The Responsive Grant process enables Cullen Foundation to gain a better understanding of applicant organizations and learn about the needs of the individuals served.

In Education, the Foundation seeks applications from organizations offering out-of-school-time and/or in-school academic programming. All programs should have direct academic outcomes, be evidence-based, and primarily serve economically disadvantaged students. Programs must support students from multiple schools.

Starting in Summer 2020, education responsive grants will align with the ESSA tiers of evidence; the stronger the evidence supporting a program’s effectiveness, the larger the funding pool available to that program. These grants will be aligned with four stages of funding with the goal of moving as many programs as possible through the tiers as they build capacity.

Types of Support

Cullen Foundation has established the following types of support for responsive grants in the education focus area:

• Program/project support
• Capital/physical infrastructure
• Capacity building

Funding Information

• An organization may apply for 1, 2 or 3 years of funding, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per year (for a $300,000 total maximum).
• Receiving the maximum $100,000/year request amount is rare and occurs only when the Foundation deems unique strategic alignment between Cullen Foundation's mission and the program's outcomes.
• Multi-year grants are made only when the Foundation believes the multi-year nature of the request is essential to the project's success.

Eligibility Criteria

Cullen Foundation has the following eligibility criteria for all applicants:

• The organization is a 501(c)(3).
• The organization MUST submit audited or reviewed financials prepared by a CPA for its most recently completed fiscal year. This is Cullen's requirement and is not related to NYS requirements.
• Erie County is the primary geographic service area. Education applicants not located in Erie County must serve at least 80% Erie County residents.
• No funding received will be used for partisan political activity.
• No funding received will be used for expenses already incurred.
• No funding will overlap with an existing grant from the Cullen Foundation.
• The request must fit within Cullen Foundation’s education focus area (evidence-based programs with direct academic outcomes, serving economically disadvantaged students in grades pre-K through 12); and requests for the following will not be considered:
  • Recreational camps or recreation-based programs
  • Internship programs
  • Education resource rooms and drop-in centers
  • Museum exhibits
  • Professional development programs and services
  • Field trip funds and programs
  • Skills and job training programs
  • Transportation requests
  • Arts education programs
  • Requests from Individual schools
  • Request for programs that serve students from only one school
  • Individual scholarships will not be awarded other than those provided by the Cullen Scholars program.

For more information, visit Cullen Foundation.