Theatre Development Fund Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Grant Distribution: $135,000 (FY 2024)
• Grant Range: Up to $5,000 per grant
• Number of Grants: 28 organizations funded (FY 2024)
• Decision Time: Approximately 2 months (applications due late October, decisions in January)
• Geographic Focus: New York State
• Application Method: Annual application cycle

Contact Details

Main Office: Theatre Development Fund (TDF) 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 801 New York, NY 10018-6507

Phone: 212-912-9770

Email Contacts:

• TAP Plus grants: tap@tdf.org
• General information: info@tdf.org
• Development/fundraising: development@tdf.org

Website: www.tdf.org/accessibility-services/accessibility-grants/

Overview

Theatre Development Fund (TDF) was created in 1968 to help an ailing New York theatre industry and has grown into the nation's largest performing arts nonprofit. While TDF primarily supports audiences and artists through discount ticket programs (including TKTS booths), education programs, and accessibility services, they also administer the TAP Plus grants program in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). Founded in 1999, this grant program has operated for 25 years, providing funding to New York State cultural organizations to expand access to live performances through captioning services. TDF has returned upwards of $1.5 billion in revenue to thousands of Broadway, Off-Broadway and off-Off-Broadway music and dance productions over its history and serves over 2 million people annually. Charity Navigator gave TDF a Four-Star rating with a score of 92%.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

TAP Plus Grants

• Grant Amount: Up to $5,000 per organization
• Total Annual Distribution: $135,000 (FY 2024, awarded to 28 organizations)
• Purpose: Funding for open captioning (OC) and closed captioning (CC) services
• Application Method: Annual application cycle with fixed deadline (typically late October)
• Partnership: Administered by TDF in partnership with NYSCA

Priority Areas

TDF's TAP Plus grants specifically support:

• Open captioning services for live theatre and dance performances
• Closed captioning services for performing arts events
• Accessibility initiatives for audiences with mild to severe hearing loss
• Events that are open to the public in New York State
• Organizations demonstrating commitment to integrating accessibility as a core value

Quote from Executive Director Deeksha Gaur: "Removing physical and invisible barriers to attendance is at the heart of TDF's mission and purpose. This 25-year partnership with NYSCA allows us to share resources with our larger community and to make theatre even more inclusive for audience members with mild to severe hearing loss."

What They Don't Fund

• TAP Plus grants are specifically for captioning services only, not for audio description or other accessibility services
• Organizations outside of New York State
• Events not open to the public
• Organizations that do not currently receive NYSCA funding

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

• Deeksha Gaur, Executive Director - Leads TDF's mission to sustain live theatre and dance by eliminating barriers to attendance. Gaur has emphasized that "For us, it's about belonging."
• Michael Naumann, Managing Director
• Ben Van Buren, Strategy & Analytics Manager

Department Vice Presidents

• Whitney Estrin, VP of Development
• Owen Wiles, VP of Finance & Administration
• Nella Vera, VP of Marketing & Communications
• Stephen Cabral, VP of the Costume Collection
• Ginger Bartkoski Meagher, VP of Programs
• Matt Chisling, VP of Strategic Partnerships & Industry Relations
• Tymand Staggs, VP of Technology

Board of Trustees

Officers:

• Gwen Marcus, Chair
• Robert Fried, Vice Chair/Treasurer
• Amy Chin, Secretary

Trustees: Dillan Arrick, Holly Cohen, Sandy Danziger, Laurie Erlandson, Terry Fitzpatrick, Deeksha Gaur (Ex Officio), Mary Good, Nicole Manning Hart, Meg Herrman, Holly Hynes, Jacqueline LiCalzi, Carol Wood Moore, Tom O'Connor, Penny Peters, Ruth Sarfaty, Jane Shin Park, Eileen S. Silvers, Ari Teplitz, Earl D. Weiner, Donna Williams, and Sandra Wishnick.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements:

• Organization must currently receive NYSCA (New York State Council on the Arts) funding
• Performing arts events must be open to the public
• Events must take place within the calendar year in New York State

Application Process:

• Applications and questions should be emailed to tap@tdf.org
• Application deadline typically in late October (October 28, 2024 for FY 2025)
• Applications are reviewed by TDF in partnership with NYSCA

Cost Context for Captioning:

• Independent contractor captioning for one performance: $1,500-$2,000
• Second performance of same production: $1,000-$2,000
• TDF recommends professional caption operators like c2 (David Chu) or TotalCaption (Lauren Schechter)

Decision Timeline

• Application Deadline: Late October (October 28, 2024 for FY 2025)
• Decision Notification: January (approximately 2 months after deadline)
• Announcement: Public announcement of grant recipients in January

Success Rates

• FY 2024: 28 organizations received grants totaling $135,000
• FY 2022: 21 organizations received grants totaling $87,000
• First-time recipients in 2024: 14 of the 28 funded organizations (50%)

The program has grown over its 25-year history, with both the number of recipients and total funding increasing from FY 2022 to FY 2024 (33% increase in number of recipients, 55% increase in total funding).

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can reapply annually. The FY 2024 grant announcement noted that 14 organizations were first-time recipients, indicating that organizations can apply multiple times whether or not they have received funding previously. No waiting period restrictions were found in available documentation.

Application Success Factors

Based on TDF's communications about the TAP Plus program and interviews with grant recipients, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Commitment to Accessibility as a Core Value

   • Organizations that integrate captions across multiple performances rather than one-off events
   • Treating accessibility as an artistic and organizational priority, not an afterthought

2. Integration with Artistic Vision

   • Working with designers to make captions "front and center"
   • Considering captions as an experience that benefits all audience members, not only those with hearing loss
   • According to Nicholas Viselli from Theater Breaking Through Barriers: "The TAP Plus grant has been such an incredible gift for us."

3. Demonstrated Need

   • Clear explanation of how captioning will increase access for audiences with hearing loss
   • Understanding that approximately 48 million Americans could benefit from captioning services

4. Professional Implementation Plans

   • Using recommended professional captioning services
   • Planning for both open and/or closed captioning options
   • Understanding the cost structure of captioning services

5. Strong Existing Relationship with NYSCA

   • Since eligibility requires current NYSCA funding, successful applicants already have an established track record with the state arts council

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Eligibility is limited: You must already receive NYSCA funding to qualify for TAP Plus grants - this is a prerequisite, not a suggestion
• Grants are growing but competitive: The program expanded from 21 to 28 recipients between 2022 and 2024, and 50% of 2024 recipients were first-time grantees, indicating openness to new applicants
• Focus on integration, not one-off events: Successful applicants demonstrate commitment to making captioning a regular part of their accessibility offerings
• Professional captioning is expected: Budget for professional caption operators ($1,500-$2,000 per performance); TDF can provide recommendations
• Think beyond compliance: Frame captioning as an artistic element that enhances the experience for all audience members, not just those with hearing loss
• Contact program staff early: Email tap@tdf.org with questions before applying - TDF appears accessible and supportive
• Apply by late October, expect January decisions: Plan your calendar-year captioning schedule accordingly, as grants support events taking place in the calendar year following the application

References

1. Theatre Development Fund official website - TAP Plus Grants page. https://www.tdf.org/accessibility-services/accessibility-grants/ (Accessed January 2026)

2. TDF Media Center. "TDF Supports Greater Inclusivity for New York State's Theatres; Announces the Recipients of its FY 2024 TAP Plus Grants." January 10, 2024. https://www.tdf.org/about-us/media-center/tdf-supports-greater-inclusivity-for-new-york-state-s-theatres-announces-the-recipients-of-its-fy-2024-tap-plus-grants/

3. TDF Media Center. "TDF announces the recipients of the FY 2022 TAP-Plus grants." January 12, 2022. https://www.tdf.org/about-us/media-center/tdf-announces-the-recipients-of-the-fy-2022-tap-plus-grants/

4. TDF Stages. "How TDF is Expanding the Transformative Power of Captioning at the Theatre." https://www.tdf.org/on-stage/tdf-stages/how-tdf-is-expanding-the-transformative-power-of-captioning-at-the-theatre/ (Accessed January 2026)

5. TDF Media Center. "TDF Names Deeksha Gaur as Executive Director." https://www.tdf.org/about-us/media-center/tdf-names-deeksha-gaur-as-executive-director/ (Accessed January 2026)

6. TDF Media Center. "TDF's New Executive Director Deeksha Gaur on Her First 100 Days." https://www.tdf.org/about-us/media-center/tdfs-new-executive-director-deeksha-gaur-on-her-first-100-days/ (Accessed January 2026)

7. American Theatre. "TDF's Deeksha Gaur: If You Build the Audience, They Will Come." January 10, 2024. https://www.americantheatre.org/2024/01/10/tdfs-deeksha-gaur-if-you-build-the-audience-they-will-come/

8. Theatre Development Fund staff page. https://www.tdf.org/about-us/tdf-staff/ (Accessed January 2026)

9. Theatre Development Fund Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_Development_Fund (Accessed January 2026)

10. Charity Navigator - Theatre Development Fund Inc. Rating. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/136216919 (Accessed January 2026)

11. Cause IQ - Theatre Development Fund profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/theatre-development-fund,136216919/ (Accessed January 2026)