Funding Amount

Not stated

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Other requirements

  • Professional theater companies must also meet three of the following requirements to apply.
  • Have an equity contract.
  • Have offered a minimum of three self-produced productions per year for two consecutive years.
  • Pay a contracted fee and/or salary to two or more actors for each production.

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: Organizations that already have Great Performance Fund endowments at MCF are ineligible to apply.

Overview

The Great Performance Fund for Theater Grant, managed by Madison Community Foundation, supports professional theater at the Overture Center for the Arts. With an annual distribution of approximately $80,000, it aims to assist theater companies with production costs. Eligibility requires companies to meet specific criteria, including having an equity contract and a history of self-produced productions. This fund plays a vital role in fostering artistic innovation and cultural enrichment in the Madison community.

Creating Lasting Change
Whether you’re looking to support your favorite nonprofits, create a donor advised fund or leave a gift through your will or estate plan, we make giving easy, effective and meaningful.
MCF serves as a trusted partner for donors, nonprofits and professional advisors, ensuring that philanthropy in Madison and Dane County is accessible to all.
The Great Performance Fund for Theater is an endowment fund at Madison Community Foundation created to support professional theater in Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts.
The fund distributes approximately $80,000 each year to help with production costs. Professional theater companies seeking to perform at the Overture Center may submit applications.

Eligibility

Professional theater companies must also meet three of the following requirements to apply.
Have an equity contract.Have offered a minimum of three self-produced productions per year for two consecutive years.Pay a contracted fee and/or salary to two or more actors for each production.Pay a contracted fee and/or salary to at least one member of its support staff.

Ineligibility

Organizations that already have Great Performance Fund endowments at MCF are ineligible to apply.

What Madison Community Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2024

Grants in 2024
376
Total given
$13.65M
Median grant
$12K
Range
$5,072–$1.98M
  • By dollars: Wisconsin 74%, Ohio 15%, Pennsylvania 7%. Top recipient cities: Madison, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Middleton, WI.
  • 44% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 25% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Cincinnati, OH

    Guinn family fund #1332554

    $1.98M

  • AFRICA6000 International · Erie, PA

    General charitable purposes

    $1M

  • Sokaogon Chippewa Community · Crandon, WI

    Tribal health clinic expansion

    $500K

  • Madison College Foundation · Madison, WI

    Frautschi family pathway scholarship fund

    $275K

  • Madison Public Library Foundation Inc · Madison, WI

    In 1993, madison public library foundation (mplf) was created to bridge the gap…

    $250K

IRS Form 990, 2024. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Theater
  • Performing arts
  • Arts

Categories

Browse similar grants by category

Related Grants

Open grants from this funder and similar programs

Your AI grants department

Ready to apply for Great Performance Fund for Theater Grant?

Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.

You found Great Performance Fund for Theater Grant. Now let's win it.

Start writing