Grant Application FAQ

Can I submit an application in September if I did not submit a letter of intent in April?
No – we cannot accept any new applicants after the letter of intent deadline has passed.

What is a fiscal sponsor, and do I need one?
A fiscal sponsor is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that will receive and administer your funds on your behalf should you receive a grant. 501(c)(3) status is the federal tax determination given to non-profit charitable organizations. Because funds can only be awarded to non-profit organizations, you must apply using a fiscal sponsor if your company does not have non-profit status. The fiscal sponsor will be required to provide a letter stating that they are willing to serve as your fiscal sponsor. Once the funds are remitted, they will be required to send us a signed pdf confirmation of receipt of payment.

How do I find a fiscal sponsor?
One way to find a fiscal sponsor is through your current affiliations, such as theaters, libraries, community organizations, or professional societies that are familiar with your work. Puppeteers of America offers fiscal sponsorship to its members. The New York Foundation for the Arts offers a fiscal sponsorship program and provides a list of other organizations with fiscal sponsorship programs across the country. The Foundation Center also has information on finding a fiscal sponsor, along with examples of policies, procedures, and guidelines for fiscal sponsorship agreements.

Do I need a commitment from a fiscal sponsor prior to submitting my letter of intent?
No, you do not need a fiscal sponsor in order to submit a letter of intent. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you must have a commitment from a fiscal sponsor when the complete application is due.

Can my organization serve as a fiscal sponsor for an artist if we are applying for a grant ourselves?
Yes. Serving as a fiscal sponsor for another artist will not affect our consideration of your own application in any way.

Can my organization serve as the fiscal sponsor for multiple applicants?
Yes. You can serve as a fiscal sponsor for as many artists as you like. It will not affect our consideration of the artist’s applications or your own application, if you are submitting one yourself.

Can I change my fiscal sponsor after I have submitted my application?
No, you need to stick with your declared fiscal sponsor. If you absolutely need to make a switch, the situation must be addressed at least three months in advance of requesting funds.

Should I include a description of my company in my letter of intent?
While we are primarily interested in gaining a clear understanding of the content and execution of the proposed project, it is helpful to include some background information on your company in the letter of intent, particularly if you have not applied for a grant from the Jim Henson Foundation in the past. 

What sort of visuals should I submit with my full application if my piece is in an early stage of development?
Puppetry is a visual art form.  Images of the puppetry in the proposed production are essential to your application. Original artwork, sketches or early prototypes are welcome.  We do not fund work that is in such an early stage that there are no images. Please do not submit AI generated designs.

I am submitting a full application: How do I include video of the piece if it’s not completed?
We understand that no piece will be finished in the application process, since we do not fund work that is already completed. But the reviewing board needs to be able to see where you are at in your process. Please use the 4 minutes of video to showcase what you do have. We need to see the style of puppets in which you are working and excellence in performance.  We do not fund work that is in such an early stage of development that there is no video. 

Should I apply with a proposed dream budget or one that is more realistically achievable?
Please ensure that your budget is as realistic and accurate as possible, as the board will be evaluating applications in part on the viability of the proposed budget.

Do I need to specify whether I am applying for a Workshop Grant, Production Grant or Family Grant?
Yes.

Will the foundation consider a proposal for a project that is not strictly puppet theater if it incorporates elements of puppetry?
We will consider proposals for work that crosses or combines artistic genres as long as puppetry is integral to the entire piece. We receive far more proposals each year than we are able to fund, so we must focus on those projects that most closely fulfill our mission to develop new works of puppet theater. If your work includes only a few scenes with puppetry, or if the puppets are used as props or manipulated by actors with no training in the art form, then we do not suggest applying for a grant from The Jim Henson Foundation. 

I just got a great idea for a show, can I apply for a Workshop grant?
Not Yet! You need to work through the idea of the show until you really know what you want to create and how you will do it. You need to have visual images and video footage to show.

I received a Family Grant.  Can I apply for a Production Grant the following year with the same show?
No.  Only works that have received Workshop Grants can return the following year to apply for a Production or Family Grant.

I applied but was not awarded a grant. Can I apply again in a future application granting cycle with the same show?
In order to be considered in a future granting cycle, the work needs to have made significant progress since the last application was submitted. The Letter of Intent and full application submitted need to reflect this.

Are there types of theater that the Foundation typically does not fund?
Our primary mission is to support excellence in innovative contemporary professional puppet theater.  There are many wonderful ways that puppets can be used outside of professional theater that we do not fund, see complete list in Artist Grant page.  Because Jim Henson created the Foundation to support artists performing their own unique style of puppetry, we generally do not support “muppet-style” puppetry. We look for innovation in the creation of tangible character driven puppet theater. 

How does the Foundation define “puppetry”?
One can debate the definition of puppetry, but we consider it to be the art of bringing inanimate objects to life.  Puppets should have believable characters and appear to be living breathing beings with personality and history of their own. They come in a range of techniques and can be operated by strings, rods, handles, or direct contact with the human hand. They are manipulated with intent to give them the illusion of life. We do not consider masks alone to be puppets, but in combination with puppets, masked work can fit with what we fund. Not all types of shadow theater are puppetry. Miniature environments alone are not puppetry unless they include miniature inhabitants that are brought to life. Crankies alone are not puppet theater, they are illustrations.  We do not fund theater that is primarily about illustrating a story or message. We do not fund visual theater alone. The puppets must come to life.

Can I apply for a PATCH Residency?
There is no application for the PATCH residency. In general, it is offered to a few recent Artist Grant recipients in the New York area, often when they are preparing for a public presentation of their work.

What is a Dramaturg or Outside Eye and why do I need one?
A dramaturg is an expert in theater and plays. A dramaturg can offer insight into historical context and give advice about shaping a narrative. An Outside Eye is anyone who you trust and will listen to regarding how the piece will be received by an audience. We would like applicants to identify a specific person to advise on their piece as many puppeteers and directors become so close to their work that it is hard to comprehend how it will be seen by an audience. We strongly believe that engaging with an experienced puppet or theater artist will improve your show.

Does participation in a slam count for a Workshop Grant?
No. Participation in a slam does not meet the requirements of a Workshop Grant. We do not fund puppet slams.