named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Bridge Grants
Financial support for dramatists facing non-emergency but essential life expenses to sustain their creative work.
Catalyst Fellowship
A two-year fellowship awarding $60,000 to 10 dramatists from the global ethnic majority (Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latiné, Pacific Islander, or mixed-race) who use theater for social and political change.
Crisis Relief Grants
Emergency funding for dramatists experiencing unexpected financial, personal, or medical crises.
DGF Fellows Program
A national fellowship program offering mentorship, professional development, and career support to emerging playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists, now available virtually to writers across the U.S.
Roe Green Visiting Voices
Program that sends established dramatists to communities across the country to lead free masterclasses and workshops for emerging writers.
The Hansberry-Lilly Fellowship
An annual $25,000 need-based scholarship for women and female-identifying playwrights of color enrolled in designated MFA playwriting programs, supporting living expenses to enable uninterrupted writing and mentorship.
Writing Rooms
Free, fully furnished creative workspaces in midtown Manhattan for dramatists to write, rehearse, and collaborate, including Music Hall, Composers Corner, and Writers Den.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 1 activity
- Administering fellowship and mentorship programs for theater writersRuns the DGF Fellows Program and Roe Green Visiting Voices program, offering year-long virtual and in-person fellowships that include mentorship from established writers, workshops, and internship opportunities. The program has supported over 160 writers since 2000 and transitioned to a nationally accessible virtual format using a pandemic-era pilot model.
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Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
- Advancing organizational equity and anti-oppression practicesHas integrated anti-racism and anti-oppression priorities into its strategic plan, established a departmental reporting structure focused on equity, conducts mandatory anti-oppression training for staff and Board members, and is developing an anti-racist leadership plan.
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Direct Financial Assistance to Individuals 1 activity
- Delivering emergency and living expense aid to dramatistsProvides emergency financial assistance to theater writers facing unexpected personal, medical, or financial crises through Crisis Relief Grants and Bridge Grants, which support essential daily living expenses.
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Performing Arts Production Support 1 activity
- Funding theaters and collaborative writer engagementsAwards grants to theaters with a demonstrated commitment to writers and supports dramatists’ participation in national programs like Roe Green Visiting Voices, which connects writers with theater organizations across the country.
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Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
- Operating free creative and rehearsal spaces for dramatistsProvides free, fully furnished writing and rehearsal spaces in midtown Manhattan—known as Music Hall, Composers Corner, and Writers Den—for dramatists to write, rehearse, and collaborate. These spaces are accessible to playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Providing financial grants and stipends to theater writersFunds theater writers through awards, grants, and stipends including emergency, bridge, and crisis relief grants, as well as multi-year fellowships with substantial financial support. Awards include $30,000 per year for two years to 10 dramatists annually and $25,000 annual stipends to women and female-identifying playwrights of color in graduate programs.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Sponsoring educational and community-based writing programsConducts theater writing workshops and masterclasses for students and emerging writers, focusing on character development and playwriting techniques. Offers in-person and virtual access to professional playwrights through workshops, discussions, and community-led programming.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Compensating program participants and contributorsProvides stipends or honorariums to all individuals—including artists, reviewers, and committee volunteers—involved in its programs to ensure equitable compensation.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$3.85M
Contributions & grants$3.21M83%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$572K15%
Other revenue$71K
expenses
Total expenses$3.17M
Program expenses64%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$1.61M
Grants paid out$554K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$10.34M
Cash$1.06M
Investments$8.30M
Liabilities$1.24M
Net assets$9.10M
Liquid reserves35.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +55.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RACHEL ROUTH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $202K |
| MEGHAN GAUR | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $129K |
| EVELYN SO | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCE | 40 | $122K |
| DANIEL GERASIMOWICZ | EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE AND BOARD LIAISON | 40 | $107K |
board members · 21
- ANDREW LIPPA — PRESIDENT
- AUDREY CHOI — DIRECTOR
- BARBARA OLCOTT — DIRECTOR
- BENJ PASEK — DIRECTOR
- BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS — DIRECTOR
- C GRAHAM BERWIND III — DIRECTOR
- DAVID HENRY HWANG — DIRECTOR
- DONALD J LOFTUS — DIRECTOR
- DOUG WRIGHT — DIRECTOR
- ELENI GIANULIS-VERMEER — DIRECTOR
- ELIZABETH DEWBERRY — DIRECTOR
- GARY DICENZO — DIRECTOR
- GRETCHEN CRYER — DIRECTOR
- JAMES IJAMES — DIRECTOR
- JOCELYN BIOH — DIRECTOR
- JUSTIN PAUL — DIRECTOR
- KEVIN HAGER — VICE PRESIDENT
- LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA — DIRECTOR
- LOUISE EVINS — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL GORDON — SECRETARY
- PETER RATRAY — DIRECTOR
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Board of Directors Government — Responsible for developing anti-racist and anti-oppression leadership plans and ensuring safe interactions among trustees, staff, and stakeholders.
- Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Partner — Board member and originator of the Catalyst Fellowship concept
- Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Funder — Provided partial support for the DGF Fellows program.
- Drew University Partner — Hosts Roe Green Visiting Voices workshops with visiting playwrights.
- Imagebox Partner — Website design and development partner.
- James Martin Funder — Provided support for the DGF National Fellows 2026 Class.
- Jeffrey Seller Family Foundation Funder — Provided partial support for the DGF Fellows program.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary funder supporting DGF's Writing Rooms through state arts funding.
- Nick Kaidoo Partner — Playwright and research collaborator in the development of the Catalyst Fellowship
- Northern Michigan University Partner — Hosts Roe Green Visiting Voices workshops with visiting playwrights.
- Roe Green Visiting Voices Partner — Collaborates to connect dramatists with theater organizations across the country.
- Terrence Lynch Funder — Provided support for the DGF National Fellows 2026 Class.
- The Lillys Partner — Co-developed and funds the Hansberry-Lilly Fellowship to support women and female-identifying playwrights of color.
- Tony Awards Government — Recognized with a 2024 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre.
- midtown Manhattan Partner — Location hosting free writing and collaboration spaces for dramatists.
strategies · 4
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 Access and Representation 55 orgsmethodology: equity-centered_prioritizationBy prioritizing support for dramatists from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic communities—and especially women and female-identifying playwrights of color—the organization advances social change in theater because equitable access enables marginalized voices to reshape cultural narratives and correct systemic exclusion.shared approach: Artist-Centered Equity Development →
- Holistic Support for Sustainable Artistic Development 55 orgsmethodology: holistic_supportBy combining financial aid, mentorship, and practical resources, the organization fosters long-term artistic development because integrated support addresses both material and professional barriers faced by dramatists.shared approach: Artist-Centered Equity Development →
- Geographic and Financial Barrier Reduction via Virtual Programmingmethodology: accessibility_expansionBy offering free, virtual fellowship programs, the organization expands access to dramatists nationwide because removing cost and location constraints enables participation from a broader, more diverse pool of artists who would otherwise be excluded.
- Mentorship-Driven Creative Developmentmethodology: mentorship-based_developmentBy pairing emerging dramatists with established professionals through sustained mentorship, workshops, and residencies, the organization enhances creative growth and industry integration because peer-guided learning builds confidence, networks, and craft more effectively than isolated training.