For Grantees

Requesting Funds

Funds are available 3 months prior to your presentation, and not before the start of the year in which your grant is awarded (for example, 2027 grant funds are not available before January 2027). When you are ready to request your funds, please send us a Fund Request Letter.  This letter should include:- the upcoming dates of your project or work-in-progress-the type of grant you were awarded and what year it was awarded (Example: 2027 Workshop Grant)-the amount that was awarded -the name of your fiscal sponsor if you are not a 501c3-your signature with the datePlease email this letter as a pdf attachment to Grants Manager Ariel Lauryn and cc your fiscal sponsor (as applicable).Production and Family Grants must have a set opening date and a presenter. A change in presenter should be approved in advance.If you have a fiscal sponsor: We will arrange electronic payment of your grant with your fiscal sponsor. After these arrangements have been made, your fiscal sponsor will then process and distribute funds to you. A letter from the Foundation will be emailed to you and your fiscal sponsor along with the distribution of funds. The letter will include final reporting requirements and a deadline. Your fiscal sponsor will then be required to send a signed confirmation of receipt of payment.If you have 501c3 non-profit status: We will be in touch with you to arrange an electronic payment of your grant to your non-profit account. A letter from the Foundation will be emailed to you along with the distribution of funds. The letter will include final reporting requirements and a deadline. You will then be required to send a signed confirmation of receipt of payment.

Updating Project Information

Please add us to your organization’s mailing list using the address happenings@hensonfoundation.org and send us a copy of any project-related announcements, press releases, or any other materials about upcoming performances. If there are any significant changes to your project as outlined in your application, it is important that you contact our Grants Manager to discuss them in advance. We also ask that you notify us as early as possible of any upcoming performances, and submit performances of granted work to our Puppet Happenings listings.  

Crediting the Foundation

Shortly after we have informed you that you have been awarded a grant, we will send you a copy of our logo. Please credit us in all materials relating to your project using our full name, The Jim Henson Foundation and, whenever possible, our logo. The Foundation’s logo should only be used in connection with the specific show that has received a grant from the Foundation, and not the company’s other shows including shows that are in the process of applying for funding. If you need a copy of our logo or a high-resolution version for print, please email us at info@hensonfoundation.org, and we will send it to you. 

Don Cristobal, Billy-Club Man – Erin Orr & Rima Fand
Photo: Richard Termine

Final Reports

Final Reports are submitted through Submittable. Final Reports are due twice yearly: April 15th and October 15th. Grantees should submit by the first deadline that falls after the closing of their show. You will receive a link through your initial submission on Submittable.

The Final Report includes the following:

• Project Outcome: Tell us how your project unfolded and what the Foundation's support made possible. What did you make, what did you learn, and how did the grant move the work forward?

• A summary of how your Henson Grant was used to support your project

• A budget indicating how your funds were spent.

• A small selection of programs, press clippings, photographs, and other supplementary materials. 

• A video file containing 4 minutes of the final production.  This is a requirement for all Production, Workshop & Family Grants.  

  • All video submissions should be high quality .mov, .mp4 or .m4v files.  We prefer .mov files whenever possible.

  • The file should be no larger than 2GB

  • The file should be 3-4 minutes, but no longer than 4 minutes.

  • The video you submit needs to showcase excellence of the puppetry in the work.  Please do not send a video that contains little to no puppetry.

If you have problems or questions concerning your final report, you must contact us well in advance of your due date. Late or incomplete final reports will be taken into account when reviewing any future funding requests. For Artist Grants, a final report must be received before you are eligible to apply for another grant.