Learn about theater grants by browsing our curated list of top theater funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities by using the search tool for GrantFinder. Become a member.
Funding Trends for Theater Grants
More than 10 million Americans attended performances at nonprofit theaters in the United States in 2022, and more than 600,000 subscribed to a theater season, according to the Theatre Communications Group (TCG). There are thousands of nonprofit theaters across the country, developing and presenting creative work that ranges from theatrical classics to innovative new productions. Americans for the Arts, which studies the economic and social impact of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry, found that “86% of Americans say, ‘arts and culture are important to their community’s quality of life and livability,’ and 79% of the American public believe that the arts are ‘important to their community’s businesses, economy, and local jobs.’”
Yet America’s nonprofit theaters are struggling. More than half of those surveyed by TCG were budgeting for a deficit in 2024, the national organization reported in a snapshot survey called Compounding Crises. A field that has historically been funded by a mix of earned income, donations, and grants, nonprofit theater has not yet recovered from the impact of pandemic-era closures that exacerbated other challenges, including the decline of the subscription model, inflation and rising labor costs, and climate change impacts from flooding to wildfires.
The theater world is advocating for increased federal funding to shore up nonprofit theaters. Private funders could also play an important role. The latest data from TCG, however, shows that foundation funding has remained consistent from 2018 to 2022 after adjusting for inflation, and trustee and other individual giving was lower in 2022 than in 2018.
Individual donors, including trustees, have historically played an outsized role in philanthropic support for theater. There are also several private national foundations that are stalwart funders of nonprofit theater indicated in the Key Funders above. Additionally, there are foundations that give for theater in their focus geographic areas: the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation and MacArthur Foundation in Chicago; the Ahmanson Foundation in Los Angeles; and the Brown Foundation and Houston Endowment in Texas. Theater nonprofits can also find support from a number of family foundations that make grants for theater. Important regrantors in this field include the National Theater Project, Black Seed, and the National Latinx Theater Initiative. Also at the local level, many community foundations give for theater.
Areas of Theater Funding
Donations and grants for theater support nonprofit theaters, theater festivals, residencies, theater arts education and individual artists such as playwrights and performers. In general, foundations are most likely to support operations, productions and projects, with major theater funders such as the Shubert and Gilman foundations known for providing unrestricted general operating support. Individual donors are often drawn to support capital projects. Support for individual artists comes from a few foundations as well as regrantors focused on specific communities.
History of Philanthropy for Theater
Theater artists founded numerous nonprofit theater companies across the United States from the 1930s to the 1960s, critic Isaac Butler wrote in the New York Times. Once these organizations were established, private and public funders got involved in supporting them. The Ford Foundation, Butler writes, started making grants to theaters in the 1950s. The Shubert Foundation, the nation’s largest funder dedicated to unrestricted funding to nonprofit theater and dance companies, was established in 1945 and started making grants in 1977. Individual donors, including trustees, have long been important funders of nonprofit theaters, but their support has been declining in recent years.
Gaps in Theater Funding
While some other sectors have already recovered from pandemic impacts, nonprofit theaters “need a longer runway to recovery,” TCG and other advocates explain. Theater organizations were already struggling before COVID, and pandemic closures exacerbated budget gaps. While pandemic-era government funding was historic and helpful, foundations and government funders have not yet stepped up with the level of increased funding that is still needed to fill the gaps until nonprofit theaters can fully recover and implement new models to succeed in a changed world.
Subscribers can learn more about this giving area with IP’s State of American Philanthropy paper on Theater Grants.
Foundations for Theater Grants
3M FOUNDATION
Arts grantmaking focuses on increasing community vitality through programs that involve audiences in “vibrant and diverse art opportunities.”
AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY
AAS funds fellowships that improve the American people’s understanding of pre-20th century history. AAS prioritizes work for general audiences rather than academic or specialized audiences.
AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express invests in theaters and theater organizations across the United States, but prioritizes giving to six U.S. locations.
AMERICAN THEATRE WING
The American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards, makes grants for theater and theater education anywhere in the U.S.
THE ANDERSON CENTER
The Anderson Center is an artist community in rural Minnesota that provides opportunities for residencies and retreats. It supports the arts in the upper Midwest.
PAUL M. ANGELL FAMILY FOUNDATION
Angell’s theater grants emphasize classical works and communties throughout the Midwest.
ANNENBERG FOUNDATION
Annenberg’s theater grants prioritizes organizations in Los Angeles County. This foundation is a risk taker and a great source of support for out-of-the-ordinary projects.
ASSOCIATION FOR PERFORMING ARTS PROFESSIONALS
This association supports individuals and organizations through its signature grant and professional development programs.
ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE
Astraea’s Global Arts Fund supports organizations that use “art as a tool for social transformation and have limited accesss to resources for this critical work.” Specific themes change with each funding cycle.
AYRSHIRE FOUNDATION
This foundation sees “community culture” as a vital aspect of positive change. It supports smaller theater groups in select locations in Northern California and Michigan.
A BLADE OF GRASS
A Blade of Grass seeks social change through the arts. It supports outside-the-box artistic thinkers and artists through fellowship programs.
BOGLIASCO FOUNDATION
The Bogliasco Foundation, near Genoa, provides short theater residencies to scholars and creative artists from all over the world.
BNSF FOUNDATION
BNSF typically awards grants to smaller local and regional theaters and related programs in areas served by its parent railway company.
BROWN FOUNDATION
The Brown Foundation supports both large and and small theater organizations in Texas and occasionally supports theaters in other parts of the country.
CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
This funder invests in an array of theaters and theater organizations across the United States.
AMON G. CARTER FOUNDATION
This funder makes grants to promote and strengthen Tarrant County, Texas, which includes Fort Worth. To a lesser extent, it works nationally.
CREATIVE CAPITAL
Creative Capital makes grants of up to $50,000 through its Performing Arts program. It also offers professional support, workshops and other tools to its grantees.
DELMAS FOUNDATION
This foundation targets professional organizations in New York City that produce classic dramas for large audiences.
DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Doris Duke Foundation may be better known for supporting dancers, but it also supports theater. Grants go to a combination of national organizations, smaller theater groups and individual performing artists.
DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION
This law firm funder is a steady supporter of arts organizations in Minnesota, including thater organizations of every size.
MAX AND VICTORIA DREYFUS FOUNDATION
Giving nationally, this funder supports small- to medium-sized thaters or ensembles that court broad audiences, provide free or low-cost performances or engage youth and community in their produtions.
ECOLAB FOUNDATION
Ecolab supports the communities in which it has a corporate presence. Its foundation sees supporting performing arts, including theater companies, as a key component of its community involvement commitment.
EDGERTON FOUNDATION
The Edgerton Foundation supports artistic, educational and cultural institutions in Los Angeles, and funds the development of New American Plays nationwide.
EMBREY FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Embrey Family Foundation invests in theater productions and organizations across the United States. Texas and Colorado are areas of priority, and the foundation appreciates projects with equity and social justice components.
EMERSON CHARITABLE TRUST
The Emerson Charitable Trust broadly supports a variety of arts and culture organizations in areas where its parent company maintains operations.
FIDELITY FOUNDATION
Theater is not a main priority for this corporate funer, but funding is available in areas where its parent company operates.
FORD FOUNDATION
With more than $11 billion in assets, the Ford Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Its arts funding supports projects and organizatiosn that draw attention to underrepresented groups and strengthen marginaized people.
FOUNDATION FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS
This funder offers unrestricted grants to individual artists workign in the media of dance, music/sound, performance art/theater, poetry and visual arts. Grants target artists at pivotal stages of their careers.
DAVID GEFFEN FOUNDATION
The David Geffen Foundation’s giving consists mainly of grants to well-recognized theaters and venues in Los Angeles and New York City.
GEORGIA-PACIFIC FOUNDATION
The paper manufacturer's philanthropic arm supports theater under its large community enrichment umbrella, so competition for grants can be stiff. All grants from George Pacific fund general operating support.
HORACE W. GOLDSMITH FOUNDATION
The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation’s giving for the arts emphasizes New York City and Philadelphia.
ANN AND GORDON GETTY FOUNDATION
Not to be confused with the Getty Foundation established by their father, J. Paul Getty, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation’s grants for the arts and arts education largely focus on classical music and opera, but funding for theater isn’t out of the question.
JOHN SIMON GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
One of the most prestigious awards in its field, the Guggenheim Fellowship is considered a mid-career award for those who are well established in their area of expertise. Theater awards support playwrights, performance artists who create original work, dramaturgy and theater or drama research.
THE YIP HARBURG FOUNDATION
A significant portion of Harburg’s grantmaking supports theater organizations around the U.S., with a strong focus on musical theater with a “socially responsible message.”
HEARST FOUNDATIONS
Performing arts funding emphasizes projects and organizations that aim to support developing artists and expose underserved communities to the arts as both audiences and participants.
DAVID CHARLES HORN FOUNDATION
The David Charles Horn Foundation supports unpublished works of playwrights around the world.
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS
The International Centre for Women Playwrights runs grantmaking programs to support women playwrights with travel, professional activities and script development. Grantmaking is international in scope.
JAPAN-UNITED STATES FRIENDSHIP COMMISSION
This funder is an independent federal government agency that supports projects that highlight cultural, educational and intellectual exchange between the United States and Japan.
F.M. KIRBY FOUNDATION
The F.M. Kirby Foundation support a wide range of visual and performing arts organizations. Giving prioritizes the state of New Jersey.
KNIGHT FOUNDATION
Giving for arts and culture focuses on work involving “the application of technology to the creation, dissemination and experience of art” in order to “strengthen ties with communities while fostering meaningful connections between people and place.”
KRESGE FOUNDATION
The Kresge Foundation integrates arts and culture into its community development giving and focuses on underserved urban communities.
LEAR FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Lear Family Foundation has demonstrated a strong interest in theater over the past several years, supporting large and small theater companies and festivals.
REVA AND DAVID LOGAN FOUNDATION
The Reva and David Logan Foundation mainly supports organizations in Chicago, but a few organizations in other parts of the U.S. have received grants.
MACY'S
Macy’s giving for the arts is conducted locally and has decreased in recent years.
MAP FUND
MAP supports a variety of artists who challenge longstanding social and cultural hierarchies in the United States.
MAURER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Maurer Family Foundation provides financial assistance to organizations and institutions whose goal is to enrich their communities and the lives of their patrons through programs of cultural value.
ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION
Arts and culture grantmaking focuses on “exceptional creative practice, scholarship, and conservation of arts and culture, while nurturing a representative and robust arts and culture ecosystem.”
MICHELIN CORPORATE FOUNDATION
The Michelin Corporate Foundation’s Heritage and the Arts program “supports cultural creating and contributes to the preservation of local heritage.”
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
NEA is an independent government organization that funds art projects that celebrate artistic American excellence in theater, among other media.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
NEH is an independent government organization that funds projects to promote research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICAN PEN WOMEN
National League of American Pen Women seeks to increase the visibility of women artists in the art world. It’s funding priorities include music, visual arts and writing.
NATIONAL YOUNGARTS FOUNDATION
The NYAF provides a variety of mentorship and scholarship programs, master classes, national recognition and other opportunities to further learning and encourage pursuit of careers in the arts.
OPEN MEADOWS FOUNDATION
The New York-based Open Meadows Foundation supports organizations that are “led by and benefit women and girls.” Grantmaking focuses on political activism and inclusive arts projects.
PLAYWRIGHTS’ CENTER
The Playwrights’ Center supports playwrights in all stages of their careers. The state of Minnesota is an area of grantmaking priority.
PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION-USA
Princess Grace Awards support emerging U.S.-based artists in theater, dance and film.
PRUDENTIAL FOUNDATION
The Prudential Foundation supports theater grantmaking through its arts and civic infrastructure program.
PUFFIN FOUNDATION
The Puffin Foundation makes small grants to artists and arts organizations “who are often excluded from mainstream opportunities.”
JEROME ROBBINS FOUNDATION
Grants for theater overlap with dance from this performing arts funder.
DAVID ROCKEFELLER FUND
The fund’s arts program has a national focus and supports “cultivating, showcasing and disseminating the stories of innovative art for social change.”
SALESFORCE FOUNDATION
The Salesforce Foundation occasionally makes grants to major cultural institutions in the communities where its employees live and work, such as San Francisco, Seattle, Indianapolis, and New Orleans.
SHUBERT FOUNDATION
The Shubert Foundation is the nation’s largest foundation providing unrestricted grants specifically to theater and dance companies.
SUNDANCE INSTITUTE
While best known for supporting independent filmmaking, Sundance funds a handful of labs, retreats and residencies for theater, two of which are open to applications from the public:
THEATRE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
TCG currently provides an array of support to theater professionals at all levels, with services that include educational events, advocacy, research tools and grants.
TIGER BARON FOUNDATION
Arts and culture are Tiger Baron’s largest areas of giving, and the foundation has demonstrated a strong commitment to the performing arts.
TIME WARNER FOUNDATION
The Time Warner Foundation makes grants for film and theater, prioritizing diversity and the development of film and theater professionals from groups underrepresented in these fields.
TOW FOUNDATION
Grants for arts and culture support the nonprofit arts communities in both New York and Connecticut, with a strong focus on programs that “affirm human dignity and transform lives, in prison and beyond.” Tow also runs the Tow Playwrights in Residence Program in New York City.
UNION PACIFIC FOUNDATION
This is another funder that ties its arts giving to its community and economic development efforts. Funding for theater is a significant component of its arts an culture grantmaking.
UNITED STATES ARTISTS
This organization provides unrestricted $50,000 grants to artists across eight different creative disciplines, including theater and performance art.
U.S. BANCORP FOUNDATION
This significant grantor to theater programs in 25 states where its parent company maintains operations. Bancorp is a good source of funding for community theaters of all shapes and sizes.
VENTUROUS THEATER FUND
Via the Tides Foundation, this fund supports theater and playwrights with capital grants and fellowships. Mid-sized theater companies and the development of new works are of specific interest here.
WALLACE FOUNDATION
This funder focuses on on arts organizations of color, specifically those organizations that “provide creative outlets, preserve cultural heritage, offer social support, and serve as gathering spaces.”
KURT WEILL FOUNDATION FOR MUSIC
Supports performance, scholarship and professional development related to the work and lives of Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya and Marc Blitzstein. Although it is mainly a music funder, related theatrical projects are eligible for funding.
WELLS FARGO FOUNDATION
Although this foundation gives in 44 states, most of its arts funding stems from its Local Community grants programs.
WESTERN STATES ARTS FEDERATION
Current giving emphasizes equity, underserved and rural communities in western part of the U.S. Support goes to community organizations as well as visiting artists and programs that “enrich the lives of local communities.”
WUNDERKINDER FOUNDATION
Steven Spielberg’s Wunderkinder Foundation emphasizes theater and film, including related higher education programs. This funder favors large and well-known organizations.
WYNCOTE FOUNDATION
Performing arts grants support “developing organizations that inspire and energize audiences” in Pennsylvania.
Additional Resources
Theatre Communications Group is a significant funding intermediary that has awarded over $43 million in grants, subsidies and scholarships to individuals and theater organizations.
Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) is the national network of private, public and corporate arts funders focused on providing “leadership and service that advances the use of philanthropic and governmental resources to support the growth of the arts and culture.”
Americans for the Arts, which works to advance the arts in the United States, is an important organization for the dance community. Its website includes white papers and research on fundraising trends and best practices.
SMU DataArts’ mission is “to empower arts and cultural leaders with high-quality data and evidence-based resources and insights that help them to overcome challenges and increase impact.” SMU DataArts provides resources for arts organizations, fundraisers and arts grantmakers.
The Performing Arts Alliance is the national policy advocate, leadership forum and learning network for America’s nonprofit performing arts organizations, artists and allies.
