Kurt Weill Foundation For Music

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $339,250 (2023)
• Number of Awards: 90 grants (2023)
• Assets: Over $37 million
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks after deadline
• Grant Range: Varies by program; up to $15,000 for college/university performances
• Geographic Focus: International/worldwide

Contact Details

Address: 7 East 20th Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10003 USA

Phone: 212-505-5240

Email: kwfinfo@kwf.org

Website: www.kwf.org

Pre-Application Contact: Brady Sansone, Director of Programs and Business Affairs Email: bsansone@kwf.org Applicants are encouraged to contact Brady Sansone to discuss proposals prior to submission.

Overview

The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music was chartered in 1962 as a not-for-profit private foundation to preserve and perpetuate the legacies of composer Kurt Weill (1900-1950) and his wife, actress-singer Lotte Lenya (1898-1981). With assets exceeding $37 million, the Foundation has awarded more than $5 million in grants to hundreds of organizations and individuals worldwide since 1983. The Foundation also administers the estate of Marc Blitzstein (since 2012) and operates the Weill-Lenya Research Center, the principal international repository for research materials related to Weill and Lenya. Led by President and CEO Kim H. Kowalke since 1981, the Foundation maintains a five-member staff and a fourteen-member board of trustees. Its strategic approach focuses on broad dissemination and appreciation of Weill's music through support of performances, productions, recordings, and scholarship, with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Professional Performance: For professional opera companies, theater companies, dance companies, orchestras, ensembles, and concert groups performing works by Kurt Weill and/or Marc Blitzstein. Amount varies by project.

• College/University and Amateur Performance: Up to $15,000 for colleges, universities, and amateur performing arts organizations to support production expenses for stage works and musical expenses for concert works by Weill or Blitzstein.

• Media: Funding for radio, television, video, film, audio, or multimedia projects featuring the lives and/or music of Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya, or Marc Blitzstein. Amount varies by project.

• Scholarly Symposia and Conferences: Support for educational activities and scholarly events focusing on Weill, Lenya, and/or Blitzstein.

• Publication Assistance: Funding to support manuscript preparation for scholarly publications on topics related to Weill, Lenya, or Blitzstein.

• Research & Travel: Support for research expenses and travel to the Weill-Lenya Research Center and other locations of primary source material.

• Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship: For doctoral candidates researching Weill, Lenya, and/or Blitzstein-related topics with "extraordinary potential for contribution to the field." Requires dissertation proposal, writing sample, and two letters of recommendation (one from thesis advisor).

• Collaborative Initiatives: Flexible funding commensurate with the scale of the project and its potential for significant impact.

Application Methods: Online portal via Submittable (thekurtweillfoundationformusic.submittable.com) with fixed annual deadlines.

Priority Areas

• Performances of Kurt Weill's and Marc Blitzstein's musical works
• Projects that advance understanding and appreciation of Weill's and Blitzstein's oeuvres in the performing arts
• Scholarship addressing significant gaps in Weill, Lenya, and/or Blitzstein research
• Projects that introduce emerging performers to lesser-known works
• Initiatives with potential to engage new audiences and constituents
• Projects demonstrating diversity of personnel (on and off stage)
• International projects promoting Weill's musical legacy globally

What They Don't Fund

• Projects not directly related to Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya, or Marc Blitzstein
• Retroactive funding for projects already completed
• Projects taking place before January 1st following the application deadline

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Kim H. Kowalke - Invited by Lotte Lenya to join the Board of Trustees in 1980, and upon her death in 1981, succeeded her as president at her request.

Board of Trustees:

• Theodore S. Chapin, Chair of the Board
• Philip Getter, Executive Vice Chair
• Guy Stern, Vice Chair
• Members: André Bishop, Victoria Clark, Joanne Hubbard Cossa, Susan Feder, Corey Field, James Holmes, Welz Kauffman, Jeanine Tesori, Tazewell Thompson

Key Staff: Brady Sansone, Secretary and Director of Programs and Business Affairs (elected Secretary by the Board in 2018)

The Foundation describes its board as "distinguished and diverse" and operates with a five-member staff.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Foundation's online Submittable portal at thekurtweillfoundationformusic.submittable.com.

Application Requirements (vary by category but typically include):

• Completed Application Form (in English)
• Detailed project description (in English)
• Up-to-date CV/biography
• Itemized budget showing entire project expenses, income, and projected sources of funding
• Additional materials specific to grant category (e.g., dissertation proposal and writing samples for fellowships; letters of recommendation)

Pre-Application Guidance: Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Brady Sansone (bsansone@kwf.org) to discuss their proposal prior to submission.

Application Deadlines

• November 1st: Annual deadline for proposals for projects and performances taking place on or after January 1st of the coming year and before July 1st of the year following
• June 1st: Additional deadline primarily intended for College/University Performance grants for productions taking place in the following academic year

Decision Timeline

Applicants are notified of grant decisions 6-8 weeks after the application deadline.

Grant funds are disbursed after project completion and upon meeting grant agreement stipulations.

Success Rates

Based on 2023 data: 90 grants awarded totaling $339,250, suggesting an average grant size of approximately $3,700. However, individual grant amounts vary significantly by category and project scope, with some grants reaching up to $15,000.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy or waiting period is documented in publicly available materials. Contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

The Foundation evaluates applications using specific criteria through an independent review panel comprising experts from the musical, theatrical, and scholarly communities (panelists' identities are confidential to ensure impartiality). Key evaluation criteria include:

1. Quality of the project and potential for excellence: The Foundation prioritizes projects demonstrating high artistic or scholarly standards.

2. Relevance to the Foundation's goals and current priorities: Projects must directly relate to Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya, or Marc Blitzstein and align with the Foundation's mission to advance understanding and appreciation of their work.

3. Applicant's prior record of achievement and ability to successfully complete the project: Demonstrated capacity and track record are essential.

4. Diversity of project personnel (on and off stage): The Foundation actively considers diversity in its funding decisions, reflecting its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

5. Project's potential reach, including:

   • Audience/readership size
   • Ability to engage new constituents
   • Media involvement
   • Introducing emerging performers to lesser-known works

6. Potential impact: For performances, the project should advance understanding of Weill's or Blitzstein's oeuvres in the performing arts field. For scholarship, it should explore topics not previously examined.

Specific Guidance:

• For Dissertation Fellowships: Applications should demonstrate "extraordinary potential for contribution to the field evidenced by recommendations from the academic community" and address "significant lacunae in Weill, Lenya, and/or Blitzstein research."
• After initial staff review, additional support materials or information may be requested for consideration by the independent review panel.
• Recent funded projects include performances of both well-known works (The Threepenny Opera, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny) and lesser-known pieces (Down in the Valley, Love Life, Der Jasager).
• International projects are welcome and regularly funded, with recent grants supporting performances in the US, UK, Netherlands, and Germany.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pre-application contact is encouraged: Reach out to Brady Sansone before submitting to discuss your proposal and ensure alignment with Foundation priorities.
• Specificity to Weill, Lenya, or Blitzstein is essential: Projects must directly relate to these three figures; the Foundation does not fund general music or theater projects.
• Diversity matters: Include information about diversity of project personnel both on and off stage, as this is an explicit evaluation criterion.
• Think about reach and impact: Emphasize how your project will engage audiences, introduce new constituents, or advance scholarly understanding in meaningful ways.
• Plan ahead for fixed deadlines: With only two annual deadlines (November 1st and June 1st), applications must be submitted well in advance of project dates.
• International applicants welcome: The Foundation has a global reach and actively supports projects worldwide.
• Decision timeline is relatively quick: Expect notification within 6-8 weeks of the deadline, allowing for timely planning.

References

• The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music official website: https://www.kwf.org/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Grants Program and Collaborative Initiatives: https://www.kwf.org/grants-program-collaborative-initiatives/ (Accessed January 2026)
• About the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music: https://www.kwf.org/about/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Evaluation Criteria: https://www.kwf.org/grants-program-collaborative-initiatives/evaluation-criteria/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship: https://www.kwf.org/grants-program-collaborative-initiatives/kurt-weill-dissertation-fellowship/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Previous Grants Awarded: https://www.kwf.org/grants-program-collaborative-initiatives/previous-grants-collaborative-initiatives-awarded/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Foundation Profile on Candid: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=WEIL005 (Accessed January 2026)
• 990 Report on Instrumentl: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/kurt-weill-foundation-for-music (Accessed January 2026)
• The Kurt Weill Foundation Submission Manager: https://thekurtweillfoundationformusic.submittable.com/submit (Accessed January 2026)
• News: The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music to Expand Grant and Sponsorship Programs (2014): https://www.kwf.org/news/the-kurt-weill-foundation-for-music-to-expand-grant-and-sponsorship-programs/ (Accessed January 2026)