Theater
Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation
OVERVIEW: The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation aims to expand access to career opportunities, high quality health care and the “transformative power of the arts.” IP TAKE: According to a recent letter from its founders, the Sheri and Les Biller … [Read more...] about Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation
The Wallace Foundation Invested $52 Million in Audience Engagement. What Did It Learn?
Finding ways to engage new and existing audiences is obviously a huge, long-term priority for arts organizations and for their philanthropic backers. How Americans interact with art is constantly evolving, and so is the profile of the arts donor, who … [Read more...] about The Wallace Foundation Invested $52 Million in Audience Engagement. What Did It Learn?
“The Theater Is My Favorite Church.” MAP Fund Supports Artists Through Cash and Coaching
Founded in 1988 and launched by the Rockefeller Foundation, MAP Fund is one of the nation’s longest-running private grantmakers for new performance pieces, and a somewhat rare example of an arts funder focused on individual creators, artist duos or … [Read more...] about “The Theater Is My Favorite Church.” MAP Fund Supports Artists Through Cash and Coaching
Improving Nonprofit Tech Can Be Tricky. Here’s How One Funder Is Getting it Right
With an open call for applications dropping in January, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator Program offers a solid opportunity for arts organizations in the U.S. and U.K. to receive critical support with their technology infrastructure. … [Read more...] about Improving Nonprofit Tech Can Be Tricky. Here’s How One Funder Is Getting it Right
A Tough Nut to Crack: Reflecting on the Delicate Dance of Holiday Fundraising
Editor’s note: In our annual holiday post from Karen Brooks Hopkins, the president emerita of Brooklyn Academy of Music shares some end-of-the-year reflections from her career in fundraising. You can read Karen’s previous posts here.Holiday shows at … [Read more...] about A Tough Nut to Crack: Reflecting on the Delicate Dance of Holiday Fundraising
Lieutenant Dan: A Close Look at Actor Gary Sinise’s Longstanding Support for Veterans
Gary Sinise, 68, is best known for playing Lieutenant Dan Taylor in the 1994 classic “Forrest Gump” opposite Tom Hanks. The actor received an Oscar nomination for the role and subsequently went on to feature in movies like “Apollo 13,” “The Green … [Read more...] about Lieutenant Dan: A Close Look at Actor Gary Sinise’s Longstanding Support for Veterans
“You Have to Actually Change.” A Major Theater Funder’s Quest to Diversify Its Decision-Making
It’s hard to overstate the challenges facing performing arts organizations. Audience levels haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, production costs are through the roof and fundraisers are grappling with a shrinking donor pool. Funders are doing … [Read more...] about “You Have to Actually Change.” A Major Theater Funder’s Quest to Diversify Its Decision-Making
Funder Spotlight: How the Samuels Foundation Supports the Performing Arts and Healthy Aging
We periodically publish quick overviews of grantmakers on our radar, looking at recent developments and key details about how they operate. Today, we’re taking a look at the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation (the Samuels Foundation).The New York … [Read more...] about Funder Spotlight: How the Samuels Foundation Supports the Performing Arts and Healthy Aging
“A Series of Compounding Crises.” The State of Post-Pandemic Theater Fundraising
It’s been a difficult summer for the nonprofit performing arts field. In mid-June, L.A.’s Center Theatre Group (CTG) announced that it was indefinitely pausing shows at the Mark Taper Forum. A week later, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) laid off … [Read more...] about “A Series of Compounding Crises.” The State of Post-Pandemic Theater Fundraising
Six Questions for Laura Aden Packer, Howard Gilman Foundation President and CEO
As the president and CEO of the Howard Gilman Foundation, Laura Aden Packer oversees what is now one of the most impactful and reliable supporters of performing arts organizations in New York City. This wasn’t always the case.When Packer assumed the … [Read more...] about Six Questions for Laura Aden Packer, Howard Gilman Foundation President and CEO
IP Briefing: What’s Going on With Philanthropy for Theater?
In a sentence: Like all the performing arts, theater has been hit hard by the pandemic, and funders are making moves to bolster the nonprofit theater world now and into the future. What’s going onThe typical nonprofit theater brings in about half its … [Read more...] about IP Briefing: What’s Going on With Philanthropy for Theater?
“Removing the Tuition Barrier.” Unpacking David Geffen’s Big Gift to Yale’s Drama School
In the relatively staid world of billionaire philanthropy, media mogul and native Brooklynite David Geffen has always been something of a wildcard.In 2017, he called out affluent New Yorkers’ “shameful” unwillingness to sufficiently fund the … [Read more...] about “Removing the Tuition Barrier.” Unpacking David Geffen’s Big Gift to Yale’s Drama School
How Theater Fundraisers Have Struggled—and Adapted—During a Year of COVID
Nonprofit theaters, the physical spaces at least, have now been closed or significantly restricted for more than a year. With revenue-producing venues shuttered, thousands of workers—including actors, writers, lighting technicians and … [Read more...] about How Theater Fundraisers Have Struggled—and Adapted—During a Year of COVID
After a BIPOC Theater Coalition’s Bold Call to Action, Have Funders Stepped Up?
In July, a coalition of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) theater-makers published an open letter titled “We See You, White American Theatre,” calling for change across the field in areas like hiring, work conditions and programming. Over … [Read more...] about After a BIPOC Theater Coalition’s Bold Call to Action, Have Funders Stepped Up?
“This is a Big Leap.” How Are Performing Arts Funders Democratizing Grantmaking?
One of the concerning findings from IP’s recent survey of performing arts professionals was the apparently glacial pace of funders’ efforts at democratizing their grantmaking practices.The survey asked respondents—including development officers, … [Read more...] about “This is a Big Leap.” How Are Performing Arts Funders Democratizing Grantmaking?
How Can Philanthropy Best Support School Theater Programs Shuttered by the Pandemic?
One of the biggest pandemic-era challenges for performing arts philanthropists has been helping organizations roll out a viable and engaging virtual presence. At the same time, education funders have scrambled to assist struggling schools to ramp up … [Read more...] about How Can Philanthropy Best Support School Theater Programs Shuttered by the Pandemic?
As Individual Giving Drops, Performing Arts Leaders Weigh in on the State of Fundraising
Over the summer, Inside Philanthropy surveyed performing arts professionals about COVID-19’s impact on the sector’s fundraising fortunes. Their pessimistic outlook reminded me of an old quote by Stephen King: “There’s no harm in hoping for the best … [Read more...] about As Individual Giving Drops, Performing Arts Leaders Weigh in on the State of Fundraising
“A Huge Leap of Faith.” How a Nonprofit Theater Created a Relief Fund for its Actor Community
Theatre of the Oppressed NYC (TONYC) partners with community members to form theater troupes that create and perform plays based on their challenges confronting economic inequality, racism and other social, health and human rights injustices.Like … [Read more...] about “A Huge Leap of Faith.” How a Nonprofit Theater Created a Relief Fund for its Actor Community
As Revenues Evaporate, Arts Institutions Adapt Their Fundraising to Survive
In the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, museums and performing arts organizations have been among the charities hit the hardest, as they’ve watched their business models devastated by closure as “nonessential” businesses. Earned revenue from admissions … [Read more...] about As Revenues Evaporate, Arts Institutions Adapt Their Fundraising to Survive
“Remake the Model.” Philanthropy and the Arts After Coronavirus
As arts funders navigate the opening stages of what will be a prolonged effort to stem the impact of COVID-19, many are already looking beyond the pandemic. As A Blade of Grass Executive Director Deborah Fisher told me, “In the long term, I think … [Read more...] about “Remake the Model.” Philanthropy and the Arts After Coronavirus
Here’s Why Socially Conscious Younger Donors Will Reshape Arts Philanthropy
A new report by TEFAF titled “Arts Patronage in the 21st Century” joins a growing body of research looking at how young individuals poised to inherit trillions of dollars will affect the future of arts philanthropy. The most important finding in the … [Read more...] about Here’s Why Socially Conscious Younger Donors Will Reshape Arts Philanthropy
“Creating Social Capital.” Behind a Corporate Funder’s Support for Theater
Last August, I spoke with Bruce Whitacre, executive director of the New York City-based Theatre Forward, about his organization’s first round of Advancing Strong Theatre grants, which seek to boost equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives … [Read more...] about “Creating Social Capital.” Behind a Corporate Funder’s Support for Theater
“Deepen People’s Commitment.” With Funder Help, a Theater Company Boosts Engagement
In 2015, the Wallace Foundation launched its six-year Building Audiences for Sustainability initiative. The grant program selected 26 regional arts organizations across the country and awarded them a total of $52 million with the goal of engaging, … [Read more...] about “Deepen People’s Commitment.” With Funder Help, a Theater Company Boosts Engagement
“Play the Long Game.” Talking Philanthropy and Theater With a Seasoned Arts Leader
It’s safe to say that Susan Medak is expertly attuned to the evolving challenges facing nonprofit theater organizations and fundraisers. She has served as Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s managing director since 1990, served as president of the League of … [Read more...] about “Play the Long Game.” Talking Philanthropy and Theater With a Seasoned Arts Leader
Arts Funding is on the Chopping Block in Many States. Can Donors Fill the Gap?
As state legislators take an ax to arts funding across the U.S., regional donors are stepping up to fill the gaps. For a rather extreme example of this phenomenon, let’s turn to a gift out of Florida, a state where legislators practically eliminated … [Read more...] about Arts Funding is on the Chopping Block in Many States. Can Donors Fill the Gap?
With a Growing Stream of Grants, This Stalwart Arts Funder Helps Offset Ominous Trends
The New York City-based Shubert Foundation recently awarded $32 million to 556 nonprofit performing arts organizations—the 37th consecutive year that the foundation has increased its giving. Ranging from $10,000 to $325,000, the grants benefit a … [Read more...] about With a Growing Stream of Grants, This Stalwart Arts Funder Helps Offset Ominous Trends
What a Foundation’s Backing for “Social Impact Theatre” Says About the Arts Funding World
Back in 2015, I looked at how the Seattle-based Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation revamped its theater funding priorities with an eye toward what it calls “social impact theatre.” Its pivot came at a time when funders of all stripes were … [Read more...] about What a Foundation’s Backing for “Social Impact Theatre” Says About the Arts Funding World
Deeply Involved: Hands-on Giving to the Performing Arts by an L.A. Couple
A few years ago we spoke with Los Angeles lawyer David Gindler, who, along with his wife Kiki Ramos Gindler, has emerged as a top local arts funder. Rather than operating a formal family foundation, the couple instead gives large individual gifts, … [Read more...] about Deeply Involved: Hands-on Giving to the Performing Arts by an L.A. Couple
Fueled by Wealth From Broadway, a Theater Couple Gives for the Arts and More
Stewart F. Lane and his wife Bonnie Comley have collectively produced over 40 Broadway shows, garnering nine Tony awards and 14 Tony nominations. Lane, sometimes dubbed “Mr. Broadway,” is behind such productions as Thoroughly Modern Millie and A … [Read more...] about Fueled by Wealth From Broadway, a Theater Couple Gives for the Arts and More
