Learn about grants for dance by browsing our curated list of top dance funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities for dance using the search tool for GrantFinder. Become a member.

Dance Funding Trends

The world of dance philanthropy remains relatively small, which creates the conditions for a competitive grant space. Dance advocates attribute this imbalance to a variety of factors, ranging from the American public’s lack of exposure to dance at a young age to fundraisers’ inability to cultivate long-term donors. 

Individuals are the leading source of contributions for the average arts organization, including dance. This has been spurred further by the rise in donor-advised funds, which comprises a large segment of the dance giving mix . Traditional grantmaking foundations like Mellon and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation are among the field’s biggest funders. 

Prior to 2020, dance advocates were already calling out philanthropy’s lack of support for BIPOC-led organizations, individual artists, and dance education initiatives; now, those calls are intensifying. In an era when other innovations in performance are on hold, more foundations are supporting the optimization of virtual programming. 

Ballet companies receive the most from private funding for dance, followed by contemporary dance companies. Like many arts organizations, dance companies have struggled as deep cuts to programming for the arts were exacerbated during the COVID-19 era. As a result, the most pressing issues tend to center on long-term financial sustainability, including general operating support, organizational cash reserves and support for individual artists.

Foundations for Dance

3M FOUNDATION

The 3M Foundation invests in a variety of local dance companies.  

AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY

AAS funds fellowships that improve the American people’s understanding of pre-twentieth century history.

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN

The AAUW funds women academics and supports women and girls through activism and empowerment. It also provides fellowships related to dance and the arts.

AMERICAN DANCE MOVEMENT

American Dance Movement funds dance education, primarily for students from low-income families.

AMERICAN EXPRESS

While American Express does not mention theaters and theater related organizations as main areas of giving focus, it is a big supporter of both.

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL

Ameriprise supports issues in U.S. communities. Supports performing arts, including dance,  because of their importance in cultural enrichment. 

ARNHOLD FOUNDATION

This foundation has funded dance companies from underrepresented populations, and supports dance education and advocacy.

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.

AYRSHIRE FOUNDATION

Support for dance falls under the Ayrshire Foundation’s Community Culture giving, which the foundation prioritizes with a mission of "supporting local arts and historical institutions to enhance the vibrancy of our communities.”

BOGLIASCO FOUNDATION

The Bogliasco Foundation, near Genoa, provides short residencies to scholars and creative artists from all over the world.

THE BROWN FOUNDATION

The Brown Foundation prioritizes supports both large and small arts organizations in Texas, but conducts some work across the United States.

CAPEZIO FOUNDATION

Capezio backs groups that increase awareness and appreciation for dance in all its forms, and that encourage emerging talents.

AMON G. CARTER FOUNDATION

This funder makes grants to promote and strengthen Tarrant County, Texas, which includes Fort Worth, but also funds nationwide.

DELMAS FOUNDATION

Grants support ballet, modern dance and dance education.

MAX AND VICTORIA DREYFUS FOUNDATION

The foundation was created upon the death of famed music publisher Max Dreyfus, who worked with American greats like George Gershwin and Cole Porter, providing smaller grants that can make a big difference. 

DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

One of the better-known dance grantmakers, Doris Duke typically funds nonprofit organizations, but also has an initiative to grant funds to individual contemporary dancers.

FIDELITY FOUNDATION

The Fidelity Foundation has made arts and culture, including dance, a primary focus of its philanthropy. It takes a rigorous business-model approach to the projects it funds. Doesn't offer general operating support.

FIRSTENERGY FOUNDATION

Focuses on arts and culture, civic projects, and education through its support of community-driven programs, and often gives small grants to dance organizations. 

FLORA FAMILY FOUNDATION

Makes investments in arts and culture organizations throughout the U.S. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and grant proposals are considered by invitation only.

FORDNEY FOUNDATION

Fordney supports children and young adults who wish to dance competitively. It also offers grants to nonprofits that discover and train dancers. 

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

FCA funds diverse dance artists and productions, and is not afraid of controversial or risky projects.   

GILDER FOUNDATION

The Gilder Foundation broadly supports dance organizations around the United States. It does not name specific dance priorities.

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 keeping with its founder’s legacy.

HEARST FOUNDATIONS

Hearst Foundations backs organizations with operating budgets of at least $1 million through its culture funding priority, which includes a substantial commitment to dance.

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.

JUBILATION FOUNDATION

Jubilation supports grantmaking dedicated to young people's expression of joy through music and dance. 

KRESGE FOUNDATION

Backs programs ensuring the arts become a key part of disenfranchised communities, and especially supports efforts that increase opportunities and access to low-income folks during revitalization.

MACY'S

Macy’s makes substantial and widespread contributions in the area of arts and culture; dance (particularly ballet) is a substantial part of this giving. Some of this happens through the foundation for national dance programming, but much more of it occurs locally through the corporation.

MAP FUND

MAP Fund offers grants to diverse artists who challenge social and cultural norms.

MAURER FAMILY FOUNDATION

Maurer Foundation grants generally fall into two categories: supporting programs designed to broaden access to the arts, including scholarships, and supporting programs that raise artistic standards, including competitions and masterclasses.

ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION

Makes grants in five program areas, one of which is "arts and cultural heritage." It funds efforts in performance, art history, and conservation. It also supports increased public access to the arts, research, and collaborative efforts.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

NEA is an independent government organization that funds art projects that celebrate artistic American excellence.

NATIONAL YOUNG ARTS FOUNDATION

Young Arts focuses on dancers aged 15 to 18 in the areas of ballet, jazz, modern, tap, world dance, and choreography. The NYAF’s goal is to cultivate and develop the next generation of artists with mentorship, scholarships, and other opportunities.

NORDSON FOUNDATION

The Nordson Foundation supports dance performance and education institutions as part of its broader arts grantmaking in the regions where it has a corporate presence.

OPEN MEADOWS FOUNDATION

Open Meadows grants support women and girls leading and benefitting from projects that address the relationship between the arts and activism/social justice.

PEW CENTER FOR ARTS AND HERITAGE

The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage awards grants exclusively to organizations and individuals in the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region. It supports artists and organizations with ambitious, imaginative projects.

PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION

Awards scholarships and fellowships to individual dancers and choreographers. Nominations must be made by a nonprofit school or dance company.

PRUDENTIAL FOUNDATION

The Prudential Foundation’s arts and civic infrastructure program invests in organizations that promote arts as an economic driver and quality of life issue. 

PUFFIN FOUNDATION

Puffin’s dance grants tend to support contemporary and ethnic dance performance and choreography as well as dance education and therapeutic programs.

ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG FOUNDATION

The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation funds small- and mid-sized visual arts groups and projects.

JEROME ROBBINS FOUNDATION

The Jerome Robbins Foundation supports dance, theater and performing arts. It awards about $2 million in grants annually to support outstanding artistic achievement and new works.

SALESFORCE FOUNDATION

Salesforce maintains a broad approach to funding dance organizations and local and national projects. 

SHUBERT FOUNDATION

Shubert awards grants in only two performing arts fields — theater and dance. Although the foundation tends to favor ballet dance companies, it does support a number of dance disciplines.

SPRINT FOUNDATION

The Sprint Foundation invests in small local music organizations.  The foundation occasionally supports larger musical institutions.

SURDNA FOUNDATION

Through its Thriving Cultures Program, Surdna awards grants to organizations that "support efforts to encourage teens to explore the arts, involve artists in community development projects and foster the growth and success of local artists as economic engines and agents for social change."

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.” Dance makes up the foundation's smallest sliver of arts support, but it's still there.

UNITED STATES ARTISTS

United States Artists provides highly competitive, unrestricted $50,000 fellowships to accomplished and innovative artists across several creative disciplines, including dance and choreography.

U.S. BANCORP FOUNDATION

The U.S Bancorp Foundation is a vibrant grantor to dance organizations within its focus on arts and culture—particularly performance groups. It views this support as part of a larger context of community development and uplift. 

WELLS FARGO FOUNDATION

The foundation funds arts and culture in the 44 states in which it operates, and dance has a real presence within this realm.

WESTERN STATES ARTS FEDERATION

The foundation invests in organizations that support and serve dance in the Western United States; however, it funds dance artists and projects across the nation.

Additional Resources

Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) is a 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 aims 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. 

Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating and supporting individuals and organizations. Dance/USA’s core programs focus on engagement, advocacy, research and preservation. The organization serves over 500 organizational and individual members nationwide.

 
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