The Shubert Foundation Inc
The Shubert Foundation is the nation's largest funder dedicated to unrestricted funding of not-for-profit theatres and dance companies. Established in 1945 by Lee and J.J. Shubert in memory of their brother Sam, the foundation has distributed over $653 million to not-for-profit arts organizations throughout the United States since its grants program began in 1977.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$677.8M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$40.1M
+5.7% YoY
Grant Count
652
+2.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$61K
+2.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shubert Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $39.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Shubert Foundation is dedicated to building and perpetuating the live performing arts, particularly professional theater, in the United States. The foundation emphasizes theater with a secondary focus on dance.
The foundation's Board of Directors believes that the most effective way to encourage the artistic process is by providing general operating support that reinforces the structure nurturing artistic development. Accordingly, all allocations are unrestricted.
Primary funding areas include:
- Theatre: Professional resident theatre and dance companies that develop and produce new American work
- Dance: Dance companies accorded consideration using the same criteria as theaters, viewed as a critical art form related to and supportive of theater
- Arts-Related Organizations: Organizations that help support the development of theatre and dance, evaluated based on past and current performance, impact, administrative strength, and fiscal stability
- Education: A limited number of grants to graduate drama departments of private universities
- Theatrical Archive: The foundation operates a theatrical archive for the preservation of the history of the performing arts
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded $42 million to 672 arts organizations nationwide. In 2024, it awarded a record $40 million to 653 not-for-profit arts organizations. Previous years saw $37.9 million awarded to arts organizations and $37.6 million to 609 arts organizations.
Review Cycle
- **September 2025**: Grant application and eligibility quiz available online
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds not-for-profit arts organizations throughout the United States, with no geographic restrictions limiting eligibility.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year Ending May 2025:
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $77,367,013 |
| Total Expenses | $48,775,272 |
| Net Income | $28,591,741 |
| Total Assets | $706,940,113 |
| Total Liabilities | $4,669,982 |
| Net Assets | $702,270,131 |
Revenue Sources (FY 2025):
- Interest Revenue: $5,877,553
- Dividends: $20,990,729
- Sales of Assets: $48,408,748
- Contributions Received: $190,272
- Other Income: $26,189
Expenses (FY 2025):
- Charitable Disbursements: $44,473,299 (91.2% of total expenses)
- Compensation of Officers: $681,942 (1.4% of total expenses)
Staffing: The foundation employs 9 staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $677,813,037 | $670,184,655 | $671,108,588 |
| Revenue | $54,459,431 | $42,965,551 | $57,657,953 |
| Expenses | $46,683,477 | $43,925,896 | $43,867,505 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $42,420,990 | $40,023,549 | $39,706,993 |
| Net Investment Income | $49,721,080 | $37,653,027 | $53,013,965 |
| Distributable Amount | $39,887,487 | $37,962,501 | $43,070,281 |
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
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The Shubert Foundation Inc
Shubert Foundation: Arts Related Organizations Grants
THE SHUBERT FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Shubert Foundation: Dance Grants
THE SHUBERT FOUNDATION INC
Amount
More than US $15,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Shubert Foundation: Shubert Scholars Grant
THE SHUBERT FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation Inc ($275,000), American Repertory Theatre Inc ($275,000), Atlantic Theater Company ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4TH WALL THEATRE COMPANY HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $20,000 |
| THE 52ND STREET PROJECT INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR ARTS SERVICE ACTIVITIES | $20,000 |
| CONTEMPORARY THEATRE A SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $50,000 |
| A NOISE WITHIN PASADENA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $45,000 |
| A RED ORCHID THEATRE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $25,000 |
| ABOUT FACE THEATRE COLLECTIVE INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $25,000 |
| ABRAHAMINMOTIONINC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR DANCE PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $30,000 |
| ACTOR'S EXPRESS INC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $40,000 |
| ACTORS' GANG INC CULVER CITY, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $45,000 |
| ACTORS' SHAKESPEARE PROJECT CHARLESTOWN, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Robert E. Wankel, Chairman
- Diana Phillips, President
- Laura Forese
- Wyche Fowler, Jr.
- Pamela Newkirk
- Richard J. Poccia
- Lee J. Seidler
- Stuart Subotnick
Staff:
- Vicki Reiss, Executive Director
- Amy Dorfman Wine, Senior Program Director
- Rebecca Hewett, Program Director
- Joshua Hardcastle, Senior Program Associate
- Jacob Horn, Grants Coordinator
- Mark Swartz, Archive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT E WANKEL | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| DIANA PHILLIPS | PRESIDENT | 3 | $100,000 |
| WYCHE FOWLER JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAMELA NEWKIRK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RICHARD J POCCIA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LEE J SEIDLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STUART SUBOTNICK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAURA FORESE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELLIOT H GREENE | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| JUAN CALVO | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 2 | — |
| GILBERT HOOVER IV | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| VICKI REISS | ASST SECRETARY/EXEC DIRECTOR | 40 | $521,635 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Shubert Foundation has announced record-breaking grant distributions in recent years:
Shubert Foundation awards $41.9M in 2025 for theatre, dance, and arts programs – The Philanthropist's Notebook**2025**: $42 million awarded to 672 arts organizations nationwide
THE SHUBERT FOUNDATION GIVES RECORD $37.6 MILLION TO 609 ARTS ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE**2024**: Record $40 million awarded to 653 not-for-profit arts organizations
THE SHUBERT FOUNDATION Gives Record $40 Million in Awards**2023**: $37.9 million awarded to arts organizations
THE SHUBERT FOUNDATION Gives Record $37.9 Million in Grants**2022**: $37.6 million awarded to 609 arts organizations nationwide
THE SHUBERT FOUNDATION GIVES RECORD $37.6 MILLION TO 609 ARTS ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDEFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Shubert Foundation Inc fund?
The Shubert Foundation is dedicated to building and perpetuating the live performing arts, particularly professional theater, in the United States. The foundation emphasizes theater with a secondary focus on dance. The foundation's Board of Directors believes that the most effective way to encourage the artistic process is by providing general operating support that reinforces the structure nurturing artistic development. Accordingly, all allocations are unrestricted. **Primary funding areas in…
How do I apply for a grant from The Shubert Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** In 2025, the foundation awarded $42 million to 672 arts organizations nationwide. In 2024, it awarded a record $40 million to 653 not-for-profit arts organizations. Previous years saw $37.9 million awarded to arts organizations and $37.6 million to 609 arts organizations. **Grant Characteristics:** • Grants start at $15,000 • Benefits a broad spectrum of arts organizations, from large to small • Covers a wide range of locations, from urban to rural • Grants are almost always…
Where does The Shubert Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds not-for-profit arts organizations throughout the United States, with no geographic restrictions limiting eligibility.
What size grants does The Shubert Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Shubert Foundation Inc awarded 652 grants totaling $40.1M — an average of about $61K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Shubert Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Shubert Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $39.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Shubert Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Shubert Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6106961. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Shubert Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated June 2026.
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