Lucille Lortel Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $9,313,951 (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $25,000 (historical data)
• Geographic Focus: New York City only

Contact Details

Website: www.lortel.org
Phone: 212-473-6063
Email: jshubart@lortel.org
Address: 134 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011

For general inquiries about grant programs:

• Jeffrey Shubart
• Phone: 212-473-6063
• Email: jshubart@lortel.org

Overview

The Lucille Lortel Foundation was established in 1980 by the late Lucille Lortel, an actress and theatrical producer known as the "Queen of Off-Broadway." With assets of $13.8 million, the foundation continues her legacy of supporting small and mid-size nonprofit theater companies in New York City. The foundation distributed $9.3 million in grants in 2023 across 86 awards, with an average grant size of approximately $108,302. The foundation's mission is to foster excellence and diversity in theatre while preserving the rich history and supporting the continued prosperity of Off-Broadway.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Operating Support Program: $2,500 - $25,000 (historical range)
  • Unrestricted general operating support for maximum flexibility
  • Invitation-only via request for proposal
  • Must be NYC-based theater companies

Priority Areas

• Small and mid-size nonprofit theater companies
• Off-Broadway productions
• New play development
• Theatre education and fellowships
• Organizations promoting diversity and inclusion in theater
• Professional theater companies with at least 3 years of operations

What They Don't Fund

• Companies outside New York City
• Dance and opera companies
• Organizations without invitation/request for proposal
• Unsolicited grant applications

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership:

• Michael Hecht - President
• Matthew Clarke - Treasurer/Director
• Ira Gilbert - VP/Secretary/Director
• George Forbes - VP/Executive Director (compensation: $151,594)

George Forbes has been with the organization since 1989 and has shared insights about Lucille Lortel's funding philosophy: "I think she liked theatre that made people think...provocative, challenging, anything new. She loved the perspective of different cultures, that's why it was important for her to do Fugard, Genet and O'Casey." He emphasized that "above all, she prized playwrights. She had tremendous respect for everybody in the theatre, but the thing she admired the most was the writer."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Only companies that receive a request for proposal are eligible for the General Operating Support Program.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies potential grantees through its board members and leadership who are deeply connected to the New York theater community. Organizations interested in being considered should contact Jeffrey Shubart at 212-473-6063 or jshubart@lortel.org to express interest and learn about potential opportunities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available - decisions are made at the foundation's discretion for invited organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable as this is an invitation-only grant program.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed, though the foundation appears to support many organizations on an ongoing basis.

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only funder, success factors focus on organizational alignment:

• Must be a NYC-based professional nonprofit theater company with at least 3 years of operations
• Strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) - all grant recipients must complete an EDIA census
• Focus on provocative, challenging, and culturally diverse productions aligns with Lucille Lortel's original vision
• Emphasis on supporting playwrights and new work development
• Organizations must demonstrate both artistic excellence and business sustainability - as George Forbes noted: "It's not just show art, it's show business"
• Small to mid-size organizations are prioritized as they "continue to face the greatest challenges"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder - no public application process exists
• Geographic restriction is absolute - only NYC-based theater companies are eligible
• The foundation values both artistic innovation and business sustainability
• EDIA commitments are essential - be prepared to provide detailed demographic data
• Unrestricted operating support provides maximum flexibility for recipients
• Average grant size of $108,302 suggests some organizations receive significantly more than the historical $25,000 maximum
• Building relationships with foundation leadership and board members is crucial for consideration

References

• Lucille Lortel Foundation official website: https://lortel.org/the-lucille-lortel-foundation/ (accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ organization profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-lucille-lortel-foundation,133036521/ (accessed February 2026)
• Playbill article on Lortel Foundation grants: https://playbill.com/article/deadline-nearing-for-lortel-grant-applications-to-benefit-nyc-theatre-companies-com-122030 (2004 historical data)
• Playbill article on George Forbes: https://playbill.com/article/george-forbes-will-oversee-day-to-day-lortel-organization-business-com-87990 (accessed February 2026)
• Bennington College article on Lortel Fellowships: https://www.bennington.edu/bennington-magazine/broadway-lucille-lortel-foundation-fellowships-theatre (accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133036521 (accessed February 2026)