Venturous Capital Grants Program

The Venturous Capital Grants are administered by the Venturous Theater Fund (VTF), a donor-advised fund of the Tides Foundation. These grants are aimed at supporting the production of bold, experimental, and large-scale new plays by enabling theaters to overcome significant production challenges. The purpose is to help small and medium-sized not-for-profit theaters say “yes” to ambitious theatrical projects that may otherwise be deemed unfeasible due to high, unusual costs. VTF operates under a commitment to help writers and theaters create daring and innovative works for the stage. This program does not fund general production expenses but instead focuses exclusively on extraordinary costs without which a play could not be produced. Examples include large cast requirements, unique technical needs, interactive technologies, and other uncommon demands essential to the storytelling. Conversely, routine production expenses such as salaries, venue rental, marketing, or playwright compensation are explicitly excluded. Productions must be new, full-length, text-based plays by living authors, with priority given to those who are American or US residents. Eligibility is limited to independent, professional, not-for-profit theaters or fiscally sponsored organizations located in the United States with annual operating budgets under $5 million. Productions must be mounted under an Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) agreement with at least two AEA performers, excluding stage managers and understudies. Projects must have a minimum of 13 public performances and may include co-productions as long as all partners meet eligibility criteria. The application process begins with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which any eligible theater may submit. LOIs are accepted biannually, with the upcoming deadlines being June 2, 2025, and December 1, 2025. LOIs must be submitted no more than 30 days in advance of the deadline and can only be for productions starting at least two and a half months after the deadline. Theaters may submit more than one LOI per cycle, but only two will be considered annually. Selected LOIs advance to a full application phase, which includes submission of a play script and detailed budget. Funding decisions are typically rendered within two to two and a half months following the LOI deadline. Grants range from $5,000 to $35,000, with awards of $30,000 or more reserved for exceptional cases. Funds are disbursed once the production is publicly announced, no earlier than three months before the opening performance. The grant process is competitive, and 50% to 75% of invited applicants typically receive funding. For questions, applicants are encouraged to contact the Venturous Theater Fund via the contact form or email provided on their website. All funding decisions are subject to approval by the Tides Foundation, and the guidelines provided are informational only, without any binding commitments.