Best Grants for Performing Arts in New Jersey

Performing arts and other accredited charities in New Jersey can seek funding for humanitarian, educational, community, environmental, and contemporary arts projects that promote sustainable development. La Roche prioritizes innovative, high-quality initiatives that can engage its expertise, logistics, and employees, with local affiliate offices supporting organizations operating in the same country as the affiliate.

Presenting organizations in New Jersey and the broader mid-Atlantic region can apply for Mid Atlantic Tours support from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, with awards up to US $2,000 plus a 50% subsidy of artist fees. Grants help presenters engage curated roster performing artists and cover direct project expenses for community performances.

New Jersey performing and other arts organizations using creative programs to promote community health can access funding through Horizon Charitable Foundation, with awards up to US $25,000. Eligible 501(c)(3) groups must be New Jersey-based, focus on arts or health, and use arts to encourage healthy behaviors, health education, or awareness of services.

Early-career artists in fields such as performing, visual, media, or literary arts who can spend two years teaching and creating at Princeton University in New Jersey can apply for the Princeton Arts Fellowship; awards US $93,000 annually. Individuals seeking to develop their artistic practice while teaching in a university setting may benefit.

Small and mid-size performing arts and community organizations in New Jersey with budgets under $3 million can seek support for public performances and community engagement projects. With a mission to strengthen inclusive arts access, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation provides subsidies of US $750 - US $5,000 covering up to 50% of artist fees and related costs.

New Jersey 501(c)(3) presenters and eligible government units presenting touring artists can access funding through Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s Jazz Touring Network, with awards up to US $3,000 to support jazz presentations. Performing arts organizations in the mid-Atlantic region join a membership network for block-booking jazz tours and professional development opportunities.

About Regions

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas.

Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

Matching Gifts Program

Full-time associates and recent retirees (up to 5 years after retirement) of Regions and its affiliated companies can request a Regions Matching Gift to eligible organizations. The recipient organization must be a 501(c) or 170(c) organization located in the Regions footprint (except for accredited educational institutions, which may be located anywhere in the United States) and has a primary mission that clearly fits one of these categories:

• Economic and community development: Supporting economic prosperity through affordable housing, job creation, small-business development, homebuyer education and retention, neighborhood revitalization and stabilization, food security/hunger relief.
• Education and workforce readiness: Supporting career prosperity through student competency and skill building, college and career readiness, educational access and success, credential building and employment and educator training and resources.
• Financial wellness: Supporting financial prosperity through K-12 and college financial education, adult and workforce financial empowerment.
• Arts and culture: Organizations that promote visual or performing arts, historic or science museums, zoos, botanical gardens, libraries, parks or public radio and television.
• Service members and Veterans: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting U.S. military service members and veterans.
• Individuals with disabilities: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting individuals with disabilities.

Regions Matching Gifts for Full-Time Associates

Regions supports organizations important to our associates through the Regions Matching Gifts Program. This program, which is open for use for all full-time Regions associates, affiliate associates and recent retirees, allows you to make an even greater difference to your favorite charities by doubling your tax-deductible contributions to these organizations. 

American Indian and Alaska Native female graduate students pursuing full-time studies in fine, visual, performing, or literary arts can receive US $100 - US $30,000 in need-based support through the Elizabeth Furber Scholarship. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund help eligible students in New Jersey and nationwide fund advanced creative arts education.

American Indian and Alaska Native vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students in the U.S. pursuing performing arts or related creative degrees can apply for Native Forward Scholars Fund’s Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund Scholarship, awarding $100 to $30,000 per year. New Jersey students in eligible arts fields may receive merit-based tuition assistance at accredited nonprofit or tribally controlled institutions.

Performing and visual arts students pursuing accredited 2- or 4-year colleges can receive scholarship support, including those from New Jersey studying in Lake County, Indiana. Focused on higher education in the arts, Legacy Foundation invites full-time undergraduates to apply through its universal application for the O'Shea Patrick McCarthy Scholarship, with awards of US $1,000 paid to schools or for books.

Carroll County, Ohio students pursuing aviation, art education, or fine and performing arts degrees can receive renewable scholarships starting at more than US $500 to attend college, university, technical, or vocational schools. New Jersey performing arts students looking nationally may be eligible for the Melvin L. and Frances E. Tolson Scholarship Trust Fund from Stark Community Foundation.

About Levitt

The Levitt Family Foundation exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. We partner with communities to activate underused outdoor spaces, creating welcoming, inclusive destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together and invigorates community life.

Festival Grants

The Levitt Foundation is offering grants of up to $5,000 to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits presenting free outdoor music festivals in 2026. 

What is Emergency Assistance Fund

Emergency Financial Assistance is available to eligible performing arts and entertainment professionals:

• In times of unexpected critical need.
• To assist towards basic living expenses, such as health care, housing and utilities to prevent eviction or shut-offs.

Hunter Brown Emergency Assistance Fund

The Hunter Brown Emergency Assistance Fund offers emergency financial assistance to current or former employees of Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

The Jean T. Grant Scholarship, established by The Columbus Foundation, honors the legacy of Jean Terry Grant, a devoted librarian and arts advocate. Providing $1,000, this scholarship supports graduating seniors from Columbus City Schools pursuing studies in music or the arts. Jean's commitment to education and the arts inspires future generations, ensuring that her passion for creativity and philanthropy continues to impact the community positively.

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

Craig Memorial Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was established by the family of John E. Craig, Jr. and Larry William Craig. Both John and Larry were extremely gifted musicians. John was a noted musician in the central Ohio community, studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston at the time of his death. A well-known musician and businessman, Larry excelled at playing the piano and worked with his father in Craig & Sons Wrecking Company. This scholarship fund will provide support to students who are pursuing careers in musical arts, theatre or drama.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fund

The Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for high school seniors graduating from Allegheny County Schools who wish to major in visual, performance or media art.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Edward A. and Shirley B. Livi Scholarship Fund

To support residents of Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties who are pursuing fine or performing arts beyond their college freshman year.

Additional Guidelines

• Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.
• Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.
• Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.

Adam R Scripps Foundation

Adam Scripps lived a life of humble generosity, helping to improve the lives of others without seeking recognition or fanfare for himself. The family-run Adam R. Scripps Foundation, established posthumously in 2023, allocates millions annually to his cherished causes like animal welfare and community development, with grants overseen by his relatives to honor his legacy.

Honoring Adam’s legacy, we make grants to collaborate, provide support and build resources that create opportunities and transformative pathways. For generations to come, we will improve lives and transform communities because we are a leader in family philanthropy. We value helping communities create lasting change. We do this through compassion, love of neighbor, humility, and generosity.

Local Community Grant

A genuine love of neighbor inspired Adam to help others, and his example inspires us to sustain his support of local communities.  

Driven by Adam’s sense of civic responsibility, the foundation is focused on initiatives to support both community infrastructure and the citizens for whom that infrastructure is designed, including:

• Parks and greenspaces
• Recreation facilities
• Visual and performing arts
• Community service organizations
• Historic building preservation
• Festival sponsorship
• Veterans’ organizations

Performing arts nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects in New Jersey presenting contemporary American concert music or jazz can apply for the Aaron Copland Fund for Music’s project support program; awards US $2,000 - US $20,000 for special projects and standalone activities. Eligible applicants include professional ensembles, presenters, record companies, and music service organizations.

Performing arts nonprofits and music organizations presenting contemporary American concert music or jazz can receive US $2,000 - US $20,000 in unrestricted general support, including in New Jersey. Focused on contemporary music, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music invites professional ensembles, presenters, record companies, and service organizations with at least two years of programming history to apply.

Graduating high school seniors and college students pursuing visual or performing arts in New Jersey may be eligible for the Burrell Family Scholarship, which supports arts-related higher education. Crown Point Community Foundation administers this non-renewable award as part of its broader scholarship program for South Lake County residents in the arts.

Graduating high school seniors involved in theatre can receive support for performing arts and higher education studies through scholarships administered by Crown Point Community Foundation. With a mission to enrich community life, the foundation uses one common application to match students to over 80 donor-created scholarship funds, which may benefit performing arts students in New Jersey attending accredited institutions.

Marion County, Indiana students pursuing degrees in design, architecture, fine art, performing arts, or construction management can receive scholarship support for accredited postsecondary education. Focused on educational opportunity, Central Indiana Community Foundation gives preference to public school and minority students. Performing arts students from this area may find this scholarship especially relevant.

High school seniors in southern Beaufort County and Beaufort County college students pursuing performing arts degrees can receive post-secondary scholarship support through the Sarah Creech Performing Arts Scholarship. Community Foundation of the Lowcountry provides these awards, which may interest performing arts students seeking education funding beyond New Jersey.

Graduating high school seniors in Smith County planning to major in visual or performing arts can receive a one-year Partners in Arts Scholarship to support college costs. Focused on performing and visual arts, East Texas Communities Foundation invites eligible students, including homeschoolers meeting criteria, to apply; funds may cover tuition, fees, room and board, books, and supplies.

New Jersey performing arts students pursuing college studies in music, musical theater, or dance may be eligible for the R. Don Cowan Music & Performing Arts Scholarship, which awards US $5,000 toward educational costs. Administered by East Texas Communities Foundation, funds go directly to U.S. colleges for tuition, fees, room and board, and supplies.

The John Lennon Endowed Scholarship, established by Yoko Ono to honor John Lennon, supports students attending UNCF member institutions. This initiative addresses financial need and promotes education among African American youth. With over $65 million awarded annually, UNCF empowers thousands of students, advocating for minority education and community engagement. Eligible applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, complete a FAFSA, and demonstrate unmet financial need. This scholarship plays a crucial role in fostering future leaders.