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

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Housing Assistance Grants The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Grants providing housing support to writers in need. To assist writers with housing costs and housing-related emergencies	Rolling	Varies
American Society for Theatre Research ( ASTR) David Keller Travel Grants American Society for Theatre Research · Foundation Not published · Up to $800 The American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) David Keller Travel Grants support untenured scholars with terminal degrees in attending the annual ASTR conference.	Not published	Up to $800
Award for the Best Contemporary Hispanic Performing Arts Production in New York (Talía Awards) Queen Sofia Spanish Institute Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies An inaugural category within the Talía Awards that honors excellence in contemporary Hispanic and Latino theatrical productions presented in New York.	Not published	Varies
CCAC Scholarship Program Clifton Cultural Arts Center · Foundation Not published · Up to $100 CCAC's scholarship program was designed to give everyone the opportunity to take classes at CCAC. Scholarships are offered each session, with funding based on availability and student need.	Not published	Up to $100
Bronx Cultural Visions Fund (BCVF) The Bronx Council on the Arts Incorporated · Foundation Not published · $10K – $20K The Bronx Cultural Visions Fund (BCVF) seeks to support the development of new ideas and the production of new work in the performing arts, including dance, music, theater, performance art, and multi-disciplinary performance work.	Not published	$10K – $20K
CA$H Theatre Grant - CA$H Performs Theatre Bay Area · Foundation Not published · $5K The CA$H Theatre Grant, provided by Theatre Bay Area, supports fully-produced performances of artistic projects that are publicly accessible.	Not published	$5K
CFNJ: Dixon Community Theatre Support Grant Community Foundation of New Jersey · Foundation Not published · $5K – $10K The CFNJ: Dixon Community Theatre Support Grant offers financial assistance to small theatre companies in New Jersey, promoting sustainability and growth within the vibrant local arts scene.	Not published	$5K – $10K
Maria E. McCarthy Ringwood Memorial Scholarship Grant Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 Easily learn more about the Maria E. The next deadline for this grant is Tue, 16 Mar 2027.	Not published	$500
Many Voices Fellowships Grant Playwrights' Center · Foundation Not published · $56K The Many Voices Fellowship supports early career Black and Indigenous playwrights in Minnesota, offering a $25,000 salary and $3,000 for play development.	Not published	$56K
ASTR Translation Prize Grant American Society for Theatre Research · Foundation Not published · $500 The ASTR Translation Prize recognizes the vital contributions of translators in theater and performance studies.	Not published	$500
NPN Creation & Development Fund National Performance Network Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Creation & Development Fund is an NPN program that supports artists in creating and developing new work. The fund has supported multiple prominent artists whose work has received recognition from major national funders.	Not published	Varies
Charlotte Cushman Foundation Grant Charlotte Cushman Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 – $3K The Charlotte Cushman Foundation Grant supports qualified non-profit theaters in the Greater Philadelphia area, providing funding for actors' salaries in specific staged productions.	Not published	$500 – $3K
Bridge Grants The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A grant program offered by the Dramatists Guild Foundation. Specific details limited in provided materials.	Not published	Varies
Japan Virtual Exchange Program Asian Cultural Council Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies This program emerged to support arts organizations in facilitating international exchange through virtual platforms, particularly relevant during periods of travel restrictions.	Not published	Varies
Adam Schulman Memorial Scholarship Fund Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Honor the memory of LACHSA alumnus Adam Schulman	Not published	Varies
The Morgan Fund Grant Seattle Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Morgan Fund (a Donor Advised Fund held at the Seattle Foundation) was established in 2004 to support performing arts organizations. It exists for one reason: to promote better art.	Not published	Varies
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative: University Scholarships Grant American Theatre Wing Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative: University Scholarships, by the American Theatre Wing, supports high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds with a $10,000 annual scholarship for four years.	Not published	Up to $10K
Theatre Scholarships Mount Marty University · Foundation Not published · Up to $6K For students interested in theatre at Mount Marty University.	Not published	Up to $6K
National Theater Project New England Foundation for the Arts Incorporated · Foundation Not published · Varies The National Theater Project (NTP) supports the creation and touring of U.S. based, devised ensemble theater projects through direct funding and a cultivation of an informed, interactive network of ensembles, artists, and presenters…	Not published	Varies
McKnight National Residency And Commission Grant Playwrights' Center · Foundation Not published · Up to $27K The McKnight National Residency and Commission Grant supports a distinguished playwright from outside Minnesota to create a new play.	Not published	Up to $27K
Grants to Artists Foundation for Contemporary Arts Inc · Foundation Not published · $45K Core grant program supporting individual artists and collectives working in contemporary arts. Since FCA's inception, over 8,000 grants totaling more than $31.5 million have been awarded to artists and arts organizations.	Not published	$45K
Princess Grace Awards Princess Grace Foundation - USA · Foundation Not published · $10K The Princess Grace Awards identify and support extraordinary emerging artists in theater, dance, and film through unrestricted cash grants.	Not published	$10K
MPTT Grants for Monterey County Non-Profit Performing Arts Groups Monterey Peninsula Theatre Trust · Foundation Not published · Up to $4K	Not published	Up to $4K
Roe Green Visiting Voices The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A national outreach program (formerly called Roe Green Traveling Masters) that brings prominent theater writers into communities across the country to lead workshops, master classes, talkbacks, and other public events.	Not published	Varies

Showing 145–168 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.

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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.

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