Play on Shakespeare
Play on Shakespeare is an Ashland, Oregon-based public charity that promotes and creates contemporary modern English translations of Shakespeare’s plays. It supports theatrical productions, education, workshops, and related artistic work centered on contemporary translations and adaptations.
Play on Shakespeare at a glance
In short: Play on Shakespeare gave $1.5M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $81K), top state New York. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,459,300
- +113.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $81,072
- +77.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $53,750
- Total assets
- $2,582,112
- -15.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (9 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Play on Shakespeare
- How to Apply
-
The organization’s website invites production-funding proposals. It asks applicants to provide information about the production company; the translation and rights status; why the production interests the company; dates, location, and other relevant details; the creative team; the requested amount; and a project budget showing which line items Play On Shakespeare support would fund and their costs. Proposals are reviewed in light of the organization’s mission of providing access to Shakespeare. The website also describes production workshops lasting one to five days.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 955, Ashland, OR 97520
Phone: (541) 846-8466
Website: https://playonshakespeare.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Play on Shakespeare funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Asian American Theatre Company CO Inc ($320K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
67 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 67 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant-dollar distribution was reported as New York 33%, California 24%, Idaho 17%, Oregon 17%, and Washington, DC 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Play on Shakespeare open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 18 grantees (50%) 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 $56K; repeat grants $106K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $57K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). 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 $59K (2020) to $1.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $1.5M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Asian American Theatre Company CO Inc New York, NY | Program Support | $320,000 |
| Idaho Shakespeare Festival Inc Boise, ID | Program Support | $250,000 |
| Magic Theatre Inc San Francisco, CA | Program Support | $179,000 |
| Portland Center Stage Portland, OR | Program Support | $169,000 |
| The Acting Company New York, NY | Program Support | $125,000 |
| Studio Acting Conservatory Inc Washington, DC | Program Support | $80,000 |
| American Conservatory Theater San Francisco, CA | Program Support | $58,300 |
| Portland Shakespeare Project Lake Oswego, OR | Program Support | $56,500 |
| Hero Theatre Inc Los Angeles, CA | Program Support | $55,000 |
| African-American Shakespeare Company San Francisco, CA | Program Support | $52,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Play on Shakespeare?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,582,112 | $2,924,349 | $3,564,778 | $1,459,300 | 18 | $62,485 |
| 2023 | $3,069,328 | $2,913,079 | $2,183,580 | $684,531 | 15 | $5,194 |
| 2022 | $2,405,694 | $9,656 | $2,049,012 | $552,250 | 18 | $220 |
| 2021 | $4,384,645 | $4,285,600 | $1,519,394 | $327,593 | 16 | $73 |
| 2020 | $1,591,657 | $1,067,627 | $894,309 | $58,617 | Total only | $822 |
| 2019 | $211,727 | $2,054,429 | $1,893,380 | — | — | $111 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Play on Shakespeare’s mission is to enhance understanding of Shakespeare’s plays in performance for theatre professionals, students, and audiences by engaging with contemporary translations and adaptations. Its stated vision is to secure and sustain the continued production of Shakespeare’s works.
Its filing describes grants to arts organizations producing Play On Shakespeare-commissioned work or translated or adapted Shakespeare aligned with its mission. The organization also describes general programs that promote its work, commissioned plays, and education-related activities.
Among its 2024 grantees, Idaho Shakespeare Festival describes its mission as producing theatre to entertain and educate. Magic Theatre describes its work as developing new plays with emerging and established playwrights. Portland Center Stage says it creates theatrical experiences and community programs intended to foster belonging. These are the grantees’ own descriptions, not statements of Play On Shakespeare’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Play on Shakespeare reported 18 grants totaling $1,459,300. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $320,000, with a median of $53,750.
The largest listed awards included $320,000 to National Asian American Theatre Company, $250,000 to Idaho Shakespeare Festival, $179,000 to Magic Theatre, $169,000 to Portland Center Stage, and $125,000 to The Acting Company. The filing lists each of these grants as program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lue Douthit as president, Taylor Bailey as executive director, Kenneth Hitz as board chair, and Summer Martin as treasurer. It also lists Miriam Laube, David Hitz, and Ayanna Thompson as board members.
Play on Shakespeare is led by Lue Douthit, President since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lue Douthit
President
Executive Officio, President & Co-Founder → President & Co-Founder, 2022
President & Co-Founder → President, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$103K (2019) → $172K (2024)
Taylor Bailey
Executive Director
Treasurer → Employee, 2023
Employee → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$69K (2019) → $124K (2024)
Kenneth Hitz
Board Chair
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Summer Martin
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$55K (2019) → $0 (2024)
Ayanna Thompson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Hitz
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Miriam Laube
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Amrita Ramanan (2020–2021) — Secretary & Senior Strategist
- Former: Sandra Weingart (2020–2021) — Treasurer & Board Member
- Former: Kamilah Long (2021) — Managing Director & Executive Director
- Former: Dave Hitz (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ken Hitz (2019–2020) — Board Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $172K, to Lue Douthit (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Play on Shakespeare
How much does Play on Shakespeare give each year?
Play on Shakespeare gave $1.5M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $685K across 15 grants.
What is Play on Shakespeare's typical grant size?
Play on Shakespeare's median grant in 2024 was $53,750, and its average grant was $81,072, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Play on Shakespeare that year got $56K on average.
Where does Play on Shakespeare give grants?
Play on Shakespeare's top state is New York, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (24%) and Idaho (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Portland, OR (2 grants).
Does Play on Shakespeare give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Play on Shakespeare's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (18 grants).
Who are Play on Shakespeare's largest grantees?
Play on Shakespeare's largest 2024 grantees include National Asian American Theatre Company CO Inc ($320,000), Idaho Shakespeare Festival Inc ($250,000) and Magic Theatre Inc ($179,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Play on Shakespeare?
Play on Shakespeare reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.9M.
What does Play on Shakespeare fund?
Play on Shakespeare’s mission is to enhance understanding of Shakespeare’s plays in performance for theatre professionals, students, and audiences by engaging with contemporary translations and adaptations. Its stated vision is to secure and sustain the continued production of Shakespeare’s works. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Play on Shakespeare?
The organization’s website invites production-funding proposals. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Play on Shakespeare's EIN?
Play on Shakespeare's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1161065. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Play on Shakespeare's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Play on Shakespeare funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/play-on-shakespeare-morg_c4f32261fd9c4d4c8cced3557f1954e2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_831161065_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Play on Shakespeare funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/play-on-shakespeare-morg_c4f32261fd9c4d4c8cced3557f1954e2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Play on Shakespeare's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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