Harkness Foundation for Dance Grant Program

The Harkness Foundation for Dance is a private grant-making organization with a longstanding commitment to nurturing the dance community, primarily in New York City. Since its founding, the Foundation has supported more than 670 organizations and fiscally-sponsored artists through its grants. With a strong emphasis on equity and social justice, the Foundation continually evaluates its practices to ensure fairness and inclusivity in grantmaking. The Board of Trustees convenes three times per year to review submitted proposals. The Foundation provides support in four primary areas: dance creation, dance presentation, dance education, and dance medicine or other services essential to the dance field. Eligible applicants include dance companies, presenting and education organizations, dance service organizations, and independent choreographers operating under fiscal sponsorship. Proposals must relate solely to the field of dance, and applicants must be based in New York City, as support is not extended to those outside the city. Two types of funding are available: Program Grants and Project Grants. Program Grants may offer general operating support for an organization's full range of dance activities, or may support a core ongoing dance program within a larger organization. Project Grants are targeted toward specific initiatives, and the Foundation may consider support for pilot or collaborative efforts as well. Each applicant is limited to submitting a single request per calendar year. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000 annually, though exceptions may apply. The Foundation does not provide funding for endowments, capital projects, private schools below the college level, media productions such as video or film, or applicants based outside of New York City. All proposals should be submitted at least six months before the proposed program or project start date. Deadlines fall on August 1, December 1, and April 1, corresponding with the Foundation’s Fall, Winter, and Spring board meetings respectively. Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the applicable date. For the December 1, 2025 deadline, applicants may use the Foundation's new online portal or submit via email, including all required form fields. Confirmation will be sent upon successful submission, and any necessary post-submission corrections must be emailed with appropriate subject formatting.

Submit at least six months in advance of your project start date; adhere to the single submission per year rule; applicants outside NYC will be ineligible.