Cullen Foundation of Western New York
The Cullen Foundation of Western New York, Inc. is an independent, private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. Established in 2004, the foundation was created by the late John "Jack" S. Cullen II, whose estate provided the initial funding. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of Erie County through strategic philanthropic investments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$137.1M
+2.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.2M
+3.1% YoY
Grant Count
121
+17.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
-12.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cullen Foundation of Western New York reported a distributable amount of $6.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
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.
Vision: To improve the quality of life for residents of Erie County.
Education
The foundation prioritizes funding programs with direct, measurable academic outcomes, particularly those serving economically disadvantaged students in grades pre-K through 12. The foundation invests in Supplemental Academic Programs (SAPs) that offer high-dosage, evidence-based academic programming. Eligible programs must:
- Serve underserved PreK-grade 12 students in Erie County
- Provide direct academic outcomes
- Primarily serve economically disadvantaged students
- Support students from multiple schools
The foundation uses an ESSA tiers of evidence system to evaluate program effectiveness, categorizing applicants into stages that correspond to different funding request and award levels.
Performing Arts
The foundation supports organizations where the primary focus is community performances, including music, dance, singing, and theatre.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates through two primary application pathways:
Review Cycle
** The Board meets on a rolling basis throughout the calendar year. Specific application deadlines are communicated to invited applicants via email.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Erie County, New York. The foundation exclusively funds organizations located in and primarily benefiting residents of Erie County.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $134 million
- Annual Revenue: $4.52 million
- Annual Expenses: $10.5 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.84 million
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since July 2022 (EIN: 87-0849992). Donations to the organization are tax-deductible.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $137,133,628 | $133,578,982 | — |
| Revenue | $3,031,760 | $4,523,976 | — |
| Expenses | $9,873,599 | $10,470,551 | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,257,378 | $6,179,511 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,568,395 | $2,123,186 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $6,733,944 | $6,303,553 | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
100 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Education Collaborative of Wny ($213,050), Brick Education Network ($200,000), Chapin Hall Center for Children ($149,533).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 716 SQUASH BUFFALO, NY | PROGRAM FUNDS: COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS | $25,000 |
| ACHIEVING THE DREAM INC SILVER SPRING, MD | FACILITATE BUFFALO CHARTER EARLY COLLEGE COHORT | $83,850 |
| ALLEYWAY THEATRE BUFFALO, NY | GENERAL OPERATING FOR SALARY RESTRUCTURING | $30,000 |
| ARTPARK & COMPANY INC LEWISTON, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT 2024 - 2026 | $45,000 |
| ARTS AT THE BAKERY (WEST FALLS CTR FOR THE ARTS) WEST FALLS, NY | PROGRAM FUNDS FOR EXPANSION OF PERFORMANCES & AUDIENCES | $20,000 |
| BE-A-FRIEND PROGRAM INC BUFFALO, NY | HS BIGS MENTORING AT TAPESTRY CHARTER SCHOOL | $30,000 |
| BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INC BUFFALO, NY | AFTER-SCHOOL PROJECT-BASED LEARNING TEACHER INTERN PRGM | $50,000 |
| BRICK EDUCATION NETWORK NEWARK, NJ | BRICK BUFFALO ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL START UP FUNDS | $200,000 |
| BRICK EDUCATION NETWORK NEWARK, NJ | EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM CURRICULUM AT BRICK BUFFALO | $111,790 |
| BUFFALO ACADEMY OF SCIENCE BUFFALO, NY | BUFFSCI EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM FUNDS | $90,000 |
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
- Nick Schifano, Program Officer
- Mary Lou Rubé, Program Officer
Contact Information:
- Phone: 716-800-4280
- Address: 250 Delaware Avenue, Suite 820, Buffalo, NY 14202
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLORINE LUHR | PRESIDENT | 50 | $227,230 |
| MICHAEL R MCGEE | CHAIRMAN | 4 | $52,500 |
| CHARLES W CHIAMPOU CPA JD | TREASURER | 4 | $52,500 |
| WARREN B GELMAN | SECRETARY | 4 | $52,500 |
| ROGER B SIMON | DIRECTOR | 4 | $52,500 |
| RAMONE ALEXANDER | DIRECTOR | 4 | $43,750 |
| CAITLIN CORR REILLY | DIRECTOR | 4 | $43,750 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has awarded multi-year grants to education and performing arts organizations in Erie County, including grants to Read to Succeed Buffalo's Experience Corps Volunteer Program and the WNY Teacher Residency Program at Canisius University. The foundation maintains an active grant portal and continues to accept applications aligned with its mission areas.
Cullen Foundation Awards Three Year Grant to Read to Succeed \u2014 The\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cullen Foundation of Western New York fund?
**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. **Vision:** To improve the quality of life for residents of Erie County. The foundation prioritizes funding programs with direct, measurable academic outcomes, particularly those serving economically disadvantaged students in grades pre-K through 12. The foundation in…
How do I apply for a grant from Cullen Foundation of Western New York?
**Application Process:** The foundation operates through two primary application pathways: • **Invited Applications:** The foundation prefers to grant by invitation following a collaborative process of information sharing. Invitations are extended to both existing relationships and new organizations demonstrating projects with clear connection to the foundation's mission. Invitations do not guarantee funding. • **Letter of Intent:** Organizations that have not received an invitation but believe…
Where does Cullen Foundation of Western New York make grants?
Erie County, New York. The foundation exclusively funds organizations located in and primarily benefiting residents of Erie County.
What size grants does Cullen Foundation of Western New York award?
In 2024, Cullen Foundation of Western New York awarded 121 grants totaling $5.2M — an average of about $43K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cullen Foundation of Western New York required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cullen Foundation of Western New York reported a distributable amount of $6.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cullen Foundation of Western New York's EIN?
Cullen Foundation of Western New York's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0849992. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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