The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated
The National Black Theatre Workshop is a public charity based in New York, New York, founded in 1968. It supports Black artists and storytelling through theatre production, artist development, and cultural and educational programming.
The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated at a glance
- Total assets
- $21,801,197
- +316.9% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $20,466,436
- +423.9% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $73,440
- +279.7% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $4,401,132
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated
- Contact
Mailing address: 213 West 137Th Street, New York, NY 10030
Phone: (212) 926-1049
Website: https://nationalblacktheatre.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated funds
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization is based in New York, New York. The listed 2020 grantees are located in New York City: New York, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Sunnyside.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 11 grants totaling $225K.
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,801,197 | $20,466,436 | $4,401,132 | — | — | $73,440 |
| 2024 | $5,229,526 | $3,906,692 | $4,675,653 | — | — | $19,342 |
| 2023 | $5,870,743 | $3,910,139 | $4,002,688 | — | — | $41,465 |
| 2022 | $5,847,848 | $5,134,746 | $2,652,993 | — | — | $4,898 |
| 2021 | $2,967,352 | $2,230,682 | $1,437,946 | — | — | $71 |
| 2020 | $2,069,070 | $2,481,727 | $1,311,335 | $225,000 | 11 | $88 |
| 2019 | $740,844 | $1,254,874 | $1,081,147 | — | — | $3,311 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
In its 2024 filing, the organization states that it was established as a cultural and educational institution to create a hub for community-based artists; provide cultural enrichment and education through Theatre Arts, Entrepreneurial Arts, and Communication Arts; and foster an environment where artistic needs can be met. The filing also identifies community development, economic empowerment, and cultural conservancy for people of African descent as purposes.
The organization’s website describes the I Am SOUL Playwright Residency as supporting early-career Black writers with a stipend, development resources, and a production team. It also describes the SOUL Reading Series as offering micro-development opportunities to playwrights. These are participant-support programs, not grants for outside applicants.
Grantmaking
The 2025, 2024, and 2023 filings each report zero grants. Separately, six 2020 awards are listed: New Heritage Theatre Group ($37,000), New Federal Theatre Inc ($25,000), Hip-Hop Theater Festival Inc ($20,000), Universal Temple of the Arts Inc ($20,000), Vibe Theater Experience Inc ($20,000), and Thalia Spanish Theatre Inc ($15,000).
The grantees describe their work in their own terms: New Heritage Theatre Group says it presents quality theatre and preserves classic works by Black artists; New Federal Theatre says it trains artists and presents plays by minorities and women to multicultural audiences; and Hip-Hop Theater Festival says it advances urban art through new performance and visual art. Universal Temple of the Arts says it provides life-enrichment programs and fosters creativity and brotherly love; Vibe Theater Experience says it empowers young girls through arts education and original performances; and Thalia Spanish Theatre says it serves the Spanish-speaking community through theatrical, musical, and dance productions.
No application process or deadline is stated in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Barbara Lythcott as CEO; Jonathan McCrory as Executive Artistic Director; Barbara Koegel as COO; and Cleo Wade, Michelle Wilson, David Alan Grier, Leslie Odom Jr, Zoe Kravitz, De’Ara Balenger, and Anthony Roth Costanzo as directors. The organization’s website identifies Sade Lythcott as CEO.
The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated is led by Barbara Lythcott, CEO on every filing since 2023; 3 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara Lythcott
CEO
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$132K (2023) → $142K (2025)
Michael F Lythcott
Board Chairman
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan McCrory
Executive Artistic Director
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$128K (2023) → $155K (2025)
Cleo Wade
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Alan Grier
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Wilson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zoe Kravitz
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Roth Costanzo
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
De'Ara Balenger
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Wiggins
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracey Ryans
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alia Jones-Harvey
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Denise Bradley-Tyson
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Leslie Odom Jr.
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darlene Bruce
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Barbara Koegel
COO
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$118K (2023) → $131K (2025)
Linara Davidson
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Velma Banks
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Van Jones (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Linara D Greenidge (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Robert Harvey (2022) — Director
- Former: William Strickland (2019–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $155K, to Jonathan McCrory (Executive Artistic Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated
How large is The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated?
The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated reported $21.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.5M.
What does The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated fund?
In its 2024 filing, the organization states that it was established as a cultural and educational institution to create a hub for community-based artists; provide cultural enrichment and education through Theatre Arts, Entrepreneurial Arts, and Communication Arts; and foster an environment where artistic needs can be met. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated?
The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nationalblacktheatre.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated make grants?
The organization is based in New York, New York. The listed 2020 grantees are located in New York City: New York, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Sunnyside.
What is The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated's EIN?
The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2632596. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 7, 2021)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 18, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 11, 2026)
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Figures come from The National Black Theatre Workshop Incorporated'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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