Edgerton Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Edgerton Foundation supports artistic, educational and cultural institutions across Los Angeles; however, it 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.

IP TAKE:  While the foundation lacks transparency and does not accept unsolicited proposals, those working in the theater arts should be aware of this funder’s New American Plays award program. This funder prioritizes its nationwide theater funding – in the millions of dollars – and organizations whose work benefits Greater Los Angeles.

Theater funding has its own process, but if you’re a grantseeker in Los Angeles, get on this foundation’s radar by calling the foundation and learning if its priorities align with your needs.

PROFILE: Established in 2000, the Edgerton Foundation was founded by Bradford W. Edgerton and Louise, his wife. Brad Edgerton is a plastic surgeon in the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, as well as a Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Southern California. The Edgerton Foundation invests in artistic, educational and cultural institutions across Los Angeles, and funds the development of New American Plays nationwide. Its grantmaking also funds efforts to deal with creative environmental and energy solutions, and security and international policy.

Grants for Theater

The Edgerton Foundation funds a New American Plays national award program launched in 2007.  The initiative has supported nearly 400 plays to date, at least 30 of which have transferred to Broadway. In 2017, the first round of Edgerton Foundation New Play Award totaled $359,000, allowing 13 productions extra time for the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, helping to extend the life of the play after its first run. Recent award members include “Quack,” originally produced at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles; and “Rightlynd,” originally produced at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.

The foundation has awarded more than $10 million through this program. Theater grants range from $1,000 to around $2.4 million. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $5.1 million. A gift of $400,000, meanwhile, enabled Occidental College to partner with The Theatre @ Boston Court and A Noise Within to create the Edgerton Foundation Theater Program. 

Past theater grantees include the Geffen Playhouse (Brad serves on its board); Theatre Communications Group; Yale Repertory Theatre; Signature Theatre; South Coast Repertory; Second Stage Theatre; National Theater; and Public Theater. 

Grants for Los Angeles

The Edgerton Foundation’s dollars concentrate around Greater Los Angeles as its founder is a well-known surgeon there. Grantmaking focused on Los Angeles tends to prioritize the arts, specifically theater; however, the foundation sometimes funds other areas such as creative environmental and energy solutions, and security and international policy. Grantees based in or benefitting Los Angeles include the California Community Foundation, the recipient of a seven-figure gift; the Geffen Playhouse; International Medical Corps; L.A. Philharmonic (Louise is on the board); Pacific Council on International Policy (Brad is on the board); and The Arboretum. 

Important Grant Details:

The Edgerton Foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals. For its New American Plays program, theaters with a strong and consistent track record of producing new work are invited to submit letters of inquiry. A panel of readers reviews the plays and one-time grants (ranging from $5,000 - $75,000) are awarded.

Only proposals that have been specifically invited by the Edgerton Foundation will be considered. 

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

Edgerton Foundation

1925 Century Park East, 16th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

(310) 288-4252