The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation is a long-standing supporter of performing arts organizations—especially regional and New York-area theatre companies—providing production and general operating funds and capital support for arts facilities. They also make recurring grants to medical centers for capital/clinical improvements and to Jewish communal and Israel-focused organizations, with some support for university cultural programs. Grantmaking is concentrated among a set of repeat grantees and favors program/general operating and capital support over one-off project grants.
The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by recurring support for professional theatre, especially productions, readings, workshops, and general operating needs at New York and regional companies. Roundabout Theatre Co. appears multiple times in the recent-grants list, including grants of $255,000, $235,000, $193,000, and $170,000 for production support, readings and workshops, and general operating support. The foundation also makes repeated commitments to arts institutions with campus or venue-wide programming, such as the State Theatre Regional Arts Center in New Brunswick and George Street Playhouse, which each receive substantial support tied to performance series, capital work, and arts education. Beyond theatre and presenting, the foundation backs university-sponsored public programming and hospital capital projects. Drew University’s Drew Forum Speakers Series receives repeated support, while medical grants have gone to RWJ University Hospital Foundation and St. Barnabas Medical Center for surgical-room and cardiac-care improvements. That mix points to a funder that favors organizations with ongoing institutional programs, capital needs, and repeatable public-facing offerings rather than isolated one-time projects. The recent record also includes support for civic and cultural programming at JFK Center for the Performing Arts and Lincoln Center Theatre, showing a consistent interest in performance-based public access.
Performing arts is the clearest center of gravity in the Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation’s grantmaking. In theatre, it supported Manhattan Theatre Club with $225,000 for production support and a capital campaign, and Lincoln Center Theatre with $180,000 for production and general operating support. The foundation also backs presenting institutions: the State Theatre Regional Arts Center received $296,000 for symphony series, capital campaign, and general operating support. It also funds arts education and public programming. George Street Playhouse received $187,000 for production support and arts education programs, while Drew University received $269,000 for the Drew Forum Speakers Series. On the healthcare side, grants supported capital improvements at St. Barnabas Medical Center for cardiac care and at RWJ University Hospital Foundation for surgical rooms. That combination suggests support for institutions where programming, facilities, and public access are closely linked.
$3.7M
$18M
$5M
$4.5M
Most grants fall between $5K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Concentrated, repeat giving: relatively large multi-year and multi-grant commitments to a core set of arts, medical, and Jewish-sector grantees; mix of operating support and facility/capital grants rather than many small one-time gifts.
Notable grantees: Roundabout Theatre Company, State Theatre New Brunswick, RWJ University Hospital Foundation, Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, Rutgers University Hillel Foundation
Typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent-grants list shows a long tail of much larger awards for repeat recipients and capital or operating needs. The foundation’s pattern is notably relationship-based: the same organizations reappear across multiple years, including theatre companies, universities, and hospitals. Grants in the recent file commonly support production, general operating needs, capital campaigns, and facility improvements. The foundation is not a program-related investor and does not fund individuals.
Grantmaking is regional and heavily concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic and New York area. New Jersey recipients appear frequently, including New Brunswick, Newark, Madison, Morristown, and West Orange, while New York City also accounts for many awards. Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, and 46% of grants go to recipients in New Jersey, the headquarters state. Outside the Northeast, the recent-grants list includes Washington, DC through the JFK Center for the Performing Arts.
The foundation most often supports performing arts organizations, especially theatre and presenting institutions, along with university public-programming series and hospital facilities. Recent grants include support for production, readings, workshops, symphony series, speaker series, and capital improvements for surgical and cardiac care.
Yes. The recent-grants list shows recurring support to organizations such as Roundabout Theatre Co., Drew University, George Street Playhouse, RWJ University Hospital Foundation, and St. Barnabas Medical Center across multiple years, often for the same programs or facility needs.
The distribution centers on $5,000 at the 25th percentile, a $20,000 median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards are often much larger for established recipients, with several six-figure grants to theatre, university, and medical institutions.
Its grantmaking is concentrated in the Northeast. Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, and New Jersey receives 46% of grants. Recent city-level recipients include New Brunswick, Newark, Madison, Morristown, West Orange, New York City, and Washington, DC.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DREW UNIVERSITY | MADISON, NJ | $269,000 | 2026 | DREW FORUM SPEAKERS SERIES |
| ROUNDABOUT THEATRE CO | NY, NY | $235,000 | 2026 | PROD SUPP-READINGS WORKSHOPS-GEN OPER SUPP |
| LINCOLN CENTER THEATRE | NY, NY | $165,000 | 2026 | PROD AND GEN OPER SUPP |
| GEORGE ST PLAYHOUSE | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $161,500 | 2026 | PROD SUPP AND ARTS ED PROGRAMS |
| MAYO PERFORMING ARTS CTR | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $150,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| JFK CTR FOR PERF ARTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2026 | THEATRE SEASON SUPP AND BWAY CTR STAGE PROG |
| MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB | NY, NY | $135,000 | 2026 | PROD SUPP&ART.DEVEL PROG |
| NJPAC | NEWARK, NJ | $130,000 | 2026 | AMER SONGBOOK |
| PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE | MILLBURN, NJ | $125,000 | 2026 | PROD SUPP AND GEN OPER SUPP |
| FNDTN FOR MORRIST MED CTR | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $115,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PALEY CENTER | NY, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC PROGRAMS |
| JFS OF SOM HUNT&WARR COUNTIES | SOMERVILLE, NJ | $100,000 | 2026 | FAMILY MENTOR PROGRAM AND GEN OPER SUPP |
| STATE THEATRE REG ARTS CTRNEW BRUNSW | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $76,000 | 2026 | SYMPH SERIES CAP CAMP GEN OPER SUPP |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAELI DEFFORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER SUPP |
| JOHN F KENNEDY LIBRARY FNDTN | BOSTON, MA | $70,000 | 2026 | PODCAST SER.&DIGITALIZATION OF ARCH. |
| RWJ UNIV HOSP FNDTN | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $65,000 | 2026 | CAP IMP TO SURG.ROOMS AND GEN OPER SUPP |
| CAROLYN DORFMAN DANCE CO | UNION, NJ | $65,000 | 2026 | RESID @FURMAN UNIV |
| ST BARNABAS MED CTR FNDTN | WEST ORANGE, NJ | $65,000 | 2026 | CAP IMP CARDIAC CARE AND GEN OPER SUPP |
| SECOND STAGE THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2026 | PROD SUPP |
| SEATTLE REP THEATRE | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2026 | PROD SUPP |
| BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY | WALTHAM MA, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | THEATRE ARTS PROG |
| NEW GROUP | NY, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | PROD SUPP, GEN. OPER |
| AMER FRIENDS UTD HATZALAH | NY, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL SERVICES |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS MAGEN DAVID | NY, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL SERVICES |
| GREATER MIAMI JEW FEDER | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPP ISRAEL EMERG FUND |
| NJ THEATRE ALLIANCE | MADISON, NJ | $50,000 | 2026 | HIRE DEVEL MGR |
| GROWING STAGE THEATRE | NETCONG, NJ | $48,000 | 2026 | GENER OPER AND EDUC PROGRAMS |
| TWO RIVER THEATRE CO | RED BANK, NJ | $45,000 | 2026 | PRODUCTION SUPP |
| ASSOC ALUMNAE DOUGLASS COLL | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $43,000 | 2026 | 100th ANNIVERSARY CAMP |
| RUTGERS UNIV HILLEL FNDTN | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $42,000 | 2026 | JEWISH FILM FEST |
| ATLANTIC THEATRE CO | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER AND PROD SUPP |
| CITY CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | ENCORES PROGRAM |
| OVERLOOK HOSPITAL FNDN | NJ, NJ | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER SUPP |
| PRIMARY STAGES | NY, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | PROD SUPP |
| PLAYWRIGHTS HORIZONS | NY, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | PROD AND GENER OPER SUPP |
| YOGI BERRA MUSEUM | MONTCLAIR, NJ | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER SUPP |
| ARC MORRIS | MORRIS PLAINS, NJ | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER SUPP |
| ST PETER'S FNDTN | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER SUPP |
| CONNECTION FOR WOMEN AND FAM | SUMMIT, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | PATHWAYS PROGRAM |
| CENTER FOR GREAT EXPECT | SOMERSET, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER SUPP |
| PRINCETON SYMPHONY ORCH | NJ, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER SUPP |
| CIESLA FNDTN | WASH, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | DOCUMENTARY FILM |
| SHAKESPEARE THEATRE | FLORHAM PK, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | PROD SUPP |
| PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA | PA, PA | $24,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER SUPP |
| COMMUNITY FNDTN OF GREENVILLE | GREENVILLE, SC | $20,000 | 2026 | HELLER HERIT.ON GREEN |
| DEBORAH HOSP FNDTN | BROWNS MILLS, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER SUPP |
| CARNEGIE HALL | NY, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | PRODUCTION SUPPORT |
| SOPAC | SOUTH ORANGE, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPER |
| JEWISH COMM CTR MIDDLESEX | EDISON, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | MUSIC AT THE J INITIATIVE |
| NY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NY, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | EXHIBITION SUPP |
LINCOLN CENTER THEATRE
$165,000PROD AND GEN OPER SUPP
MAYO PERFORMING ARTS CTR
$150,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
JFK CTR FOR PERF ARTS
THEATRE SEASON SUPP AND BWAY CTR STAGE PROG
MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB
$135,000PROD SUPP&ART.DEVEL PROG
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE
$125,000PROD SUPP AND GEN OPER SUPP
JFS OF SOM HUNT&WARR COUNTIES
$100,000FAMILY MENTOR PROGRAM AND GEN OPER SUPP
JOHN F KENNEDY LIBRARY FNDTN
$70,000PODCAST SER.&DIGITALIZATION OF ARCH.
RWJ UNIV HOSP FNDTN
$65,000CAP IMP TO SURG.ROOMS AND GEN OPER SUPP
CAROLYN DORFMAN DANCE CO
$65,000RESID @FURMAN UNIV
ST BARNABAS MED CTR FNDTN
$65,000CAP IMP CARDIAC CARE AND GEN OPER SUPP
SEATTLE REP THEATRE
$50,000PROD SUPP
AMER FRIENDS UTD HATZALAH
$50,000MEDICAL SERVICES
GREATER MIAMI JEW FEDER
$50,000SUPP ISRAEL EMERG FUND
NJ THEATRE ALLIANCE
$50,000HIRE DEVEL MGR
GROWING STAGE THEATRE
$48,000GENER OPER AND EDUC PROGRAMS
TWO RIVER THEATRE CO
$45,000PRODUCTION SUPP
ASSOC ALUMNAE DOUGLASS COLL
$43,000100th ANNIVERSARY CAMP
RUTGERS UNIV HILLEL FNDTN
$42,000JEWISH FILM FEST
CITY CENTER
$40,000ENCORES PROGRAM
OVERLOOK HOSPITAL FNDN
$40,000GENERAL OPER SUPP
YOGI BERRA MUSEUM
$35,000GENERAL OPER SUPP
ARC MORRIS
$35,000GENERAL OPER SUPP
CONNECTION FOR WOMEN AND FAM
$25,000PATHWAYS PROGRAM
CENTER FOR GREAT EXPECT
$25,000GENERAL OPER SUPP
PRINCETON SYMPHONY ORCH
$25,000GENERAL OPER SUPP
CIESLA FNDTN
$25,000DOCUMENTARY FILM
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE
$25,000PROD SUPP
COMMUNITY FNDTN OF GREENVILLE
$20,000HELLER HERIT.ON GREEN
SOPAC
$20,000GENERAL OPER
JEWISH COMM CTR MIDDLESEX
$20,000MUSIC AT THE J INITIATIVE
NY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$20,000EXHIBITION SUPP