National Theatre Company Grants

The American Theatre Wing (ATW), a long-standing advocate for excellence and innovation in the theatre arts, has relaunched its National Theatre Company Grants program in 2025. With a history of celebrating theatrical excellence through programs such as the Tony Awards and its various educational initiatives, ATW now aims to invigorate regional theatre by supporting the presentation of new American work. The grant recognizes the essential role regional theatre companies play in the broader theatrical ecosystem and seeks to advance the visibility and influence of living American playwrights. This program will distribute five grants annually, each valued at $100,000, to regional theatre companies. The initiative supports projects that present new American works through innovative and community-minded strategies. These may include co-productions of world premieres, regional or local debuts, national nonprofit tours, unique audience development initiatives, and educational outreach programs aimed at introducing diverse or younger audiences to live theatre. Projects focusing on underrepresented playwrights or lesser-known works by deceased playwrights may also be considered, provided they meet the grant’s overarching goals. Eligibility is open to nonprofit theatre companies across the United States, with no restriction on budget size. However, the lead applicant must be a 501(c)(3) organization based outside New York City. Collaborations with New York-based organizations, commercial entities, or other types of institutions are welcomed. All proposed projects must be scheduled for either Fall 2026 or Spring 2027, or starting January 2027 for those that operate on a calendar-year season. Applicants must demonstrate a consistent commitment to diverse theatrical programming, proper artist compensation, legal rights acquisition for the proposed works, and present a clear and comprehensive project budget. The primary goals of the grant are to uplift the role of playwrights in the theatre industry, support innovative approaches to presenting new work, and drive audience expansion strategies that can serve as national models. The American Theatre Wing is particularly interested in efforts that elevate the voices of underrepresented playwrights or bring attention to valuable but overlooked theatrical works. Successful proposals will reflect a thoughtful, well-supported plan to implement and sustain the proposed projects, including adequate staffing and financial resources. Applications for the 2025 grant cycle are currently open, with a deadline of Friday, September 26, 2025. Interested organizations are encouraged to apply directly through ATW’s application portal. At this time, no pre-application deadlines or Q&A sessions have been announced. Questions or sponsorship inquiries can be directed to the organization via development@americantheatrewing.org. Additional information about sponsorship opportunities is also available by request. The American Theatre Wing continues its mission to promote equity, innovation, and sustainability within American theatre. The National Theatre Company Grants aim not only to fund singular projects, but also to seed long-term strategies that will shape the theatrical landscape for years to come. Through these grants, ATW fosters a vibrant environment where new stories, audiences, and creators can thrive.