The Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts concentrates its giving on sustaining high-profile performing arts institutions and concert programming, funding both production-specific needs (e.g., opera productions) and long-term program endowments. Grants are sizeable and focused: the foundation makes multi-grant investments in a small number of cultural and educational institutions rather than broad, diffuse philanthropy. Its support tends to underwrite major performances and the infrastructure that keeps them running (endowments, production funds, and general operating support).
Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts makes two very large 2025 general-support grants to Washington Performing Arts Society and Washington National Opera, each at $8,557,956. That scale points to a funder that backs major performing arts institutions with substantial, recurring commitments rather than many small awards. The foundation’s recent record also includes support for Cornell University, where grants have covered both a concert series endowment and other performing arts-related needs. Alongside those larger awards, it has funded established Washington-area organizations such as Washington Ballet, National Symphony Orchestra Association, Shakespeare Theatre, Levine Music Inc, Gala Inc Groupo De Artistas Latinoamericanos, Studio Theatre Inc, Choral Arts Society of Washington, Washington Drama Society Inc, and Signature Theatre Inc. The pattern is centered on concert presentation, opera, music education, and theatre production support. Grants appear to favor organizations that already have producing capacity, since the funding often goes to general operating support, production funds, endowment purposes, and equipment or infrastructure improvements tied to performances. Recent awards show a strong emphasis on sustaining institutions over time rather than one-off project support alone.
In opera funding, the foundation gave $100,000 to Washington National Opera for the La Boheme Production fund, then followed with a $100,000 general-support grant in 2024. In concert presentation, Cornell University received $175,000 in 2023 and $110,000 in 2024 to endow The Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series. The foundation also supports classical music broadcasting: Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications received $30,000 in 2023 for its Broadcasts and Recognition program and another $30,000 in 2024 for the Classical Radio Broadcasts Program. For performance infrastructure, Cornell University was awarded $26,000 in 2024 for card access readers on the Cornell Electroacoustic Music Center, and $26,000 in 2023 for scenic design projections upgrades for live theatre and installations.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the foundation’s largest awards, with a p25 of $4,000, a median of $6,500, and a p75 of $13,000. The recent record also shows a small set of much larger institutional grants, including repeated support to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That recurring pattern is most visible in Washington-area performing arts groups and Cornell University. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant list suggests an institutionally oriented, multi-year approach built around general operating support, endowments, and targeted production or facility needs.
$18.8M
$0
$643K
$18.8M
Most grants fall between $4K and $13K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$13K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Concentrated, large-dollar gifts to a very small set of repeat grantees; mix of program-specific funding (production/endowment) and unrestricted operating support rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Cornell University, Washington National Opera, Washington Performing Arts Society
Grantmaking is concentrated in the Washington, DC region, with many awards going to organizations in Washington, DC and Arlington, VA. Maryland is the top state by grant count overall, while none of the recorded grants in the provided list went to recipients in Delaware, the headquarters state. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 109 grants to U.S. organizations. The recent list also includes Ithaca, NY through Cornell University, showing that the foundation’s reach extends beyond the Washington area when a performing arts relationship fits its priorities.
It funds performing arts institutions, especially opera companies, concert presenters, music education organizations, and theatre groups. Recent awards include general operating support for Washington National Opera, Washington Performing Arts Society, Washington Ballet, Shakespeare Theatre, Levine Music Inc, and Studio Theatre Inc.
Yes. Cornell University received $175,000 in 2023 and $110,000 in 2024 to endow The Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series. The foundation also uses general and unrestricted grants alongside endowment support.
Yes. Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications received $30,000 in 2023 for its Broadcasts and Recognition program and $30,000 in 2024 for the Classical Radio Broadcasts Program. Cornell University also received funding for the Cornell Electroacoustic Music Center.
Recurring support is common. Washington Performing Arts Society, Washington National Opera, Washington Ballet, National Symphony Orchestra Association, Shakespeare Theatre, Levine Music Inc, Gala Inc Groupo De Artistas Latinoamericanos, Studio Theatre Inc, Choral Arts Society of Washington, and Washington Drama Society Inc all appear in multiple years.
The distribution centers on smaller awards, with p25 at $4,000, median grant size at $6,500, and p75 at $13,000. The list also includes a much larger tier of institutional support, including multimillion-dollar general-support grants in 2025.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,557,956 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,557,956 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $1,665,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $95,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| WASHINGTON BALLET | WASHINGTON, DC | $53,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION OF WASHING | WASHINGTON, DC | $52,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | The Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series Fund |
| WETA | ARLINGTON, VA | $30,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $26,000 | 2025 | TO purchase Theatrical Lighting Upgrades for Live Theatre and Events |
| SHAKESPEARE THEATRE | WASHINGTON, DC | $24,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| LEVINE MUSIC INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $22,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| GALA INC GROUPO DE ARTISTAS LATINOAMERICANOS | WASHINGTON, DC | $16,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| WASHINGTON DRAMA SOCIETY INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| STUDIO THEATRE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SIGNATURE THEATRE INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $13,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| STEP AFRIKA U S A INCORPORATED | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SITAR ARTS CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| DC WHEEL PRODUCTIONS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE CO | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| WASHINGTON CONCERT OPERA | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE IN SERIES INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ATLAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| STRATHMORE HALL FOUNDATION INC | N BETHESDA, MD | $9,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE DANCE EXCHANGE INC | TAKOMA PARK, MD | $8,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CATHEDRAL CHORAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON DC WASHINGT | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| DC YOUTH ORCHESTRA PROGRAM | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE WASHINGTON CHORUS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| WASHINGTON BACH CONSORT | WASHINGTON, DC | $6,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| IMAGINATION STAGE INC | BETHESDA, MD | $6,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| DC JAZZ FESTIVAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $6,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MOVING FORWARD CONTEMPORARY ASIAN AMERICAN DANCE C | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ROUND HOUSE THEATRE INC | BETHESDA, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CITYDANCE ENSEMBLE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| POST CLASSICAL ENSEMBLE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| WOLF TRAP FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | VIENNA, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $4,800 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| DANCE INSTITUTE OF WASHINGTON INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,800 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| OLNEY THEATRE CORPORATION | OLNEY, MD | $4,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIDAY MORNING MUSIC CLUB INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| D C ARTS AND HUMANITIES EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE IN | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ADVENTURE THEATRE INC | GLEN ECHO, MD | $4,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CAPITAL FRINGE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| VOCAL ARTS SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT O | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MOSAIC THEATER COMPANY OF DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA & CHORALE OF MONTG | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $3,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CANTATE CHAMBER SINGERS INC | TAKOMA PARK, MD | $3,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
TO purchase Theatrical Lighting Upgrades for Live Theatre and Events
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE
$24,000General & Unrestricted
CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
$15,000General & Unrestricted
WASHINGTON DRAMA SOCIETY INC
$15,000General & Unrestricted
DC WHEEL PRODUCTIONS INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
WASHINGTON CONCERT OPERA
$10,000General & Unrestricted
THE IN SERIES INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
THE DANCE EXCHANGE INC
$8,000General & Unrestricted
CATHEDRAL CHORAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON DC WASHINGT
$8,000General & Unrestricted
THE WASHINGTON CHORUS INC
$7,000General & Unrestricted
WASHINGTON BACH CONSORT
$6,500General & Unrestricted
MOVING FORWARD CONTEMPORARY ASIAN AMERICAN DANCE C
$5,000General & Unrestricted
POST CLASSICAL ENSEMBLE INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
FRIDAY MORNING MUSIC CLUB INC
$4,500General & Unrestricted
D C ARTS AND HUMANITIES EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE IN
$4,000General & Unrestricted
CAPITAL FRINGE INC
$4,000General & Unrestricted
VOCAL ARTS SOCIETY
$4,000General & Unrestricted
CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT O
$3,500General & Unrestricted
NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA & CHORALE OF MONTG
$3,500General & Unrestricted
CANTATE CHAMBER SINGERS INC
$3,500General & Unrestricted