The Puffin Foundation Grant Cycle 2027 (Film/Video & Theater)

The Puffin Foundation, a New Jersey‑based nonprofit, supports artists and art organizations that are often overlooked by mainstream funding. Its 2027 grant cycle focuses on film/video and theater projects, with a maximum award of $3,500. Applications are accepted through a two‑month request period (September 14 – November 20 2026). Applicants must first submit a paper request form, which is mailed to the Foundation’s Teaneck office. Once approved, they receive login credentials to an online portal where they can submit a full proposal by 5 pm EST on Wednesday, December 16 2026. Eligibility is limited to U.S. residents with a Social Security number or U.S.‑based non‑profit organizations; projects must be located in the United States and fall within the film/video or theater genres. The Foundation explicitly rejects projects that use AI‑generated content, fund travel, education, or book writing, and it disallows partisan, violent, or terrorist‑related work. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis after the final deadline, with decisions typically taking several months.

grant funding up to $3,500; mentorship and review by foundation staff; exposure through foundation communications

U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients with SSN; one proposal per year; organization annual budget ≤ $250,000; projects must be US‑based; genre must match current cycle (fine arts, music, photography in even years; environmental artistic activism annually); no travel or conference expenses funded.