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ACTORS' EQUITY FOUNDATION INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 132513378 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE T70Z · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Small ($100K-$1M) · actorsequityfoundation.org
revenue
$193K
expenses
$245K
net assets
$4.6M
employees
1
program ratio
81%
mission · from form 990

TO BENEFIT MEMBERS OF THE ACTING PROFESSION; INCREASE COOPERATION AMONG THOSE WHO WORK IN OR ON BEHALF OF THE THEATRICAL PROFESSION; CONTRIBUTE TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE THEATRICAL PROFESSION; AND WORK TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF THE THEATER.

profile · synthesized from sources

Actors' Equity Foundation supports members of the acting profession through grants and awards that recognize accomplishments in theater. The organization funds individual artists and contributes to the advancement of the theatrical profession. It also offers career development workshops for actors in the United States.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $23K
    THE FOUNDATION GRANTS AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECOGNIZE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE ACTING PROFESSION AND THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE THEATRICAL PROFESSIONS. CURRENT FOUNDATION AWARDS INCLUDE THE GRANT FUND EAST, THE PAUL ROBESON AWARD, THE JOSEPH A. CALLAWAY AWARD, THE CLARENCE DERWENT AWARD, THE RICHARD SEFF AWARD, THE ROGER STURTEVANT AWARD, THE PATRICK QUINN AWARD AND THE MICHAEL MCCARTY AWARD FUND.
  2. #2 $4K
    THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IN THE FORM OF VARIOUS CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, BOTH IN PERSON AND REMOTELY, TO INDIVIDUALS OF THE ACTING PROFESSION. SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM WE'VE PRODUCED APPROXIMATELY TWO PER YEAR INCLUDING: MASTER CLASS FOR MUSICAL THEATRE SINGING, STAGE COMBAT WORKSHOP, ADDING TOOLS TO YOUR ACTING TOOLBOX, VOCAL HEALTH SEMINARS, AUDITION STRESS MANAGEMENT. THESE CLASSES HAVE SERVED SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE.
named programs · 8 · from sources

What they call their work

Career Development Workshops
Offers workshops such as master classes in musical theater singing, stage combat, vocal health, and audition stress management for members of the acting profession.
Clarence Derwent Award
Annual award recognizing outstanding performances by actors in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, with recipients selected based on early-career excellence.
Grant Fund East
Provides financial support to actors in the Eastern United States for professional development and career advancement.
Grant Fund West
Provides financial support to actors in the Western United States for professional development and career advancement.
Joseph A. Callaway Award
Honors actors for excellence in classical theater performances in New York City, focusing on stagecraft and interpretive skill in non-musical productions.
Paul Robeson Award
Recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the advancement of African American theater artists.
Richard Seff Award
Annual award given to actors over the age of 40 for outstanding performances in Broadway or Off-Broadway productions.
Steven Falat Christmas Basket Project
Provides holiday baskets to individuals living with HIV/AIDS, particularly within the theater community.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Theatre Awards and Honors Administration 4 activities
    • Awarding the Clarence Derwent Award
      Recognizes outstanding stage performances by actors in the New York metropolitan area through the annual Clarence Derwent Award, which has been awarded since 1945.
    • Awarding the Michael McCarty Award
      Recognizes individuals for distinguished service to Actors’ Equity members, with recipients honored annually including Linda Tross (2026), Jennifer Leigh Warren (2025), and Peter Van Norden (2024).
    • Awarding the Paul Robeson Award
      Presents an annual award to individuals or organizations that exemplify the principles and ideals of Paul Robeson, with past recipients including Maya Angelou, Harry Belafonte, and The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City (2023).
    • Awarding the Richard Seff Award
      Recognizes performers over 50 years of age working on or Off-Broadway for their sustained contributions to theatre, with awards presented annually since 2004.
  • Performing Arts Production Support 2 activities
    • Administering career development and recognition awards
      Manages a portfolio of annual awards including the Joe A. Callaway Award, St. Clair Bayfield Award, Roger Sturtevant Award, and Patrick Quinn Award, recognizing excellence in acting, classical performance, and service to actors.
    • Funding nonprofit theaters and arts organizations
      Provides annual grants to over 150 nonprofit theatres and arts-serving agencies across the United States, including support for diversity initiatives, career transition services, and health care programs.
  • Donor-Advised Fund Grantmaking 1 activity
    • Accepting and managing planned gifts and donations
      Receives donations through wills, living trusts, retirement assets, life insurance policies, and real estate to support its mission and programs.
  • Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
    • Funding scholarships and education programs in theatre
      Finances scholarships and sponsors education programs for actors, including master classes and skill-building workshops in musical theatre, stage combat, and vocal health, serving several hundred participants annually.
  • Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
    • Operating the Steven Falat Christmas Basket Project
      Sponsors an annual holiday program delivering food baskets to individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
  • Community Health Fairs and Screenings 1 activity
    • Providing free health services to theatre professionals
      Administers free flu shot clinics for members of the professional theatre community, serving over 5,100 individuals.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$193K
Contributions & grants$112K58%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$81K42%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$245K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$109K
Grants paid out$120K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.58M
Cash$51K
Investments$4.53M
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$4.58M
Liquid reserves224.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +5491.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ALVIN VINCENT JR DIRECTOR/CEO 1 $434K
JOAN GLAZER MANAGING DIRECTOR 40 $102K
board members · 11
  • AL BUNDONIS — DIRECTOR
  • BARBARA ROBERTS — DIRECTOR
  • BROOKE SHIELDS — DIRECTOR
  • DOUG CARFRAE — DIRECTOR
  • IRA MONT — SECRETARY
  • JUDY RICE — PRESIDENT
  • NIKKA GRAFF LANZARONE — DIRECTOR
  • PAIGE PRICE — VICE PRESIDENT
  • PHIL BIRSH — DIRECTOR
  • SANDRA KARAS — TREASURER
  • WYDETTA CARTER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 31

Who they work with

  • Actors' Equity Association Network — Provides support to members of Actors' Equity Association through grants and awards.
  • Actors’ Equity Association Government — Founded as a separate 501(c)(3) to accept tax-deductible donations originally intended for the union.
  • Amazon Smile Partner — Partner platform through which supporters can direct 0.5% of eligible purchases to the Foundation.
  • Casting Society of America Partner — Co-participates in the selection panel for the Roger Sturtevant Musical Theatre Award.
  • Chicago Shakespeare Theater Partner — Hosts productions in which St. Clair Bayfield Award recipients have performed.
  • Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Partner — Partner organization that receives grant support for arts-in-education programming in schools across the Midwest.
  • Circle in the Square Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • Classic Stage Company Partner — Hosts productions in which St. Clair Bayfield Award recipients have performed.
  • Irish Repertory Theatre Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • Lincoln Center Partner — Hosts productions in which St. Clair Bayfield Award recipients have performed.
  • Lincoln Center Theatre Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • National Actors Theatre Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • National Asian American Theatre Company Partner — Collaborates with recipient awardees who have performed in productions at the National Asian American Theatre Company.
  • New York Shakespeare Festival Partner — Hosts productions in which St. Clair Bayfield Award recipients have performed.
  • New York Shakespeare Festival Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • O'Henry Productions' Loft Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • Pearl Theatre Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • Public Theatre Partner — Collaborates with recipient awardees who have performed in productions at the Public Theatre.
  • Red Bull Theater Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • Roundabout Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • Shakespeare in the Park Partner — Hosts productions in which St. Clair Bayfield Award recipients have performed.
  • Shubert Theater Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • Steven Falat Christmas Basket Project Partner — Sponsored project delivering holiday baskets to individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
  • The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City Partner — Recipient of the 2023 Paul Robeson Award.
  • The Campfire Project Partner — Recipient of the 2024 Paul Robeson Award.
  • The Hudson Theatre Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • The Public Theater Partner — Partner organization that receives support from the Actors' Equity Foundation and acknowledges its impact on serving artists and audiences.
  • The Public Theatre Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
  • Theatre for a New Audience Partner — Hosts productions in which St. Clair Bayfield Award recipients have performed.
  • Theatre for a New Audience Partner — Production venue for recipients of the Joe A. Callaway Award
+ 1 more
strategies · 2

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Grantmaking and Capacity Building for Theater Professionals
    methodology: grantmaking_for_capacity_building
    By providing grants and funding to nonprofit theaters, arts-serving organizations, and individual artists, the Foundation advances the theatrical profession—because targeted financial support enables career development, promotes diversity, and strengthens the infrastructure of the theater community, particularly during transitions or early career stages.
  • Recognition as a Catalyst for Professional Advancement
    methodology: recognition-based_advancement
    By recognizing individual artistic excellence and service through peer-judged awards and public honors, the Foundation strengthens professional standards, increases visibility in the theater community, and promotes career advancement—because acknowledgment by peers and institutions validates and amplifies emerging and sustained contributions to the field.