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Northern Stage Company’s recent grantmaking is defined by large project grants for women artistic directors and new productions. In 2023, the foundation awarded $505,000 to Ensemble Theatre for women artistic direction, and it gave $500,000 each to Alliance Theatre, Wp Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and McCarter Theater Center for women artistic directors or new productions. That pattern continues in 2025, with another $335,000 to Alliance Theatre and $210,000 grants to McCarter Theater Center, Wp Theatre, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre. The recipient list points to a clear emphasis on professional theater companies and production capacity, rather than small general operating support. The foundation’s focus areas include performing arts, theater, arts education, new play development, community engagement, and accessibility. Its active programs also show a local access side: ticket donations for auctions and raffles, plus sliding-scale tuition assistance for Northern Stage education programs. Across the grants list, the emphasis falls on women artistic directors, female playwrights, and creative teams working in theater companies across the United States. Recent grants also show repeated support for the same institutions over multiple years, suggesting ongoing relationships tied to specific productions and leadership goals.
In theater leadership, Northern Stage Company gave $335,000 to Alliance Theatre in 2025 for women artistic directors, following a $500,000 grant to the same organization in 2023 and a $187,500 grant in 2024. It also supported McCarter Theater Center with $210,000 in 2025 for women artistic directors and $20,000 in 2024 for new productions. New production work appears alongside that leadership focus. The foundation gave $500,000 to Oregon Shakespeare Festival for new productions in 2023, then $187,500 to Woolly Mammoth Theatre in 2024 and $20,000 in 2025 for new productions. Other production-focused grants included $30,000 to Goodman Theatre in 2025, $30,000 to Jungle Theatre in 2025, and $30,000 to Alliance Theatre in 2025. The grant list also includes support for women-led artistic teams at Wp Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, and Goodman Theatre, reinforcing a programmatic pattern centered on theater leadership and original work.
$2.1M
$21M
$7.7M
$6.4M
Most grants fall between $30K and $273K, with a median of $188K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$188K
75th Percentile
$273K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
JASON SMOLLER
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Typical grant size ranges from $30,000 at the 25th percentile to $187,500 at the median and $272,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows both larger strategic awards and smaller production-specific grants. Recipients appear across multiple years: Alliance Theatre, McCarter Theater Center, Wp Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Jungle Theatre all recur in the list. The pattern is grant-driven and project-based, with a strong emphasis on commissioning, production, and leadership-targeted support. The organization also runs request-based ticket donations and a sliding-scale tuition assistance program.
Northern Stage Company gives nationally, and all recent grants in the sample went to U.S. recipients. The most frequent state by grant count is Georgia, driven by repeated awards to Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. Other recurring recipient cities include New York, Princeton, Washington, Chicago, Houston, and Minneapolis. Vermont does not appear in the recent grants list, and no recipient grants in the sample went to the foundation’s headquarters state.
The grant list centers on women artistic directors and new productions, with additional focus areas in performing arts, theater, arts education, new play development, community engagement, and accessibility. Recent awards also include support for female playwrights and creative teams.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Alliance Theatre, McCarter Theater Center, Wp Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Jungle Theatre. The repeated awards suggest ongoing relationships tied to specific projects or leadership goals.
The distribution is $30,000 at the 25th percentile, $187,500 at the median, and $272,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows larger awards such as $505,000 and $500,000, alongside smaller project grants of $15,000 and $20,000.
Its active programs include ticket donations for auctions, raffles, and fundraising events, plus sliding-scale tuition assistance and scholarships for education programs such as camps, Youth Ensemble Studio, and Summer Musical Theater Intensive. The education assistance uses published income charts and an optional Statement of Need.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Northern Stage that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations or individuals seeking tickets for auctions, raffles, or fundraising events. Requests are handled by the Box Office and accommodated when possible.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOODMAN THEATRE | CHICAGO, IL | $390,000 | 2026 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| MCCARTER THEATER CENTER | PRINCETON, NJ | $390,000 | 2026 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| ALLIANCE THEATRE | ATLANTA, GA | $390,000 | 2026 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| WP THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $350,000 | 2026 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| LINCOLN CENTER THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $292,500 | 2026 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| ENSEMBLE THEATRE | HOUSTON, TX | $120,000 | 2026 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE | WASHINGTON, DC | $97,500 | 2026 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| ALLIANCE THEATRE | ATLANTA, GA | $30,000 | 2026 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| GOODMAN THEATRE | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| JUNGLE THEATRE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2026 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2026 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| ALLIANCE THEATRE | ATLANTA, GA | $335,000 | 2025 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| MCCARTER THEATER CENTER | PRINCETON, NJ | $210,000 | 2025 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE | WASHINGTON, DC | $210,000 | 2025 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| WP THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $210,000 | 2025 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| GOODMAN THEATRE | CHICAGO, IL | $180,000 | 2025 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| ENSEMBLE THEATRE | HOUSTON, TX | $80,000 | 2025 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| GOODMAN THEATRE | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| ALLIANCE THEATRE | ATLANTA, GA | $30,000 | 2025 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| JUNGLE THEATRE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| WP THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| WP THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $187,500 | 2024 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| ENSEMBLE THEATRE | HOUSTON, TX | $187,500 | 2024 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| MCCARTER THEATER CENTER | PRINCETON, NJ | $187,500 | 2024 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| GOODMAN THEATRE CHICAGO THEATRE GROUP INC | CHICAGO, IL | $187,500 | 2024 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| ALLIANCE THEATRE | ATLANTA, GA | $187,500 | 2024 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| WOOLY MAMMOTH THEATRE | WASHINGTON, DC | $187,500 | 2024 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| MCCARTER THEATER CENTER | PRINCETON, NJ | $20,000 | 2024 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT ARTISTS | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| JUNGLE THEATRE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $15,000 | 2024 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| ENSEMBLE THEATRE | HOUSTON, TX | $505,000 | 2023 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| WOOLY MAMMOTH THEATRE | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2023 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| ALLIANCE THEATRE | ATLANTA, GA | $500,000 | 2023 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL | ASHLAND, OR | $500,000 | 2023 | NEW PRODUCTIONS |
| MCCARTER THEATER CENTER | PRINCETON, NJ | $500,000 | 2023 | — |
| WP THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
| JUNGLE THEATRE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $120,000 | 2023 | WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC |
LINCOLN CENTER THEATER
$292,500WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC
WOMEN ARTISTIC DIREC
