Cullen Foundation Performing Arts Action Grant

The Action Grant is an expedited route for past Cullen performing arts grantees seeking less than $10,000 per year. It is a streamlined, one-step application with no letter of intent, and requests can cover one to three years of funding for capacity building, general operating, program or capital projects.

The recommended request scales with the organization's revenue: up to $5,000 per year for organizations with revenues under $75,000; up to $7,500 per year at $75,000 or more; and up to $10,000 per year at $150,000 or more.

To be eligible an organization must be a past Cullen performing arts grantee (2015 or later) and must not have an open grant with the Foundation. All other Cullen requirements apply, including reviewed or fully audited financial statements from the most recently completed fiscal year. Organizations that received a 2022 NYSCA/Cullen "Expanding Access to Arts Funding" grant are not eligible unless they are also a past Cullen performing arts grantee.

The Foundation will not consider arts education or art therapy programs, sponsorships including galas, fundraising events, conferences and travel, performing arts programming hosted by organizations outside the performing arts sector, activities of organizations serving primarily their own membership, or programs and events occurring less than 100 days from the date the application is submitted.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and processed within six weeks of receipt. Board decision and fund disbursement are both expedited. Apply online through the Foundation's grant portal; there is no letter of intent stage.

Review the Responsive Grants - Performing Arts eligibility criteria before applying, and contact Nick Schifano at nschifano@thecullenfoundation.org to confirm eligibility.