Grants for Theater

Last updated October 24, 2026

Grantable tracks 173 active grants for theater in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 2 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 100 list an award amount, with a median of $6,250.

Grants tracked: 173; from 105 funders
Median award: $6,250; middle half $2,875–$20K
Total listed funding: $1.6M; across 100 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 4; 4 with a published date

On this page: Foundation · Updated daily

Find the grants for theater matched to your org

Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 173 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.

Start finding grants

Sort

Type

State

Amount

Eligibility

Include closed grants

Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Arthur Miller Foundation Fellows Program (NYC) Arthur Miller Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Arthur Miller Theater Education Program (Fellows Program) is a comprehensive support initiative for certified public school theater teachers to create sustainable in-school theater programs.	Not published	Varies
David Bledsoe Tieche Memorial Fund - Dance, Theatre or Music Education Grant Beckley Area Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The David Bledsoe Tieche Memorial Fund, managed by the Beckley Area Foundation, supports projects in dance, theatre, and music education in Raleigh County.	Not published	Up to $3K
Catalyst Fellowship The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A fellowship program offering support and development opportunities for theater writers. Details limited in provided materials.	Not published	Varies
Oscar G. Brockett Essay Prize Grant American Society for Theatre Research · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K The Oscar G. Brockett Essay Prize honors the best essay published in English within a refereed scholarly journal or volume related to theatre research.	Not published	Up to $2K
Edith Lutyens & Norman Bel Geddes Design Enhancement Fund Alliance of Resident Theatres New York Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Founded in 1972, A.R.T./New York assists over 400 member theatres in managing their theatre companies effectively so they may realize their rich artistic visions and serve their diverse audiences well.	Not published	Varies
Frank Young Fund for New Musicals - Project Development Grants The National Alliance for Musical Theatre Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Frank Young Fund for New Musicals supports collaborations between member theatres and musical theatre writers via grants to NAMT's US-based not-for-profit members to support project development of new musicals.	Not published	Varies
Joe Salek Scholarship for Theater Arts Trust Grant San Antonio Area Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Joe Salek Scholarship for Theater Arts Trust, administered by the San Antonio Area Foundation, supports students pursuing a degree in Theatre Arts, including acting, playwriting, and design.	Not published	Varies
McKnight Fellowships in Playwriting Grant Playwrights' Center · Foundation Not published · $29K The McKnight Fellowships in Playwriting support mid-career playwrights in Minnesota, providing a $25,000 stipend, $2,500 for play development, and $1,400 for travel.	Not published	$29K
ASTR Collaborative Research Award Grant American Society for Theatre Research · Foundation Not published · $2K The ASTR Collaborative Research Award aims to enhance research collaboration across various academic and community contexts, both domestically and internationally.	Not published	$2K
The Gavin Creel Fellowships American Theatre Wing Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Gavin Creel Fellowships, created in his honor, support emerging theatre makers through mentorship, training, networking, and performances.	Not published	Varies
Large Creative & Performing Arts Grants University of Notre Dame du Lac · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The Large Creative & Performing Arts Grants, offered by the University of Notre Dame's Franco Family Institute, support innovative arts projects led by faculty in the College of Arts & Letters.	Not published	Up to $25K
The Hansberry-Lilly Fellowship The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A fellowship program supporting theater writers. Details limited in provided materials.	Not published	Varies
Theatre Development Fund Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Social Impact Theatre Grant Program The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · $10K – $25K The Social Impact Theatre Grant Program supports innovative theatrical productions that address pressing social issues, fostering dialogue and community engagement.	Not published	$10K – $25K
New & Experimental Works (NEW) Grant Program Kenneth Rainin Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $30K The Kenneth Rainin Foundation's NEW Grant Program offers essential funding of $5,000 to $30,000 to small and mid-sized arts organizations in the Bay Area.	Not published	$5K – $30K
Spokane Arts Grant Awards (SAGA) Spokane Arts Fund · Foundation Not published · $33K – $67K	Not published	$33K – $67K
Founders Concept Development Grants The Children's Theatre Foundation of America · Foundation Not published · $3K – $6K The Founders Concept Development Grants, offered by the Children's Theatre Foundation of America (CTFA), support US non-profit theatres in developing innovative concepts and strategies for engaging young audiences.	Not published	$3K – $6K
Impact & Exploration Fund The National Alliance for Musical Theatre Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Impact & Exploration Fund helps NAMT member theatres pilot new ideas in various administrative and production areas to advance their missions.	Not published	Varies
Seth Smith Memorial Endowment Scholarship Grant Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation · Foundation Not published · $2K The Seth Smith Memorial Endowment Scholarship, offered by the Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation, supports students interested in performing arts, particularly theater.	Not published	$2K
Brian Liechty Theater Production Scholarship Grant Marshall County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Marshall County Community Foundation is a public charity where local roots help great ideas take flight. We are community-minded partners and trusted investors.	Not published	Varies
Emergency Grants The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Financial assistance programs for writers in crisis situations, helping them get back on track. To support writers facing emergency financial hardship	Rolling	Varies
The Shubert Foundation: Theatre Grants The Shubert Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $10K – $325K The Shubert Foundation offers grants to not-for-profit professional theatre and dance companies in the U.S., focusing on general operating support rather than project-specific funding.	Not published	$10K – $325K
Rella Lossy Award Grant Theatre Bay Area · Foundation Not published · $1K – $3K The Rella Lossy Award celebrates Rella Lossy’s legacy by recognizing outstanding new full-length plays from emerging playwrights.	Not published	$1K – $3K
Emerging Digital Design Showcase Grant United Institute for Theatre Technology Inc. · Foundation Not published · Varies The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) connects performing arts design and technology communities to ensure a vibrant dialog among practitioners, educators, and students.	Not published	Varies

Showing 25–48 of 173

About grants for theater

Grants for theater support new play development, productions, touring, education programs, and operating costs for nonprofit companies. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funds theater and musical theater through its Grants for Arts Projects program, and state and regional arts agencies distribute both NEA and state dollars to local companies. Private foundations and national service organizations add project, fellowship, and capacity-building support across the field.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow grants for theater down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

Want new funders like these found for you every week?

This page is a snapshot. Funders change, and a list stops being true the day it's made. A grants department keeps looking for you, and tells you when it finds something that fits — with the grant history it reasoned from attached.

Create your grants department

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for theater award?

Of the 173 grants for theater Grantable lists as of October 24, 2026, 100 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $6,250, and the middle half fall between $2,875 and $20K. The largest is $325K. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most grants for theater?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc (13), American Society for Theatre Research (10), American Theatre Wing Inc (8), Theatre Bay Area (6), and Playwrights' Center (5). In all, 105 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for theater due?

Of 173 grants listed, 4 accept applications on a rolling basis, 4 have a published upcoming deadline, 59 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 106 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

What grants are available for theater?

Theater companies can seek funding for productions, commissions and new play development, touring, arts education, and general operating support. The NEA's Grants for Arts Projects funds theater and musical theater projects, and state and regional arts agencies offer their own production, project, and operating grants. Many private foundations and theater service organizations also support residencies, fellowships, and new work.

Who funds nonprofit theater?

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the leading federal funder of theater, working alongside state arts councils and regional arts organizations that re-grant federal and state funds. Private foundations and corporate giving programs support new work, equity initiatives, and capacity building, and local community foundations frequently fund neighborhood and youth theater programs.

Do I apply as an individual artist or as an organization?

Most theater grants, including the NEA's Grants for Arts Projects, are awarded to nonprofit organizations rather than individuals. Individual playwrights, directors, and actors can often access support through fellowships, awards, and commissions offered by service organizations and private foundations, or by partnering with a nonprofit theater or using a fiscal sponsor to receive organizational grants.

Get a shortlist of grants for theater built for your organization

Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.

Find my grants — emailed to me

Your AI grants department