The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc
The Lucille Lortel Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1980 by Lucille Lortel, an actress and theatrical producer known as the "Queen of Off-Broadway." The foundation is based in New York City and operates with a mission to foster excellence and diversity in theatre while preserving the rich history and supporting the continued prosperity of Off-Broadway.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.7M
+6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
-70.3% YoY
Grant Count
86
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
-70.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was created to foster excellence and diversity in the theatre and to faithfully preserve the rich history and support the continued prosperity of Off-Broadway.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Performing arts
- Theater
- Small and mid-size nonprofit theater companies
- Off-Broadway productions
- New play development
Grantmaking
The foundation's primary program is the General Operating Support Program, which provides unrestricted general operating support to eligible theater companies.
Grant Range
$2,500–$25,000
Average Grant
approximately $108,302 (based on 2023 data)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds exclusively in New York City. Companies outside of New York City are ineligible for funding.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $13,775,129 (as of 2023)
Annual Giving: $9,313,951 (2023)
Revenue: $1,585,040 (2023)
Expenses: $10,119,355 (2023)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,694,081 | $13,775,129 | $22,312,648 |
| Revenue | $3,970,922 | $1,585,040 | $6,627,899 |
| Expenses | $3,456,312 | $10,119,355 | $2,798,788 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,139,407 | $9,805,852 | $2,526,435 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,654,799 | $1,272,561 | $6,356,807 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,222,678 | $1,592,977 | $1,923,156 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lucille Lortel Theatre Foundation ($2,267,471), Senior Musicians Association ($56,000), Westport Country Playhouse ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ENTERTAINMENT COMM FUND NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| ALLIANCE OF RESIDENCE THEATRES NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| BARD COLLEGE ANNANDALEONHUDSON, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| GOODSPEED OPERA HOUSE FOUNDATION EAST HADDAM, CT | MICHAEL PRICE ENDOWMENT FUND | $15,000 |
| GRADUATE CENTER FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | PRELUDE 2021 | $15,000 |
| HARTFORD STAGE COMPANY HARTFORD, CT | NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| INDIE THEATER FUND ASTORIA, NY | ANTI-RACIST TRAINING | $5,000 |
| LONG WHARF THEATRE NEW HAVEN, CT | NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT OPERATIONS & LORTEL AWARDS | $2,267,471 |
| NEW DRAMATISTS NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Michael Hecht – President
- George Forbes – Vice President and Executive Director (compensation: $151,594)
- Ira Gilbert – Vice President, Secretary, and Director
- Matthew Clarke – Treasurer and Director
- Jeffrey Shubart – Primary contact for grant inquiries
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL HECHT | President | 2 | — |
| MATTHEW CLARKE | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| IRA GILBERT | Secretary | 2 | — |
| GEORGE FORBES | Vice President | 30 | $157,679 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced recent grant recipients and programs:
Lortel Foundation Grants Announced for Small and Mid-Sized NYC Theatres |The 121 Project for Development of New Musicals announced 2025 recipients
Lucille Lortel Theatre Announces 2025 Recipients of 121 Project for DevelopmentThe 121 Project announced 2024 recipients
Lucille Lortel Theatre Announces 2025 Recipients of 121 Project for DevelopmentSyracuse Stage was named the 2025 Lucille Lortel Foundation Indigenous Theatermaker Award recipient
Lucille Lortel Theatre Announces 2025 Recipients of 121 Project for DevelopmentGrants have been announced for small and mid-sized NYC theatres
Lortel Foundation Grants Announced for Small and Mid-Sized NYC Theatres |Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation was created to foster excellence and diversity in the theatre and to faithfully preserve the rich history and support the continued prosperity of Off-Broadway. Primary funding areas include: • Arts and culture • Performing arts • Theater • Small and mid-size nonprofit theater companies • Off-Broadway productions • New play development
How do I apply for a grant from The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc?
**Grant Programs:** The foundation's primary program is the General Operating Support Program, which provides unrestricted general operating support to eligible theater companies. **Grant Characteristics:** • Historical grant range: $2,500–$25,000 • Average grant size: approximately $108,302 (based on 2023 data) • Grant awards are by invitation only via request for proposal • Only companies that receive a request for proposal are eligible for the General Operating Support Program **Application …
Where does The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds exclusively in New York City. Companies outside of New York City are ineligible for funding.
What size grants does The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc awarded 86 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3036521. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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