The Puffin Foundation Ltd
The Puffin Foundation Ltd. is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Teaneck, New Jersey. Founded in 1983 by Perry and Gladys Rosenstein, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization dedicated to supporting artists and art organizations. The foundation maintains the Puffin Cultural Forum, a public gallery and performance space in Teaneck, and opened a second location in Park Slope, Brooklyn in 2025. The foundation also operates a gallery at the Museum of the City of New York.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.5M
-0.5% YoY
Grant Count
30
-6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$84K
+6.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Puffin Foundation seeks to open the doors of artistic expression by providing grants to artists and art organizations who are often excluded from mainstream opportunities due to their identities or social philosophies.
The foundation's name draws from the puffin bird, once endangered in the northeastern United States but restored to its native habitats through concerned citizen efforts. This serves as a metaphor for the foundation's mission: to join with other concerned groups and individuals to ensure that the arts not merely survive, but flourish at all levels of society.
Primary funding areas include:
- Fine arts, music, and photography
- Environmental artistic activism
- Art for social justice
- Projects encouraging open communication and expression of diverse viewpoints
- Support for emerging artists and small organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation provides grants to hundreds of artists annually through multiple programs:
Grant Range
$1,000–$5,000, with most grants averaging $2,500
Review Cycle
s
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a national focus with particular emphasis on the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area, as well as Illinois. The foundation maintains strong ties to its home community of Teaneck and Bergen County, New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $60.2–$62.3 million
- Total Revenue: $6.61 million
- Total Expenses: $4.64 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Annual Giving: Approximately $2–3 million
Staff: 6 employees
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since February 2015; EIN 47-1164496
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
133 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Puffin Foundation Ltd
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Institute for Public Affairs Dba in These Times ($362,500), Other Contributions ($345,012), Type Media Centerthe Nation Institute ($335,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE ARCHIVES INC ALBA NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT HISTORY MUSEUMS. | $245,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC ACLU NEW YORK, NY | CIVIL LIBERTIES ADVOCACY. | $69,166 |
| BABIES AND MOTHERS ALIVE USABRICK BY BRICK PARTNERS NEW YORK, NY | EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND SCHOOLS. | $75,000 |
| BARN RAISING MEDIA INC CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $50,000 |
| CAMP KINDERLAND INC BROOKLYN, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $20,000 |
| DEMOCRACY NOW PRODUCTIONS INC NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $150,000 |
| ECONOMIC HARDSHIP REPORTING PROJECT BROOKLYN, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $30,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE STUDY OF INDEPENDENT SOCIAL IDEAS DBA DISSENT MAGAZINE NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $50,000 |
| FRANCINE WEINBERG GRAFF CULVER CITY, CA | SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF FILM POLITICS IS A MOTHER. | $25,000 |
| FRIENDS OF GIVAT HAVIVA NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Neal Rosenstein – President
- Gladys Miller-Rosenstein – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEAL S ROSENSTEIN | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 40 | $137,415 |
| GLADYS MILLER-ROSENSTEIN | VICE-PRESIDENT | 40 | $125,410 |
| SABINE ROSENSTEIN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced the 2025 winners of The Puffin Prize for Creative Citizenship: Hands Off NYC and Unidos MN, grassroots organizations mobilizing efforts in New York City and Minneapolis. The award ceremony is scheduled for May 18, 2026.
Grants Info | The Puffin FoundationIn January 2026, The Puffin Foundation hosted a conversation about the future of independent media at its Brooklyn space, presented by The Nation, featuring StudentNation writers and journalists.
Grants Info | The Puffin FoundationThe foundation continues to operate the Teaneck International Film Festival, with the 2025 festival scheduled for November 6–13.
Contact Information
Address: 20 E. Oakwood Ave., Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: (201) 836-3400 (weekdays 11:00am–4:00pm Eastern)
Email: grants@puffinfoundation.org
Website: https://www.puffinfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Puffin Foundation Ltd fund?
The Puffin Foundation seeks to open the doors of artistic expression by providing grants to artists and art organizations who are often excluded from mainstream opportunities due to their identities or social philosophies. The foundation's name draws from the puffin bird, once endangered in the northeastern United States but restored to its native habitats through concerned citizen efforts. This serves as a metaphor for the foundation's mission: to join with other concerned groups and individua…
How do I apply for a grant from The Puffin Foundation Ltd?
The foundation provides grants to hundreds of artists annually through multiple programs: **General Artist Grants** • Typical grant range: $1,000–$5,000, with most grants averaging $2,500 • Rolling application basis with quarterly review cycles • Open to individual artists and small organizations **Environmental Artistic Activism Grant Program** • Separate grant cycle with specific deadlines **Annual Artist Grant Programs** • Odd year focus and even year focus cycles **Puffin/Nation Institute I…
Where does The Puffin Foundation Ltd make grants?
The foundation has a national focus with particular emphasis on the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area, as well as Illinois. The foundation maintains strong ties to its home community of Teaneck and Bergen County, New Jersey.
What size grants does The Puffin Foundation Ltd award?
In 2024, The Puffin Foundation Ltd awarded 30 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $84K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Puffin Foundation Ltd's EIN?
The Puffin Foundation Ltd's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1164496. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Puffin Foundation Ltd'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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