In partnership with the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), ETF offers need-based grants for school theatre programs and financial support for educators, troupes, and schools to participate in the organization’s activities and events, including the International Thespian Festival (ITF) and EdTA’s Theatre Education Conference. Explore the opportunities and apply below.
The Thespian Growth & Excellence Fund is the next generation of the Thespian Relief grant program, which helped schools through the pandemic during the 2020-2023 school years. As school theatre programs look to the future and continue to rebuild and grow, ETF has reimagined the program to meet their needs for growth and excellence. With six types of grants available, the fund is designed to help build capacity, enhance school theatre programs, and support theatre teachers and students.
Grants are awarded annually, and the application period will launch in the fall of 2023.
International Thespian Festival (ITF) grants enable Thespians to participate in the life-changing experience of ITF and its weeklong student immersion into theatre with interactive workshops, top high school performances from around the world, the International Thespian Excellence Awards, college auditions, scholarships, and more.
Applications are open from January 1 – March 1 annually.
Pathway aims to enhance the school theatre experience and impact in communities facing racial disparity by creating opportunities for students to work with industry professionals of color while performing works that encourage dialogue around racial equity.
ETF awards $10,000 grants to high schools for the production of a musical or play that encourages dialogue around issues of race and racial equity. Grant funds are used to hire professionals of color who act as mentors to students, building relationships and seeding vision for potential career pathways.
The application period for the 2023-24 academic year closed on May 31.
The Fiddler on the Roof Grant covers performance royalties and support resources for middle or high school Thespian troupes to perform Fiddler on the Roof or Fiddler on the Roof JR. through Music Theatre International. Funders Helene and Edward Cole created the grant to help educate students and communities about Jewish heritage and culture. Read more about the program.
Applications are currently being accepted for the 2023-24 school year.
A free EdTA account must be created to access and submit the form.
The Unsinkable Molly Brown Grant seeks to enhance the capacity of school theatre programs to impact students, educators, and their communities-at-large. Applicants are asked to demonstrate plans to use the show as a tool to engage their school and surrounding population in themes present in the musical, including women’s and immigrants’ rights, community-building, and the civic-minded “share-the-luck spirit” embodied by Molly Brown.
Up to ten $10,000 grants will be awarded in at least two rounds during the fall of 2023 and spring of 2024 for productions in the 2023-24 or 2024-25 school years. The deadline for the first round of grant submissions is October 27, 2023.
A free EdTA account must be created to access and submit the form.
Our program services team is happy to help!
Email foundation@schooltheatre.org or send us a message using the form on our contact page.
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