Dance

Support of US-based, not-for-profit, professional dance companies is a secondary focus of Shubert Foundation grantmaking and is therefore more limited.

General Requirements

Shubert Foundation 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 professional organizations that have an established track record as well as a history of fiscal responsibility. Non-professional community dance organizations are not eligible for funding.

The Foundation exclusively provides general operating support. Funds are not provided for project support, nor allocated for capital or endowment campaigns, nor to individuals or conduit organizations. Please visit our FAQs for additional information.

To review a list of recently funded organizations, please see below.

Dance Company Requirements

Because 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).

• 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.

Financial Document Requirements

For the 2024-25 Application Cycle, organizations with a fiscal year that ends January through August will need to submit their Fiscal 2024 financial documentation; organizations with a fiscal year that ends September through December will need to submit their Fiscal 2023 financial documentation. We will not accept drafts or unsigned documents.

Budget Size: $500,000-750,000
If total expenses on your organization’s required financial document are $750,000 or less, you may submit an IRS 990, an accountant’s review, or an independent auditor’s report. We will not accept a 990-N postcard.

Budget Size: Above $750,000
If total expenses on your organization’s required financial document are more than $750,000, you must submit an independent auditor’s report.

Funding Criteria

• Record of artistic activity

• Impact of the organization’s programs

• Record of developing and producing new work

• Demonstrated commitment to underserved audiences and/or underrepresented voices

• Fiscal responsibility

• Ability to generate both earned and contributed income

• Other significant contributions to the field

Grant requests must be submitted on The Shubert Foundation’s current online application form. Each applicant may apply in only one funding category.

Questions regarding category, criteria, audits, and deadlines that are not answered within this or other sections of the Website should be addressed to the Foundation.

For audit requirements, applicants must submit complete audited financial statements for the appropriate fiscal year (see Criteria). Financial statements must be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and be audited by a certified public accountant.

Please note the following important application information:

• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

• Letters of inquiry will not be accepted.

• The Foundation does not support fiscally sponsored organizations.

• For audit requirements: Reviews, compilations, and draft versions are not acceptable.

• Required financial documents should be submitted with the application whenever possible but will be accepted as late as 6pm ET on the day of the appropriate deadline.

Our Current Dance Grantees