United Performing Arts Fund
ActiveArts, Culture & Humanities
About United Performing Arts Fund
UPAF advances the vitality of Southeastern Wisconsin by raising essential funds, providing strategic stewardship and inspiring involvement in the performing arts.
Focus Areas
Performing arts (music, dance, theater, opera)Arts educationArts accessibility and inclusionCommunity engagement and eventsWorkplace and corporate giving
Funding Style
general operating supportoperational supportseasonal program fundingshort-term/periodic grants
Topics
seasonal program deliveryorganizational sustainability (operations)cash-flow/bridge funding for program cycles
About United Performing Arts Fund
United Performing Arts Fund Inc. centers its giving on the operating strength of Southeastern Wisconsin’s performing arts community. Its recent grants are dominated by sustained support for core institutions in Milwaukee, with large annual awards repeated across 2023, 2024, and 2025. The pattern shows funding for orchestras, theater, ballet, opera, and youth arts organizations rather than one-off project prizes. Milwaukee Repertory Theater received more than one grant across the period, including $1,761,223 in 2023, $1,679,574 in 2024, and $1,602,071 in 2025 for financial support of operations. Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra also appears repeatedly, with awards of $1,858,968 in 2023, $1,469,214 in 2024, and $1,360,334 in 2025 for operations. Other recurring beneficiaries include Milwaukee Ballet, First Stage Milwaukee, and Florentine Opera, all funded on an operating basis. The funder also reaches organizations such as Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Skylight Music Theatre, Danceworks, and Present Music. This gives the profile a clear shape: a local arts intermediary channeling sizable, recurring support to keep a regional performing arts ecosystem functioning.
What United Performing Arts Fund Funds
A major theme is general operating support for performing arts institutions. Milwaukee Ballet received $955,970 in 2023, $925,304 in 2024, and $809,663 in 2025, all listed as financial support of operations. First Stage Milwaukee was funded at $840,263 in 2023 and $894,216 in 2024, with another $734,983 in 2025. Youth and arts education also appear in the portfolio. Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra received $472,648 in 2024 and $436,136 in 2025 for financial support of operations, after a $400,360 grant in 2023. UPAF also made a $195,430 seasonal program grant to Black Arts Milwaukee in 2024, showing support for program delivery during a specific period rather than only annual operations. The funder’s reach includes theatre and contemporary performance as well. Renaissance Theaterworks received $199,443 in 2024 and $168,238 in 2025, while Present Music received $191,642 in 2025.
How United Performing Arts Fund Gives
Grant size is uneven, with a p25 of $7,500, a median of $21,250, and a p75 of $201,131. That spread reflects a mix of smaller community-impact awards and much larger operating grants to core organizations. The recent grant list also shows clear recurrence: several recipients appear in multiple years, often with updated annual operating support rather than one-time project funding. The pattern fits a local grantmaker with structured ongoing relationships, not a donor-advised vehicle or individual-giving model. UPAF does not fund individuals, and the active program descriptions point to annual affiliate and member support, including donor-designated community impact programs. Application mode is mixed: one affiliate program accepts unsolicited applications, while member support and community impact programs are not open that way.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$7M
Total Assets
$12.7M
Total Revenue
$7.6M
Total Expenses
$8.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $201K, with a median of $21K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$21K
75th Percentile
$201K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
About 99% of grants go to recipients in WI.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JIM BORRIS
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