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.
Key Funders
Howard Gilman Foundation
Davee Foundation
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
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
3M Foundation funds theater organizations and groups with project specific and general operating grants.
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.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
This funder makes grants to women academics and supports women and girls through activism and empowerment.
AMERICAN THEATER WING
The American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards, provides a number of services under its professional development, artistic advancement, and media & educational outreach programs, in addition to a handful of grant programs that invest in artistic advancement program and a series of educational and career resources.
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 funds theater organizations concerned with the proliferation and presentation of the performing arts.
ANNENBERG FOUNDATION
Annenberg makes national theater grants prioritizing companies in Los Angeles County. The foundation is a risk taker, unafraid to back projects that ultimately fail. This is great for out-of-the-ordinary theater productions.
ASSOCIATION FOR PERFORMING ARTS PROFESSIONALS
The Association of Performing Arts Professionals supports individuals and organizations through its signature grant and professional development programs.
ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE
Astraea funds grants for lesbians and queer women, trans and gender non-conforming people, intersex people, and people of color. The foundation also supports rights organizations that advance racial, economic, and gender-related justice.
AT&T FOUNDATION
AT&T Foundation doesn't have a program dedicated solely to theater but makes numerous small grants to theaters and playhouses nationwide.
AYRSHIRE FOUNDATION
The foundation sees “community culture” as a vital aspect of positive change, and theater as a component of community culture. Geographic restrictions apply.
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.
BROWN FOUNDATION
The Brown Foundation prioritizes supports both large and small theater organizations in Texas, but conducts some work across the United States.
CAPITAL GROUPS COMPANIES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Capital Groups Companies Charitable Foundation 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, as well as nationwide.
CREATIVE CAPITAL
Creative Capital makes grants for theater through its Performing Arts program. Grants are limited to $50,000. However, Creative Capital does provide professional support, workshops, and other tools to its grantees.
DELMAS FOUNDATION
This foundation largely invests in the performing arts around New York City.
DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Doris Duke Foundation may be better known for supporting dancers, but it does throw its support behind theater artists as well. The foundation has four grantmaking criteria, and you must fulfill at least one of them to qualify for a theater grant.
DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION
This law firm funder is a steady supporter of arts organizations, including theater programs, and has an open application process. It only funds in areas where the firm operates.
MAX AND VICTORIA DREYFUS FOUNDATION
Funder created upon the death of famed music publisher Max Dreyfus, who worked with American greats like George Gershwin and Cole Porter, interested in providing relatively small grants that can make a big difference.
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. Its grantmaking also supports efforts to deal with creative environmental and energy solutions, and security and international policy.
EMBREY FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Embrey Family Foundation invests in theater productions and organizations across the United States.
EMERSON CHARITABLE TRUST
The Emerson Charitable Trust broadly supports a variety of arts and culture organizations across the United States.
FIDELITY FOUNDATION
This corporate funder makes arts and culture a primary focus of its philanthropic pursuits, including support of theater, although it's the branch that is seemingly the lowest of the foundation's arts priorities.
FORD FOUNDATION
With more than $11 billion in assets, the Ford Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. It prioritizes addressing inequality and fostering social change.
FOUNDATION FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS
This funder offers unrestricted grants to individuals—rather than projects—in theater and performing arts.
GANNETT FOUNDATION
Gannett supports an array of projects related to theater in areas where its corporate sister operates.
DAVID GEFFEN FOUNDATION
The David Geffen Foundation supports large and small theater organizations across the country.
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.
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 gives performing arts support to educational institutions as well as symphonies and opera companies. Most of their giving is based in California - including a number of music scholarship, but their higher education performing arts philanthropy supports colleges and universities nationwide.
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.
THE YIP HARBURG FOUNDATION
The Yip Harburg Foundation makes grants in support of social and political activism in theater.
HORACE W. GOLDSMITH FOUNDATION
The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation supports both large and small theater organizations.
HEARST FOUNDATIONS
Hearst's focus on culture includes a substantial commitment to theater. This support is shaded toward artist development and outreach into underserved communities. Only established arts organizations are eligible.
DAVID CHARLES HORN FOUNDATION
The David Charles Horn Foundation supports unpublished works of playwrights around the world.
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN PLAYRIGHTS
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 the 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 across the country.
KNIGHT FOUNDATION
Knight’s Fostering the Arts Program awards national theater production grants as well as grants that support local theater festivals.
KRESGE FOUNDATION
The Kresge Foundation supports arts and culture organizations working in low-income areas of major cities across the United States.
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 awards theater grants to organizations across the United States.
MACY'S
Macy’s makes substantial and widespread contributions in the area of arts and culture, and theater is at the forefront of this giving. National theater programming is funded by the foundation, but the corporation gives much more locally.
MAP FUND
MAP supports a variety of artists who challenge longstanding social and cultural heirarchies in the United States.
MAURER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Maurer Family Foundation broadly funds arts and culture, which includes dance.
ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION
Mellon’s Performing Arts Program awards grants to theater companies, orchestras and modern dance companies. Grant applications are by invitation only. The good news is that Mellon is quite generous in its Performing Arts grantmaking, awarding nearly $40 million annually on average, and awards multi-year grants.
MICHELIN CORPORATE FOUNDATION
The Michelin Corporate Foundation supports a variety of theater organizations around the world. It’s music grantmaking largely supports work that relates to one’s 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 mediums.
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
Fifteen- to 18-year-old emerging artists in the theater arts are eligible for National Youth Arts Foundation grants. The NYAF’s goal is to cultivate and develop the next generation of artists with mentorship, scholarships and other opportunities.
OPEN MEADOWS FOUNDATION
Open Meadows grants support women and girls leading and benefitting from projects that address activism and social justice in theater.
PLAYWRIGHTS’ CENTER
The Playwrights’ Center supports playwrights in all stages of their career.
PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION-USA
The Princess Grace Foundation-USA supports theater directors, designers, actors and playwrights through a combination of apprenticeships, fellowships and scholarships.
PRUDENTIAL FOUNDATION
The Prudential Foundation supports theater grantmaking through its arts and civic infrastructure program.
PUFFIN FOUNDATION
The Puffin Foundation supports a wide range of theatrical works across the United States. This includes dance, writing, video, film radio, photography, and music, among other theatrical issues.
JEROME ROBBINS FOUNDATION
Grants for theater overlap with dance from this performing arts funder.
DAVID ROCKEFELLER FUND
The David Rockefeller Fund supports visual and performing arts organizations around the United States.
SALESFORCE FOUNDATION
The Salesforce Foundation predominately funds local theaters and related organizations.
SHUBERT FOUNDATION
Shubert only funds established theater and dance companies across the United States.
SPRINT FOUNDATION
Sprint's theater related grants are largely awarded to smaller and local organizations.
SUNDANCE INSTITUTE
While best known for supporting independent filmmaking, the Sundance Institute also has a theater program, which supports labs and retreats.
THEATER 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 a wide number of partnership grants available for theater professionals.
TIGER BARON FOUNDATION
The Tiger Baron Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to arts and cultural institutions, the environment, education, health, and human services. Its performance arts grantmaking focuses on theater, music and dance.
TIME WARNER FOUNDATION
This foundation supports diverse theater companies across the United States.
TOW FOUNDATION
The Tow Foundation’s theater grantmaking supports “institutions, playwrights and participants who collaborate to create and share their work in theaters prisons and communities.”
UNION PACIFIC FOUNDATION
Union Pacific Foundation places a consistent emphasis on the arts through its directive to “improve and enrich the general quality of life in the community.” Funding for theater is a significant manifestation of its arts support.
UNITED STATES ARTISTS
United States Artists supports creative artists and theater artists (particularly playwrights) with competitive grants.
USARTISTS INTERNATIONAL
USArtists International offers a unique travel grant, defraying the costs of performing artists who showcase their acts abroad. Solo and ensemble theater artists are significant beneficiaries of these grants.
U.S. BANCORP FOUNDATION
This significant grantor to theater programs in 25 states—specifically performance groups—within its focus on arts and culture, viewing this support as part of a larger context of community development and uplift.
VENTUROUS THEATER FUND
The Venturous Theater Fund supports playwrights and other theater artists through organizations that serve and employ them. Grants go to playwright collectives, self-produced writers, and playwright service organizations.
WALLACE FOUNDATION
The foundation’s performing arts grants support performing arts research, audience outreach, education programs and audience building, among other concerns. Most grants are by invitation only, but the Wallace Foundation does accept inquiries.
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.
WELLS FARGO FOUNDATION
Giving in 44 states, the foundation prioritizes arts and culture giving, and theater is a major beneficiary.
WESTERN STATES ARTS FEDERATION
WESTAF creates and promotes arts opportunities in the western region of the U.S. Its grantmaking supports presenting organizations by financially incentivizing them to bring visiting artists into the area.
WUNDERKINDER FOUNDATION
As this is Steven Spielberg’s foundation, Wunderkinder’s arts and culture grantmaking prioritizes theater and film.
WYNCOTE FOUNDATION
The Wyncote Foundation theater grants tend to support local, community-based theater organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area.
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.
