to Succeed, demonstrating ongoing commitment to education initiatives in the region. The foundation maintains an active grant portal and publishes regular newsletters to communicate with stakeholders and potential applicants.
Glaucoma Research Foundation Announces Record $3.06 million in Annual ResearchSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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