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STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS WORKSHOP FOUNDATION INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 132570500 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · sdcfoundation.org
revenue
$587K
expenses
$435K
net assets
$527K
employees
3
program ratio
94%
mission · from form 990

SDCF celebrates, develops, and supports professional stage directors and choreographers throughout every phase of their careers. We work to build a collaborative and vibrant theatrical community by creating opportunities for artists of all backgrounds to bring their full, authentic selves to their work as creative leaders in the theatre.BECAUSE THE WORK CAN OFTEN FEEL ISOLATING, AND THESE CAREER PATHS CAN FEELINACCESSIBLE TO EMERGING ARTISTS, SDCF EVENTS AND PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO OFFERACCESS, OPPORTUNITY AND COMMUNITY TO DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS AT ALL LEVELS OFCAREER.

profile · synthesized from sources

Stage Directors and Choreographers Workshop Foundation (SDCF) supports professional stage directors and choreographers across all career stages, fostering a collaborative theater community. The organization celebrates, develops, and advocates for creative leaders in theater, with a focus on inclusion and accessibility. It operates nationally, with a strong presence in New York City, and serves artists through programs, awards, and professional development opportunities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $141K
    OTHER PROGRAM RELATED COSTS EXPENSED IN ORDER TO celebrate, develop, and support stage directors and choreographers throughout their careers.
  2. #2 $26K
    Broadway Salutes
named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Broadway Salutes
Annual event celebrating contributions of directors and choreographers, generating earned revenue and community engagement
Joe A. Callaway Award
Honors excellence in stage direction and choreography in New York City Off-Broadway productions, selected by a peer committee of SDC members
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 2 activities
    • Delivering career-long support and resources for directors and choreographers
      Provides financial, educational, and developmental resources—including residencies, public conversations, and professional development programs—to support stage directors and choreographers throughout their careers, from early development to legacy-building.
    • Supporting resident artists with production opportunities
      Implements the Lloyd Richards New Futures Residency by providing financial grants and guaranteeing each Resident Artist the opportunity to direct or choreograph a production at a host theatre within three years; selected Dominic Moore-Dunson as the 2025–2026 Resident Artist.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 2 activities
    • Funding professional development through program-related expenses
      Incurred significant program-related expenses across multiple years—$140,519, $110,089, and $121,777—to develop, foster, and support the craft and careers of professional stage directors and choreographers, including through creative and educational programming.
    • Operating the Broadway Salutes program
      Ran the "Broadway Salutes" program with $25,591 in expenses and equivalent revenue, which celebrates contributions of theater professionals and supports Foundation initiatives.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Administering grant programs for stage directors and choreographers
      Awards multiple unrestricted grants annually to emerging, mid-career, and established directors and choreographers to support artistic development, assistant directorships, passion projects, and leadership growth. Specific awards include the Joe A. Callaway Award, Lynnette Barkley Award, Abe Burrows Award, Mr. Abbott Lifetime Achievement Award, and the $50,000 Lloyd Richards New Futures Residency grant.
  • Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
    • Offering professional development fellowships and observerships
      Provides early-career directors and choreographers with hands-on professional development opportunities including shadowing, observation, and active participation in Broadway and off-Broadway productions through structured fellowships such as the Mike Ockrent Fellowship and Denham Fellowship, offering stipends ranging from $600 to $1,000 per week.
  • Theatre Awards and Honors Administration 1 activity
    • Presenting awards for excellence in Off-Broadway direction and choreography
      Recognizes outstanding stage direction and choreography in New York City Off-Broadway productions annually through peer-juried awards, selecting recipients from approximately 100 eligible productions each season since 1989.
  • Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
    • Producing public educational content and podcasts
      Produces a podcast series featuring in-depth interviews and panel discussions with prominent theater professionals, with over 200 episodes available on major digital audio platforms, and conducts recorded conversations with directors and choreographers in New York City.
  • Member Hardship Assistance Programs 1 activity
    • Providing emergency financial assistance to SDC members
      Operates an Emergency Assistance Fund established in March 2020 to provide financial aid to members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) experiencing hardship, helping them meet basic needs during crises.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$587K
Contributions & grants$344K59%
Program service revenue$26K4%
Investment income$18K3%
Other revenue$198K
expenses
Total expenses$435K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$201K
Grants paid out$149K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$586K
Cash$315K
Investments$245K
Liabilities$59K
Net assets$527K
Liquid reserves15.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +48.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LAURA PENN Trustee 2 $342K
Danielle Barlow Foundation Dir 35 $99K
board members · 9
  • Barbara Whitman — Trustee
  • Ellenore Scott — Trustee
  • Jonathan Parker — Trustee
  • Justin Emeka — Trustee
  • Liz Diamond — President
  • Maggie Burrows — Trustee
  • Maria Torres — Trustee
  • Sharon Ott — Treasurer
  • Victoria Traube — Trustee
relationships · 29

Who they work with

  • Apple Podcasts Partner — Distributes podcast content through Apple Podcasts platform
  • Center Stage Theatre Partner — Partner organization producing the musical The Sound, in which SDCF supported Charlotte Cohn as Denham Fellow.
  • Concord Theatricals Government — Executive leadership role held by board member suggests institutional connection in theatrical licensing and rights management.
  • Dramatists Guild Copyright Management, Inc. Partner — Board membership indicates collaborative relationship in copyright and legal advocacy for theater professionals.
  • Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center Government — Lloyd Richards led the National Playwrights Conference at this institution for over 30 years; informs the program's developmental approach.
  • Facebook Partner — Platform used for outreach and community engagement
  • Instagram Partner — Platform used for outreach and community engagement
  • James and Deborah Burrows Foundation Partner — Co-established the Abe Burrows Award with the SDC Foundation
  • Lincoln Center Theater Partner — Hosts the Mike Ockrent Fellow as part of a production on Broadway.
  • LinkedIn Partner — Platform used for outreach and community engagement
  • Lisbyn Partner — Distributes podcast content through Lisbyn platform
  • Lloyd Richards Partner — Namesake and implied partner in the Lloyd Richards New Futures Residency, supporting leadership development for mid-career directors or choreographers committed to Black voices.
  • Lynnette Barkley Partner — Established the Lynnette Barkley Fund in 2025 to support alumni of SDCF’s Professional Development Program.
  • Manhattan Theatre Club Partner — Hosts SDCF Directing Observers on Broadway productions, such as The Balusters.
  • Olney Theatre Center Partner — Hosts SDCF Directing Observers on theatrical productions, such as I & You The Musical.
  • Paper Mill Playhouse Partner — Hosts SDCF Directing Observers on theatrical productions, such as West Side Story.
  • Partners in Health Partner — Recipient of proceeds from the benefit production of "James and the Giant Peach with Taika and Friends."
  • Roald Dahl Story Company Partner — Collaborated on the conception and production of a benefit performance of "James and the Giant Peach."
  • SDC Network — Operates as the foundation arm of SDC, administering awards for its members.
  • Spotify Partner — Distributes podcast content through Spotify platform
  • Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) Government — Founded in 1959 as a labor union for directors and choreographers; SDCF was established in 1965 to complement its mission through philanthropy and professional development.
  • Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) Network — Closely affiliated organization; leadership roles held by board members indicate formal organizational ties.
  • Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) Partner — Provides emergency assistance to members of SDC and collaborates with the union on support services.
  • Steppenwolf Theatre Company Partner — Hosts SDCF Directing Observers on theatrical productions, such as WINDFALL.
  • The Entertainment Fund Partner — Beneficiary of fundraising efforts through the TikTok musical "Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical."
  • The Old Globe Partner — Hosts SDCF Directing Fellows on theatrical productions, such as FENCES.
  • Thomas Kail Funder — Provided a matching contribution to support the Abe Burrows Award
  • X Partner — Platform used for outreach and community engagement
  • Yale Repertory Theatre Government — Lloyd Richards served as Artistic Director; informs the legacy and leadership model of the residency program.
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.

  • Equity-Centered Leadership Development for Underrepresented Artists
    methodology: equity_through_leadership_residencies
    By funding mid-career Black directors and choreographers and connecting them with institutional mentorship and residency opportunities, the organization advances equity and increases Black cultural representation in American theatre because sustained investment in leadership pathways enables systemic change in who holds creative power.
  • Mentorship Through Immersive Production Experience
    methodology: mentorship_through_production_immersion
    By embedding early-career directors and choreographers in full-scale production processes under the guidance of established artists, the organization builds practical skills and professional confidence because experiential learning within real-world artistic contexts is more effective than theoretical training alone.
  • Peer-Driven Community Building to Counter Isolation
    methodology: peer_led_dialogue
    By creating structured opportunities for peer-led dialogue, one-on-one exchange, and mutual support among directors and choreographers, the organization combats professional isolation because meaningful connection with peers fosters resilience, belonging, and shared growth across career stages.
  • Peer-Reviewed Recognition to Affirm Artistic Excellence
    methodology: peer_review
    By awarding competitive grants through a peer-review process led by current SDC members, the organization validates artistic excellence and strengthens professional community because recognition by one’s peers reinforces legitimacy, encourages quality, and upholds field-specific standards.
  • Unrestricted Artist Support to Reduce Barriers
    methodology: unrestricted_grant_support_for_emerging_artists
    By providing unrestricted financial grants to emerging directors and choreographers—particularly those serving as assistants—the organization enables full focus on creative development because removing economic pressure allows artists to engage deeply in mentorship and production without distraction.