Grants — Frequently Asked Questions:
What situations are eligible for a Bridge Grant
Bridge grants are non-emergency awards. Past bridge grantees have used funds to pay rent in between gigs, replace contact lenses, pay utilities bills, and pay for transportation costs associated with an artistic opportunity. We recognize that many artistic opportunities require artists to pay extra costs or sacrifice income to participate. We hope a Bridge Grant can help fill that gap and allow you to embrace the opportunities that will forward your career and craft.
Do I need to make a living as a theater writer to be eligible?
The amount of income derived from your artistic practice is not a factor in determining eligibility. However, you must have a public facing element to your work either in production, workshop, or publication.
When is the deadline to apply?
The 2026 grants cycle will end on December 14, 2026. 2027 applications will open on January 4, 2027.
How much funding can I apply for a Crisis Relief Grant?
There is no set amount applicants must apply for. We welcome you to apply for how much funding you need. A typical Crisis Relief Grant ranges between $2,000 – $3,000
Can I simultaneously apply for a Bridge Grant and a Crisis Relief Grant?
No. Applicants who apply for both grants simultaneously will only have their Crisis Relief Grant reviewed.
Do I need to be a Dramatists Guild member to be eligible.
No. Membership in the Dramatists Guild is not a prerequisite for eligibility.
Is my grant considered taxable income? Will I receive a 1099?
No. Your grant is not considered taxable income as it is disaster relief and you will not receive a 1099.
Do I have to report to DGF how I use my grant?
No. We trust you will use the grant in the ways you outlined in your application.
When will I learn the outcome of my grant application?
You will likely hear back within one month of your application date. Applications that are incomplete or missing documentation may experience delayed processing.
Do you have grants to support funding of a theatrical production or workshop?
We do not offer grants for productions or artistic expenses at this time.
Why was my application denied?
The reason most applications are denied is because applicants are not eligible as theater writers. Some eligible writers may be declined because the situation they are experiencing does not qualify as an unexpected emergency. Some may be declined because they have either recently or repeatedly received support from DGF. We always try to recommend applicants other resources when we are not able to provide funding.
Do you have other resources for funding and support?
Yes. We have a list of resources available below.
Additional Resources
While DGF is not able to fulfill every request, we are honored to be part of a vibrant community of organizations devoted to supporting the lives and work of theater writers. Here are some more resources that may be of use to you.
If there is a resource you would like to see included on this list, please reach out to us at grants@dgf.org
~~~
Since 1917, the Authors League Fund has helped writers who find themselves in financial need because of medical emergencies, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune. We help authors, graphic novelists, journalists, critics, essayists, poets, short story writers, dramatists, and librettists.
The Dramatists Guild serves as the national professional organization for theatre writers, advancing their rights and strengthening the field of dramatic writing.
The Entertainment Community Fund fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan.
Foundation for Contemporary Arts
FCA Emergency Grants provide urgent funding for visual and performing artists and poets who:
• Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding
• Incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates
IndieSpace celebrates and centers independent theater-making in New York City. We provide radically transparent, responsive and equity-focused funding, real estate programs, professional development, and advocacy to individual artists, theater companies, and indie venues.
Established in 1971, the mission of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is to empower artists in all disciplines, as well as cultural workers, to achieve success on their own terms by providing critical support, resources, and opportunities. NYFA envisions a world where artists thrive in the practice and expression of their creative work, a world that celebrates and supports them. We serve approximately 1M constituents in person and online, annually, through four flagship programs: Learning, Awards & Grants, Fiscal Sponsorship, and Online Resources.
MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community.
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.
The Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) project supports a variety of programs to increase knowledge and the ability of performing arts organizations to create and execute emergency recovery plans. The PAR project will offer free webinars and onsite training, conference presentations, grants, and tools to help build the field’s capacity for disaster preparedness.
The Horowitz-Sondheim Clinic For Theater Artists
The Horowitz-Sondheim Clinic was specifically established to offer affordable psychological and psychoanalytical treatment to playwrights, composers, and lyricists of the theater.
Venturous Theater Fund supports ambitious new work for the stage and the writers who create it. We make grants to fund the production of audacious, irreverent new plays that are “venturous”—ambitious in scale, epic in scope, challenging in form, controversial in subject matter, experimental in concept, and/or unabashed in their theatricality.
We also fund artist-driven initiatives that embrace agency for playwrights at all stages of their careers, and that champion creative growth and financial security for dramatists.
~~~
Other Resource Lists