Charlotte Cushman Foundation Grant

The Charlotte Cushman Foundation Grant supports qualified non-profit theaters in the Greater Philadelphia area, providing funding for actors' salaries in specific staged productions. Organizations must hold 501(c)(3) status and can only receive funding for one production per calendar year. Proposals are due two months prior to the performance date, ensuring timely support for innovative theater projects, especially those adapting to new performance venues due to circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note: Proposals must be received by the first day of the month at least two full months prior to the production, however proposals for September must be received in May and those for January must be submitted in the previous October.
In light of the circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, for the foreseeable future, the Foundation will consider grant applications from companies that are producing plays to be performed in places other than theaters, including online, outside, or in site-specific venues.
In 1957 the Board initiated a Lifetime Achievement award presented in person at the Club to such stars as Helen Hayes, Henry Fonda, Angela Lansbury, Richard Burton, Katharine Hepburn and Zoe Caldwell. Between 1972 and 2002 special event funding allowed the Club to offer scholarships to promising young performers.
Beginning in 1995 the Club sponsored the Charlotte Cushman Award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play, presented at Philadelphia’s annual Barrymore Awards.
Since 2001 the Charlotte Cushman Foundation has provided grants to over sixty local theater companies in support of actors’ salaries.

Eligibility

The Charlotte Cushman Foundation provides grants to qualified non-profit theaters and groups in the Greater Philadelphia area for actors and actresses in a staged production.Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization.Grants given only for a specific production and organizations may only receive funding for one production within each calendar year.Proposals should be submitted by the first day of the month at least two full months before the first performance of the production for which you are applying. Proposals to the Foundation should be for a specific project or production, not for an entire season. Organizations may only receive funding for one production in a calendar year. However, if your organization is denied funding, you may apply for another production within the same year.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not fund individuals.