Charlotte Cushman Foundation
The Charlotte Cushman Foundation is a private foundation based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, that supports professional nonprofit theater companies in the Philadelphia area. Its main focus is grants toward actors’ salaries in staged productions.
Charlotte Cushman Foundation at a glance
In short: Charlotte Cushman Foundation gave $46K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $45,750
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,542
- +11.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,750
- Total assets
- $278,732
- -7.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (6 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Charlotte Cushman Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit one consolidated PDF proposal by email, with the information and supporting materials specified in the Foundation’s eligibility guidelines. The Foundation’s website says electronic submissions receive an acknowledgment and asks applicants to follow up if they do not receive one.
- Review Cycle
- The website says proposals should arrive by the first day of the month at least two full months before the production. Proposals for July, August, and September productions are due in May; proposals for January productions are due the previous October. The 2024 filing lists no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The website says proposals should arrive by the first day of the month at least two full months before the production.
- Contact
Application contact: Carol Nitzberg
Mailing address: 440 South Broad St 2803, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Phone: (856) 313-2570
Website: https://www.charlottecushmanfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Charlotte Cushman Foundation
Who Charlotte Cushman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was EgoPo Classic Theater ($4K). Together the top 10 received $31K.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 83 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website restricts its funding area to Pennsylvania within 25 miles of Philadelphia. In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients and 7% to New York recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Charlotte Cushman Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 18 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 101% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 261% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $23K (2021) to $46K (2024). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EgoPo Classic Theater Philadelphia, PA | Ramayana | $3,500 |
| Lantern Theatre Company Philadelphia, PA | Faith Healer | $3,500 |
| Philadelphia Young Playwrights Philadelphia, PA | For Artists in Residents | $3,250 |
| Bearded Ladies Cabaret Philadelphia, PA | Mabeline: The Greenaissance Tour | $3,000 |
| Shakespeare in Clark Park Philadelphia, PA | As You Like It | $3,000 |
| Inis Nua Theatre Company Philadelphia, PA | Love Song | $3,000 |
| Plays and Players Philadelphia, PA | The Zoo Story | $3,000 |
| The Producer Hub Inc New York, NY | Nosejob | $3,000 |
| Quintessence Theatre Group Philadelphia, PA | Father comeshome from the War | $3,000 |
| 1812 Productions Philadelphia, PA | Torch Song | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $278,732 | $37,979 | $60,438 | $45,750 | 18 | $51,091 | $29,132 | $19,556 |
| 2023 | $301,191 | $13,143 | $59,907 | $45,600 | 20 | $51,061 | $4,297 | $20,884 |
| 2022 | $347,955 | $3,649 | $48,947 | $34,225 | 18 | $39,260 | $2,009 | $23,931 |
| 2021 | $393,253 | $29,155 | $38,525 | $22,725 | 13 | $28,556 | $19,186 | $25,407 |
| 2020 | $402,623 | $31,002 | $44,089 | $30,575 | 14 | — | $22,181 | $24,371 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charlotte Cushman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s website describes its purpose as supporting Philadelphia’s vibrant and diverse theater community. It funds specific staged productions, solely for actors’ salaries, and does not fund seasons or individuals. Eligible organizations must be professional nonprofit theater companies with 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship from a 501(c)(3) organization.
The grantees’ stated missions reflect a range of theater work. Philadelphia Young Playwrights says it teaches playwriting and theater and seeks to support learning and creativity among K–12 students. Quintessence Theatre Group says it performs and adapts classic literature and drama for contemporary audiences. Plays and Players says it supports emerging local artists, while Bearded Ladies Cabaret describes itself as an experimental cabaret group. 1812 Productions says it promotes the comedic arts in the Philadelphia area, and Theatre Horizon says it uses theater to build a community of artists, students, and audiences.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation gave $45,750 through 18 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $3,500, with a median grant of $2,750. Notable awards included $3,500 to EgoPo Classic Theater for “Ramayana” and $3,500 to Lantern Theatre Company for “Faith Healer”; $3,250 to Philadelphia Young Playwrights; and $3,000 each to Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Shakespeare in Clark Park, Inis Nua Theatre Company, Plays and Players, The Producer Hub Inc, and Quintessence Theatre Group.
The Foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing lists no award restrictions and directs applicants to an attached note for application materials. The Foundation’s website says proposals must be for a specific production and include project information and budget details, organizational history and leadership, other funders, proof of tax-exempt status or fiscal sponsorship, and financial documents. It requests one consolidated PDF by email. The website says only one production per grantee is funded in a year; if a request is denied, the organization may apply for a different production that year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Esther Hornik as President; JLansing Sylvia as Vice President; Sandra Gafni as Secretary; and Jeanne Wrobleski as Treasurer. Listed trustees are Shelley Green, Kathleen Stephenson, Nancy Berkowitz, Nancy Heinzen, Cirel Magen, and Geraldine Duclow.
Charlotte Cushman Foundation is led by Esther Hornik, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 13 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Esther Hornik
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cirel Magen
Trustee
Secretary → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geraldine Duclow
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Stephenson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Berkowitz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Heinzen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Green
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lystra Harris
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Apgar
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Michel
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeanne Wrobleski
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
JLansing Sylvia
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Gafni
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Bee Reed (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Melissa Joy Hart (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Agnes Orsatti Armao (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Audrey Walters (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Eileen Baird (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Therese Willis (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Charlotte Cushman Foundation
How much does Charlotte Cushman Foundation give each year?
Charlotte Cushman Foundation gave $46K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $46K across 20 grants.
What is Charlotte Cushman Foundation's typical grant size?
Charlotte Cushman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,750, and its average grant was $2,542, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Charlotte Cushman Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Charlotte Cushman Foundation give grants?
Charlotte Cushman Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (13 grants).
Does Charlotte Cushman Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Charlotte Cushman Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Charlotte Cushman Foundation's largest grantees?
Charlotte Cushman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include EgoPo Classic Theater ($3,500), Lantern Theatre Company ($3,500) and Philadelphia Young Playwrights ($3,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Charlotte Cushman Foundation?
Charlotte Cushman Foundation reported $279K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Charlotte Cushman Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s website describes its purpose as supporting Philadelphia’s vibrant and diverse theater community. It funds specific staged productions, solely for actors’ salaries, and does not fund seasons or individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Charlotte Cushman Foundation?
Submit one consolidated PDF proposal by email, with the information and supporting materials specified in the Foundation’s eligibility guidelines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Charlotte Cushman Foundation's EIN?
Charlotte Cushman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1280780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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