The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater
The LAURA PELS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, NY. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, all of them in an individual recipient State; listed grants include support for theatre productions and a playwright award.
The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater at a glance
In short: The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater gave $385K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $385,000
- -85.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- +35.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $20,263
- -89.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $3,292,717
- -18.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 429 E 52Nd St Apt 32D, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 256-1142
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Roundabout Theatre Company ($50K). Together the top 10 received $350K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 55 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in an individual recipient State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater gives
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 39% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 288% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $110K (2020) to $2.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $385K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Roundabout Theatre Company New York, NY | To sponsor the production of liberation by bess wohl | $50,000 |
| Lincoln Center Theater New York, NY | To sponsor the production of corruption by j.t. Rogers | $25,000 |
| The New Group Inc New York, NY | To sponsor the production of the seven year disappear by jordan seavey | $25,000 |
| Aant (American Associates of the National Theatre) New York, NY | To sponsor the production of london tide based on "our mutual friend" by charles dickens, adapted by ben power | $25,000 |
| Aant (American Associates of the National Theatre) New York, NY | To sponsor the production of ballet shoes by noel streatfeild, new adaptation by kendall feaver | $25,000 |
| Atlantic Theater Company New York, NY | To sponsor the production of grief camp by eliya smith | $20,000 |
| Pen America Center New York, NY | 2023 Pen/Lpift Dramatist Award - Mid-Career Playwright | $20,000 |
| Pen America Center New York, NY | 2024 Pen/Lpift Dramatist Award - Mid-Career Playwright | $20,000 |
| Playwrights Horizons New York, NY | To sponsor the production of staff meal by abe koogler | $20,000 |
| Playwrights Horizons New York, NY | To sponsor the production of the antiquities by jordan harrison | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater?
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 | $3,292,717 | $201,742 | $966,006 | $385,000 | 19 | $745,236 | $176,593 | $259,012 |
| 2023 | $4,047,045 | $534,224 | $3,055,021 | $2,580,000 | 14 | $2,894,991 | $520,883 | $225,560 |
| 2022 | $2,551,323 | $253,098 | $434,907 | $142,500 | 8 | $363,712 | $248,033 | $219,749 |
| 2021 | $2,762,642 | $393,974 | $568,561 | $277,000 | 12 | $505,476 | $383,592 | $242,686 |
| 2020 | $2,973,186 | $422,820 | $344,757 | $110,000 | 2 | — | $404,044 | $234,300 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater reported a distributable amount of $259K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for arts organizations and theatre productions, as well as the PEN/LPIFT Dramatist Award for a mid-career playwright.
The grantees describe their own work in terms that include producing classics and new theatre, developing contemporary plays, and supporting playwrights. For example, Roundabout Theatre Company says it celebrates theatre through classic and new works and education; The New Group describes itself as an artist-driven contemporary theatre company; and Signature Theatre says it gives playwrights an artistic home and supports their body of work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $385,000 through 19 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000.
Among the listed grants were $50,000 to Roundabout Theatre Company to sponsor *Liberation* by Bess Wohl; $25,000 each to Lincoln Center Theater for *Corruption* by J.T. Rogers, The New Group for *The Seven Year Disappear* by Jordan Seavey, and AANT for productions of *London Tide* and *Ballet Shoes*; and $20,000 each to Atlantic Theater Company for *Grief Camp* by Eliya Smith, Playwrights Horizons for *Staff Meal* by Abe Koogler and *The Antiquities* by Jordan Harrison, and Signature Theatre Company for *Sunset Baby* and *Bad Kreyol* by Dominique Morisseau. The filing also lists $20,000 grants to PEN America Center for each of the 2023 and 2024 PEN/LPIFT Dramatist Awards for a mid-career playwright.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jack R. Brister as executive director and Julie Kinsella as president.
The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater is led by Jack R. Brister, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jack R. Brister
Executive Director
Treasurer → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
$116K (2023) → $175K (2024)
Julie Kinsella
President
On filings since 2023
$24K (2023) → $145K (2024)
Former officers (15)
- Former: Laura J. Pels (2020–2023) — Former President
- Former: Janet Dunham (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Jean Audouze (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Todd Haimes (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Baily Blanchard (2021–2022) — Executive Assistant
- Former: Christian Keutgen (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Elliott Mottley (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Hal J. Witt (2021–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Laurence Pels (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Laurent Faugerolas (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Michael Kaiser (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Sally Shelton-Colby (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Ambassador Sally (2020) — Director
- Former: Bill Zabel Esq. (2020) — Director
- Former: Wilma Jordan (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $175K, to Jack R Brister (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater
How much does The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater give each year?
The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater gave $385K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 14 grants.
What is The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater's typical grant size?
The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $20,263, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater give grants?
The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (18 grants).
Does The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater's largest grantees?
The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater's largest 2024 grantees include Roundabout Theatre Company ($50,000), Aant (American Associates of the National Theatre) ($50,000 across 2 grants) and Pen America Center ($40,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater?
The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $745K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $259K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for arts organizations and theatre productions, as well as the PEN/LPIFT Dramatist Award for a mid-career playwright. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater's EIN?
The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1632202. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-laura-pels-international-foundation-for-theater-morg_7606b73ddf8242beae340735ce4d7a1d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_161632202_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-laura-pels-international-foundation-for-theater-morg_7606b73ddf8242beae340735ce4d7a1d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-25. 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 The Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater'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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