Shubert Foundation: Dance Grants

Shubert Foundation: Dance Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Shubert Foundation
Amount: More than US $15,000
Last Updated: July 26, 2025

Summary

The Shubert Foundation is the largest funder in the U.S. providing unrestricted grants to not-for-profit theatres and dance companies. It focuses on supporting professional dance organizations that demonstrate artistic activity, community service, and fiscal responsibility. The foundation emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion in its grant-making process, with a commitment to evaluating organizations based on their impact and contributions to the field. Funding is limited to U.S. organizations with established track records.

Overview

The Shubert Foundation is the nation’s largest funder dedicated to unrestricted funding of not for-profit theatres and dance companies. Grant Programs: Dance Support of US-based, not-for-profit, professional dance companies is a secondary focus of Shubert Foundation grantmaking and is therefore more limited. Dance companies are evaluated individually and with appropriate allowance for size and resources. The standard for awarding these grants is based on an assessment of each organization's operation and its contribution to the field. Artistic activity, service to community, and fiscal responsibility are factored into each evaluation, as is the company's development of new work. Emphasis is placed upon a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Funding Criteria Record of artistic activityImpact of the organization’s programsRecord of developing and producing new workDemonstrated commitment to underserved audiences and/or underrepresented voicesFiscal responsibilityAbility to generate both earned and contributed incomeOther significant contributions to the field

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grants are awarded exclusively to US organizations, which must have current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and must submit current financial statements in order to be eligible for funding. The Foundation provides grants only to organizations that have an established track record as well as a history of fiscal responsibility.The Foundation exclusively provides general operating support.Dance Company RequirementsBecause support for Dance companies is a secondary focus of The Shubert Foundation, funding in this category is inherently more limited. Please note the following requirements for Dance organizations:A minimum of 8 dancers must be employed for at least 10 salaried weeks of rehearsals and performance. Dance companies must present a minimum of 10 professional performances annually.Organizations must have annual operating expenses of $500,000 or higher (not including in-kind support).

Ineligibility

Non-professional community dance organizations are not eligible for funding.Funds are not provided for project support, nor allocated for capital or endowment campaigns, nor to individuals or conduit organizations.The Shubert Foundation does not support dance education, schools, or studios outside of New York City. We do not plan to expand our focus to support these organizations in the foreseeable future.