irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $407KNATIONAL THEATRE GRANTSATW'S NATIONAL THEATRE COMPANY GRANTS FUND REGIONAL THEATRE ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMPHASIZE AND ELEVATE THE WORK OF LIVING AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS. FIVE GRANTS ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE VISIONARY APPROACHES TO PRESENTING NEW WORK AND EXPANDING THE NATIONAL THEATRE CANON. THESE GRANTS AIM TO UPLIFT AND CELEBRATE PLAYWRIGHTS, SUPPORT INNOVATIVE MODELS FOR MARKETING, TICKETING, BUILDING, AND SUSTAINING NEW AUDIENCES, AND HELPING UNDER-REPRESENTED AND UNKNOWN PLAYWRIGHTS FIND THEIR AUDIENCES ACROSS THE NATION.
- #2 $211KWORKING IN THE THEATREATW CONTINUES TO INCREASE ITS AUDIENCE THROUGH THIS MEDIA PROGRAMMING. THE PROGRAM HAS REACHED OVER 200 COUNTRIES INTERNATIONALLY AND SHARES INSIGHT INTO THE PROCESS OF CREATING GREAT THEATRE. IT HAS GARNED NATIONAL AWARDS. THE PROGRAM EXTENDS OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Jonathan Larson Grant
Unconditional annual grants awarded to early-career musical theatre composers, lyricists, and librettists to support their artistic development and career sustainability
National Theatre Company Grants
Grants awarded to regional theatre organizations that emphasize the work of living American playwrights and innovative approaches to developing new work and audiences
Working in the Theatre
Media programming that provides insight into the creation of theatre and offers professional development and training resources for theatre artists
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Theatre Awards and Honors Administration 2 activities
- Administers the Obie Awards for Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway theatrePresents the Obie Awards in partnership with The Village Voice to honor excellence in Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway theatre; has served as sole presenter since 2021.
- Produces the Tony Awards and administers Broadway honorsHosts and produces the annual Tony Awards ceremony at Radio City Music Hall, broadcast live on CBS, recognizing excellence in 24 Broadway performance and production categories.
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Artist Support Grants 2 activities
- Awards grants to regional theatre organizations and individual artistsFunds regional theatre companies through the National Theatre Company Grants program, awarding five annual $100,000 grants to support visionary projects and living American playwrights. Also provides unconditional grants to early-career musical theatre composers, lyricists, and librettists, and awards $92,500 annually to Obie Award winners.
- Offers fellowships for emerging theatre actorsLaunches the annual Gavin Creel Fellowship program, selecting five emerging actors each year to receive a $25,000 grant, mentorship, curated networking events, free theatre tickets, and access to American Theatre Wing programs.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Hosts play reading events to highlight underrepresented playwrightsOrganizes monthly virtual and in-person events where theatre enthusiasts, professionals, students, and educators read and discuss plays selected by an expert committee to elevate underrepresented voices and lesser-known works.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Offers professional development programs for emerging theatre artistsProvides workshops, master classes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for emerging and developing theatre professionals; content is filmed and made available on YouTube and Instagram for broader access.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Produces the documentary series "Working in the Theatre"Produces an Emmy-nominated documentary series that explores the creative process, profiles theatre professionals, and preserves industry knowledge; reaches over seven million households via broadcast and averages over 50,000 online views monthly.
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Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Runs the SpringboardNYC and Springboard to Design programs for student artistsHosts students from multiple U.S. states in New York City for immersive programs supporting emerging actors and designers; includes housing, tickets to 5–7 shows, attendance at Tony Awards rehearsals, and need-based scholarships.
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Arts Education Access Programs 1 activity
- Supports theatre education in under-resourced schoolsProvides classroom grants to create or enhance theatre programs in schools lacking resources, funding equipment such as lighting systems, sound systems, sewing machines, trailers, and foundational supplies for set, costume, and technical training.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.31M
Contributions & grants$2.21M67%
Program service revenue$632K19%
Investment income$446K13%
Other revenue$19K
expenses
Total expenses$3.65M
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$1.39M
Grants paid out$1.05M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$13.92M
Cash$941K
Investments$11.97M
Liabilities$283K
Net assets$13.63M
Liquid reserves42.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -10.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEATHER A HITCHENS | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $411K |
| IAN WEISS | DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL CONTENT | 40 | $158K |
board members · 23
- BRISA CARLETON — BOARD MEMBER
- DALE CENDALI — VICE CHAIR
- DASHA EPSTEIN — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID BROWN — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID HENRY HWANG — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID ROCKWELL — BOARD MEMBER
- EMILIO SOSA — CHAIR
- EVAN SHAPIRO — BOARD MEMBER
- FRED P HOCHBERG — BOARD MEMBER
- HOWARD WOLFSON — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES HIGGINS — VICE CHAIR
- JANE FEARER SAFER — BOARD MEMBER
- JUDITH O RUBIN — BOARD MEMBER
- KENNY LEON — BOARD MEMBER
- LATANYA RICHARDSON JACKSON — VICE CHAIR
- LEE H PERLMAN — VICE CHAIR
- LIZ CLAMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- LUZ TOWNS-MIRANDA — BOARD MEMBER
- MARVA A SMALLS — BOARD MEMBER
- MEG FOFONOFF — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL P PRICE — BOARD MEMBER
- NADINE WONG — VICE CHAIR
- NATASHA KATZ — SECRETARY
relationships · 36
Who they work with
- About Face Theatre Partner — Partner organization collaborating on "The Trans History Project" funded through the National Theatre Company Grants program.
- Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Funder — Funded the initiative with a $1.3 million three-year grant
- Baltimore Center Stage Partner — Co-producing partner in the National Theatre Company Grants program, specifically through its project "The Trans History Project".
- Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation Funder — Provides additional support for the "Working in the Theatre" documentary series.
- Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation Funder — Provides support for the Master Class Series.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Provides additional support for the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative
- Breaking the Binary Theatre Partner — Co-producing partner with Baltimore Center Stage on "The Trans History Project", supported through the National Theatre Company Grants program.
- Catherine Brunell Partner — Co-launches the Gavin Creel Fellowships with the American Theatre Wing.
- Celia Keenan-Bolger Partner — Co-launches the Gavin Creel Fellowships with the American Theatre Wing.
- Disney Theatrical Productions Partner — Stage management professionals from Disney Theatrical Productions lead a master class on stage management.
- Diversionary Theatre Partner — Partner organization collaborating on "The Trans History Project" funded through the National Theatre Company Grants program.
- Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust Funder — Provides leadership support for the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative
- Goodman Theatre Partner — Partner organization collaborating on "The Trans History Project" funded through the National Theatre Company Grants program.
- Indiana Repertory Theatre Partner — Partner organization collaborating on "The Trans History Project" funded through the National Theatre Company Grants program.
- Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Funder — Provides resources that sustain the Jonathan Larson Grant program
- Kenny Leon Partner — Tony Award-winning director and new board chair of the American Theatre Wing.
- Larson Family Government — Provides generosity and support to sustain the Jonathan Larson Grant program in partnership with the American Theatre Wing
- Los Angeles Community College District Partner — Partner organization collaborating with The Latino Theater Company on the "Impact Initiative" to provide cost-free theater subscriptions to underserved community college students.
- Michael Stewart Foundation Funder — Provides scholarship funds for the SpringboardNYC program.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Provides support for the Master Class Series.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Provides award funding to support the SpringboardNYC program.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Provides funding support for The Network program through an award.
- Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre Partner — Partner organization collaborating with The Latino Theater Company on initiatives supported by the National Theatre Company Grants program.
- Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre Partner — Partner organization collaborating on "The Trans History Project" funded through the National Theatre Company Grants program.
- Sara Bareilles Partner — Co-launches the Gavin Creel Fellowships with the American Theatre Wing.
- Saw Island Foundation Funder — Supports recording grants for Jonathan Larson Grant recipients
- Schloss Family Foundation Funder — Provides additional support for the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative
- The Broadway League Partner — Co-presents The Tony Awards.
- The Broadway League Partner — Co-produces the Tony Awards through Tony Awards Productions.
- The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation Funder — Provides leadership support for the "Working in the Theatre" documentary series.
+ 6 more
strategies · 5
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.
- Documentary & Media-Based Public Engagementmethodology: documentary_preservationBy using documentary storytelling and live broadcasts to reveal the theatrical process, the organization deepens public understanding and broadens audience engagement, because transparent, narrative-driven media humanizes the art form and preserves its cultural significance for future generations.
- Early-Intervention Equity Pathwaymethodology: early-intervention_equity_pathwayBy providing educational and financial support early in the pipeline—from K–12 through emerging career stages—the organization creates equitable access to theatre careers, because systemic barriers are most effectively addressed through sustained intervention before professional entry.
- Integrated Artist Supportmethodology: integrated_artist_supportBy combining financial grants with professional development opportunities and media exposure, the organization sustains artistic careers across stages, because holistic support increases resilience, visibility, and long-term engagement in the theatre field.
- Intergenerational Mentorship & Community Buildingmethodology: intergenerational_mentorship_networkBy connecting emerging artists with established professionals through structured networks and shared events, the organization ensures continuity of knowledge and opportunity in the field, because peer and cross-generational relationships increase retention, professional confidence, and industry integration.
- Playwright-Centered Field Advancementmethodology: playwright-centered_grantmakingBy directing grantmaking and institutional support toward regional theatres producing work by living American playwrights—especially underrepresented voices—the organization expands the canon and strengthens the national theatre ecosystem, because decentralizing new play development fosters artistic innovation and equitable access to production.