The Jim Henson Foundation
The Jim Henson Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1982 by puppeteer and Muppets creator Jim Henson. Based in Long Island City, New York, the Foundation operates as the only grant-making institution in the United States with a dedicated mission to promote and develop the art of puppetry. The Foundation has become a major advocate and resource for puppet artists across the country.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.6M
+59.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$261K
-9.4% YoY
Grant Count
45
-15.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+6.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jim Henson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $215K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Jim Henson Foundation was founded to promote and develop the art of puppetry in the United States. The Foundation supports excellence in contemporary American puppet theater through grants for the development and presentation of new works of live contemporary puppet theater by American artists.
Primary funding interests include:
- Contemporary puppet theater
- New works by puppet artists
- Arts, culture, and humanities
Grantmaking
Since its establishment in 1982, the Foundation has awarded over 1,200 grants totaling more than $4.2 million in grants, with over $2.8 million awarded directly to puppet artists.
Review Cycle
, with 2026 Artist Grants available for production, workshop, and family grants for new works of contemporary puppet theater by American artists.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds puppet artists and projects throughout the United States, with particular activity in New York, Minnesota, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $4.17 million
- Total Revenue: $668,615
- Total Expenses: $534,000
- Total Liabilities: $2,550
Additional Financial Data: According to more recent filings, total assets have been reported at $6.6 million, with total giving of $261,000.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,629,579 | $4,169,876 | $4,032,892 |
| Revenue | $2,967,828 | $668,615 | $893,497 |
| Expenses | $499,284 | $534,180 | $440,740 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $452,762 | $499,592 | $406,637 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,722,314 | $814,556 | $355,869 |
| Distributable Amount | $215,353 | $197,841 | $193,417 |
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
238 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Jim Henson Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for Puppetry Arts ($25,000), Center for Puppetry Arts ($25,000), Dixon Place ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLACK CHERRY PUPPET THEATER BALTIMORE, MD | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $4,000 |
| CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS ATLANTA, GA | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $25,000 |
| CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS ATLANTA, GA | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $25,000 |
| CONCRETE TEMPLE THEATRE NEW YORK, NY | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $3,000 |
| DIXON PLACE NEW YORK, NY | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $7,000 |
| DIXON PLACE NEW YORK, NY | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $5,000 |
| DIXON PLACE NEW YORK, NY | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $10,000 |
| FRACTURED ATLAS HARTSDALE, NY | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $3,000 |
| HERE ARTS CENTER NEW YORK, NY | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $7,000 |
| HERE ARTS CENTER NEW YORK, NY | PUPPET PRODUCTION | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Cheryl Henson has served as President of the Foundation since 1992. Cheryl Henson is the daughter of Jim Henson.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHERYL HENSON | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| RICHARD TERMINE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| HANNE TIERNEY | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| LOUIS BORODINSKY | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JANIE GEISER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHRIS GREEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KRISTIN HAVERTY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAIKO KIKUCHI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TARISH JEGHETTO PIPKINS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PRESTON WHITEWAY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 3718 Northern Boulevard, Suite 400 Long Island City, NY 11101
Phone: 212-439-7504
Email: info@hensonfoundation.org
Website: www.hensonfoundation.org
EIN: 13-3133702
The Foundation's office is located in Queens on Northern Boulevard between 37th Avenue and 38th Street. The closest subway stops are the 36th Street stop on the R/M lines and the 39th Avenue stop on the N/W lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Jim Henson Foundation fund?
The Jim Henson Foundation was founded to promote and develop the art of puppetry in the United States. The Foundation supports excellence in contemporary American puppet theater through grants for the development and presentation of new works of live contemporary puppet theater by American artists. Primary funding interests include: • Contemporary puppet theater • New works by puppet artists • Arts, culture, and humanities
How do I apply for a grant from The Jim Henson Foundation?
Since its establishment in 1982, the Foundation has awarded over 1,200 grants totaling more than $4.2 million in grants, with over $2.8 million awarded directly to puppet artists. **Grant Types:** • Production Grants • Workshop Grants • Family Grants **Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $50,000. **Recent Activity:** The Foundation actively administers annual grant cycles, with 2026 Artist Grants available for production, workshop, and family grants for new works of contemporary …
Where does The Jim Henson Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds puppet artists and projects throughout the United States, with particular activity in New York, Minnesota, and California.
What size grants does The Jim Henson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Jim Henson Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $261K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Jim Henson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Jim Henson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $215K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Jim Henson Foundation's EIN?
The Jim Henson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3133702. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Jim Henson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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