Social Impact Theatre Grant Program is sponsored by Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. Supports innovative theatrical productions addressing social issues, fostering community engagement.

Social Impact Theatre Grant Program – Biller Family Foundation Overview: Social Impact Theatre Grant Program Our investments are guided by the fundamental belief in the power of live theatre to spark dialogue, bring different viewpoints together on challenging subjects, and provide a lens to process the critical issues of contemporary society.

Through our Social Impact Theatre Grant Program, we proudly provide production-specific support to organizations that are intentional and innovative in engaging their audiences around their productions’ issues and are committed to reaching new audiences.

Eligibility & Funding Information The Social Impact Theatre Grant Program offers funding for contemporary, professional, theatrical productions that deal with current social issues: At least 75% of the selected production’s cast must be professional actors (which the Foundation defines as paid for their work); The production must have a plot and use language (spoken, sung, and/or signed).

Dance, opera, symphony, and touring Broadway productions are not eligible for funding; Scripts must be completed at the time your application is submitted; There must be at least 15 fully-produced public performances of the production; and, Due to the application timeline, productions should occur between September 1, 2026 and August 31, 2027.

Eligible applicants must be a nonprofit organization: Domiciled in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, or Washington State with IRS-determined 501(c)(3) status; Whose sole mission is to produce and present theatre; With a history of at least two consecutive years of bringing theatre to its community; and, With annual operating revenue of at least $1,000,000 for the most recently-completed fiscal year.

Evaluation Factors & Guidelines Organizations will be evaluated within the context of the Biller Family Foundation’s overall mission and values , and the grant program priorities as outlined below. The framing bullets are not intended to be all inclusive and are designed to give examples of what the review committee considers while reading applications. The production addresses timely and relavent social issues.

The review committee seeks to promote productions that are new works, are no more than 100 years old, and that are not adaptations of classics. Particular emphasis is given to musical productions. Outreach, Engagement & Partnerships: The theatre is thoughtful in its outreach to new and underrepresented audiences, and audiences of all abilities.

Engagement strategies provide opportunities for the audience to learn more about the issues raised in the play, and provide audiences the opportunity to challenge and shift their perspectives. Partnerships are clearly related to the content of the production and designed to deepen audience awareness by providing expertise and resources for audiences to further engage with the content.

If a children’s theatre, it is clear how the programming and events impact audience members of all ages. The theatre demonstrates an ability to operate now and into the future. Financial management seems appropriate for the size of the organization.

Staff management and board display a strong sense of leadership. Interested organizations may request funding for one production by submitting an LOI when our grant cycle is open. From this applicant pool, select organizations will be invited to submit a full application.

Social Impact Theatre grants can cover artistic, production, and community engagement expenses.

Thursday, May 14, 2026: Initial Application/LOI Released Wednesday, June 10, 2026: LOIs due by 5:00 pm (PST) Friday, June 26, 2026: Selected Organizations Invited to Submit a Full Application Thursday, July 16, 2026: Full Applications Due by 5:00 pm (PST) By Friday, August 28, 2026: Recipients Announced LOI and Application Questions Please provide the legal name of your organization. Please provide your organization’s tax ID number.

Please provide your organization’s mailing address. Please provide your organization’s mission statement. Eligible organizations must have a mission to produce or present theatre.

Has your theatre been in operation for at least two years? Eligible organizations must answer “Yes. ” Annual Operating Revenue * Please provide your organization’s annual operating revenue for the most recently completed fiscal year.

Eligible organizations must have a minimum annual operating revenue of $1M. Name of production for which you are seeking funds. Is this production being produced, premiered, or presented?

Please note that professional touring productions are ineligible for funding. Choices: Produced, Premiered, Presented If you selected “presented” in the question above, please share with us the extent to which your creative teams are involved (i.e. are you creating your own sets, costumes, lighting etc.). Please note that professional touring productions are ineligible for funding.

Are at least 75% of the actors in the production professional (i.e. paid for their work)? Eligible organizations must answer “Yes. ” Will performances take place on a stage in a professional theatre?

Y/N. If answering no, please provide a brief explanation. Please provide the dates of the production’s opening and closing performances.

Eligible productions must occur between September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027. Please provide the total number of performances. If the number of performances has not been determined, an estimate is sufficient.

Eligible productions must have a minimum of 15 fully produced public performances. Please provide the seating capacity of theatre in which the production will be staged. Please provide the estimated total number of audience members you anticipate attending the production over the course of its run.

Estimated Attendees at Engagement Activities & Events * Please provide the estimated number of attendees at the engagement activities and events surrounding this production. Was this piece written in the last 100 years? Eligible organizations must answer “Yes.

” Provide a brief, three to four sentence summary of the production. Please list the primary social issues addressed by the production. Please list the strategies you will use to engage audiences around the social issues and themes listed in the question above (ex.

panel discussions with subject matter experts, partner organizations providing resources in the lobby etc.). If music is featured in your production, please provide a brief explanation of the role it plays and/or its significance for audiences. Optional: Impact Beyond Youth If your organization is a children’s theatre, please briefly explain how the production and surrounding engagement events will impact audiences of all ages.

Is the script for this production complete? Eligible organizations must answer yes Does this production contain physical graphic violence? If yes, please describe the nature.

We know that applicants interpret this differently, and we will follow up for clarification if necessary. Organizational Health and Stability Mission, Vision & Values * How do your organization’s mission, vision, and values guide your operations, programs, and organizational culture? What need, niche, or role does your organization fulfill in the theatre community?

What is your organization’s financial condition? What are your current financial goals, successes, or challenges? Management & Leadership * What is your organization’s management and leadership structure, including staff and board?

Have there been any recent changes or do you anticipate any upcoming changes? Optional: Organizational Change We are always curious to learn how theatres are adapting for sustainability. Is your theatre planning for or implementing any large scale, meaningful change?

Please note, this question is entirely optional. Name of production for which you are seeking funds. Provide a brief, three to four sentence summary of the production.

Discuss how your selection is timely, inspiring, educational, and innovative in its presentation. How does the selected production align with the mission of your organization and fit into the context of your current programming?

Please describe in detail what strategies you plan to utilize to engage your audience around the social issues raised in your production, including how you will promote rich conversation that embraces peoples’ different perspectives, experiences with, and/or understanding of those issues.

Provide a list of the partnerships with organizations and/or subject matter experts with whom you will work in conjunction with this performance to deepen the social impact for your audiences. For each partnership, please note which are confirmed and which are in process and describe the roles these partners will play in supporting your engagement and social impact efforts.

Note: community outreach and audience development partnerships are addressed in the next question. Target Audience and Outreach * Please describe your target audience for this production and how you plan to reach new and underrepresented audience members, including any community outreach partnerships.

Please describe how your organization accommodates people of all abilities attending this production, including any accommodations provided such as sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, real-time captioning, etc., Describe how you will evaluate the social impact on your audiences and broader community.

Biller Family Recognition * Should your organization receive a social impact theatre grant, we are interested to hear your ideas about how The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation would be recognized in publicity, printed materials, and/or verbal acknowledgement. If you have different sponsorship levels for this production, please provide details of those levels here. Provide a 10-page excerpt of the script.

The excerpt should contain a song or dialogue that exemplifies how the piece engages the audience around a particular issue. Provide the context for the script excerpt, noting which portion of the story is highlighted. Financial Questions and Statements Please note: all financial information will be kept confidential and will not be used for any purposes beyond the application review process.

Provide a budget for the production for which you are seeking funds. While the Foundation does not provide a template, please be sure to upload a PDF including unique line items for major funding sources and expenses, such as salaries and benefits, facility expenses, production materials, and expenses associated with audience engagement and community outreach.

Attach a budget comparison formatted in columns that include: 1) board approved budget for current fiscal year, 2) board approved budget for previous fiscal year, and 3) budget actuals for previous fiscal year. Budget document must be in a PDF file. List the five largest funders supporting your organization for each of the last two years, including giving amounts.

The list can include individuals, government entities, corporations, or other foundations. What was the balance of your operating cash reserves at prior fiscal year-end? * These are funds set aside to provide cushion against unexpected cash flow shortages.

What is the current balance of those reserves? * How many months of reserves do you have for continued operations? * Do you have audited financial statements?

* If yes, are there any going concerns? What is your accumulated deficit, if any, and over how many years has it accumulated? * Does your organization have a line of credit?

* Please upload a PDF of the balance sheet for your most recently completed fiscal year. Please upload a PDF of the income statement for the most recently completed fiscal year. Report only operational, unrestricted activity (programming, administration, marketing, etc.).

Do not include endowments, capital projects, or other non-operational activity. Please upload a PDF of the Form 990 for the most recently completed fiscal year. Frequently Asked Questions How does the Foundation define social impact theatre?

Social impact theatre is artistic content that deepens audience awareness of and promotes dialogue around relevant social issues, brings different viewpoints together on challenging subjects, and provides a lens to process contemporary society. My organization does not meet the annual revenue requirement; can we still apply? Applicants must meet the annual revenue requirement.

However, we encourage theatres that do not meet requirements on their own, to partner with theatres that do. My organization is a performing arts center; can we still apply? If producing/presenting live theatre is clearly central to the work of the organization and theatre represents a key element of programmatic offerings, performing arts organizations are welcome to apply.

Can we apply under a fiscal sponsor? No. We do not accept applications through fiscal sponsors. We have not solidified our engagement strategies or partnerships; can we still apply?

Yes! If your engagement strategies and/or partnerships are not solidified, please describe any intended partnerships or engagement strategies, or those that have been successful from previous productions. How does the Foundation define professional actor?

For the purposes of this application, we define professional actors as actors who are paid for their work. Actors are not required to be union members. Will the Foundation fund dance, opera, symphony or professional touring productions?

Arvada Center for Arts and Humanities | Come from Away Autry Museum for the American West/Native Voices | Haunted Berkeley Repertory Theatre | Mother of Exiles Diversionary Theatre Productions | RENT Geffen Playhouse | Am I Roxie?

Intiman Theatre | SHe Said Pasadena Playhouse | Mexodus Portland Playhouse | Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous Shotgun Players | The Motion Seattle Children’s Theatre | Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story South Coast Repertory | The Heart Sellers The Phoenix Theatre Company | Dear Evan Hansen Z Space Studio | Becoming A Man