Best Grants for Dance Nonprofit Organizations in Pennsylvania

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Pennsylvania focused on dance, other arts, literacy, children, social justice, or the environment can seek project or program funding, typically up to US $5,000. Grants from Nora Roberts Foundation help eligible groups, with a preference for local counties, cover program needs and related operating costs that support their activities.

Women-identifying individual artists in the U.S., including those working in dance or performance in Pennsylvania, can apply for New York Foundation for the Arts’ Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants, with awards up to US $20,000. Grants support in-progress environmental art projects with free public engagement, to be completed or advanced between August 2025 and August 2026.

Pennsylvania arts and cultural nonprofits offering programs in dance, ballet, and related disciplines can access funding through the William Randolph Hearst Foundation to support impactful arts and science programming. U.S.-based 501(c)(3) institutions with audited expenses over $2 million may receive more than US $100,000 for program, capital, or limited general and endowment support that engages large audiences, especially youth.

Theresa Alessandra Russo Foundation Inc

The Theresa Foundation honors the memory of Theresa Alessandra Russo by touching the lives of children with special needs and their families. The Foundation fosters each child’s unique abilities by supporting programs focusing on art, music, dance, drama, and recreation.

The Theresa Foundation has a vision of the world where artistic expression and physical recreation are just as important to adults as they are to children. We believe in a world where every child, regardless of ability or challenging conditions, is free to communicate through and participate in every art or recreational activity. A society without art is a society without soul. Art enables us to express our inner thoughts, fears, joys, and sadness.  

The Theresa Foundation Grant Program

The Theresa Foundation Grant Program is committed to providing financial support for programs in art, music, dance, drama, or recreation that are designed specifically for children with special needs in order to ensure that no one is excluded from these activities. 

We believe that every individual should have the opportunity to participate in art, music, dance, drama or recreation if they so choose. Our grant program works to provide direct funding for the success of these activities, while also promoting an environment of acceptance and inclusiveness where all can take part without judgment or fear. 

As of 2026, the Theresa Foundation has provided over $3,300,000 in grant funding for over 200 programs in 29 states throughout the country and 4 international grants. With your help we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those with special needs by providing them access to enriching experiences that would otherwise be out of reach. 

Health and physical education professionals advancing measurement and evaluation may be eligible for this national lifetime achievement honor in the U.S. With a mission to advance professional practice and promote research, Society of Health and Physical Educators recognizes SHAPE America members whose scholarly work significantly impacts health, physical education, and related areas, including dance-focused education in places like Pennsylvania.

Current SHAPE America members planning projects that expand opportunities for girls and women in sport can receive US $1,000 for research, professional development, after-school programs, or similar initiatives across the U.S., including Pennsylvania. The Society of Health and Physical Educators presents this annual NAGWS Legacy Award at its National Convention & Exposition.

New and current NDP-supported dance artists, presenters, and curatorial or residency staff in Pennsylvania can receive travel funding to plan tours of National Dance Project works. New England Foundation for the Arts provides up to US $500 for U.S. travel that supports relationship-building, site visits, and advance tour planning for eligible NDP-funded projects.

Pennsylvania graduate students in dance, physical education, health, or recreation can access funding through the Society of Health and Physical Educators’ Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship. Awards of US $1,750 support full-time SHAPE America members with strong academics, leadership, and service. Dance-focused students preparing for careers in education or wellness may be especially competitive.

Undergraduate college juniors and seniors in Pennsylvania majoring in dance, physical education, health, or recreation can apply for the Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship, which awards US $1,250 plus a three-year SHAPE America membership. Focused on academic excellence and leadership, Society of Health and Physical Educators selects outstanding SHAPE America student members nationwide.

Individuals with cystic fibrosis seeking support for dance, horseback riding, swimming, or golf can receive up to US $750 for activity fees, with payments made directly to providers. Focused on active living, BreatheStrong CF invites eligible applicants, including those involved in dance in Pennsylvania, to apply through the Loretta Morris Memorial Grants program.

Native-led performing arts organizations and individual Native performing artists in Pennsylvania can receive US $30,000 for live dance, theater, music, or other performance productions in active development. First Peoples Fund supports U.S.-based Native creators and collectives presenting multi-artist live productions, which may include performances in Native communities or touring Native performance groups.

High school seniors in New Jersey’s Morris County pursuing post-secondary arts studies in dance, drama, visual arts, or music can receive the Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship, awarding US $5,000 for tuition. Grants from Arts Council of the Morris Area help students with strong artistic excellence, including dancers, advance their formal arts education.

Pennsylvania dance nonprofit organizations can access funding through the Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship, which supports individual Morris County, New Jersey high school seniors pursuing post-secondary studies in dance and other arts. Administered by Arts Council of the Morris Area, this $1,500 award is paid directly to the student’s chosen college or arts program for tuition.

Pennsylvania professional performing ensembles, dance companies, and contemporary music institutions can seek general operating or project support for work featuring living American classical concert composers. Focused on contemporary classical music, the Alice M. Ditson Fund invites organizations, including those using a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, to apply for support of performances and projects highlighting younger or under-recognized American composers.

Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) arts and culture organizations, artist collectives, community-based groups, and public institutions can access funding through William Penn Foundation for inclusive arts and culture programming. Eligible projects in Philadelphia and nearby counties, including dance and multidisciplinary arts, must expand equitable access to high-quality creative experiences and improve quality of life for Philadelphia residents.

Graduate students from eligible Asian countries in dance and related arts fields studying full-time in the U.S., including Pennsylvania, can receive US $15,000 for one academic year to cover travel and living expenses. Asian Cultural Council also connects fellows with a global arts community and may renew support for a second year.

Individual dance artists, scholars, and arts professionals in eligible Asian countries or the U.S. can seek Asian Cultural Council’s Individual Fellowship to fund self-directed research and cultural exchange abroad. Focused on arts and cultural immersion, it supports activities like interviews, institutional visits, workshops, and archival research, which may benefit Pennsylvania-based dance practitioners who meet the residency criteria.

Individual artists, scholars, and arts professionals in dance and related fields from eligible Asian countries can apply for Asian Cultural Council’s six‑month New York Fellowship to deepen their practice through cultural immersion in New York and across the U.S. This opportunity may benefit Pennsylvania-based dance nonprofits collaborating with or hosting eligible Asian fellows.

The McGraw Foundation offers annual grants to not-for-profit organizations, primarily in the greater Chicago area, focusing on education, conservation, and human services. Grant amounts typically range from $2,000 to $10,000, with larger grants available for particularly impactful projects. While supporting diverse initiatives, the Foundation does not fund individuals or specific events. Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS regulations to qualify for funding. The Foundation encourages innovative approaches and partnerships in grant applications.

Tara Lynn Clossman Memorial Fund

Established by the Clossman family and many others in memory of Tara Clossman, who passed away suddenly in 2016 at the age of 25, to provide postsecondary scholarships to Akron City School District high school seniors pursuing a career in dance or education.

Amount:

• Varies ($1,000 minimum)

Number of awards:

• Varies

Renewal:

• No

Washington County Community Foundation

The Washington County Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in Washington County by promoting and facilitating philanthropy. We accomplish this by assuming four philanthropic roles of Grantmaker, Donor Service Organization, Fundraiser, and Community Leader. Fostering philanthropy by offering charitable gifting opportunities to donors on an individualized basis and at reasonable fees, we make charitable giving easier, more satisfying, and more effective. 

The Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of Pennsylvania, which is registered with the Pennsylvania Charities Bureau and annually files the Federal Form 990.

Scholarships for Post-Secondary (Undergraduate) School

The Foundation provides both need-based and merit-based scholarships to students in Washington County, with a few scholarships also available to students in Greene County. All scholarships are made payable to the educational institution the student is attending. 

Carol L. Berthold Scholarship Fund for Dance

For a current year graduating senior who is pursuing a degree in dance at an accredited post-secondary educational institution and demonstrates both financial need and academic excellence. The award is renewable annually, provided the recipient remains enrolled in the dance program and in good academic standing (as defined by the institution).

Shawnee Fine Arts Club Scholarship

Provides a scholarship to graduating seniors of Shawnee High School, Liberty Academy, or home-schooled residents of Shawnee, Oklahoma with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7. Student must be accepted into the university of their choice, majoring in music, visual arts, dance, or drama.

Our Mission

Empower donors to fulfill their passions and dreams by establishing charitable vehicles designed to create a positive and enduring impact on Jewish Buffalo, Western New York and the World.

Geoff Richter Performing Arts Award

The Geoff Richter Performing Arts Award Committee announces the availability of an Award up to $2,000! The GRPAA was founded in memory of Geoff Richter, Western New York Musician and Educator of the Arts.

About Geoff Richter

A native of Eden, New York, Geoff received his Bachelor of Music degree with a Performer’s Certificate in trumpet and a Master’s with a Performers Fellowship, from the Eastman School of Music.

Geoff played trumpet professionally with the Rochester, San Antonio, and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestras and Niagara Falls, Binghamton, Chautauqua, Orchard Park, Clarence, Cheektowaga, and Amherst Symphony Orchestras. He co-founded the Buffalo Brass Quintet, the Buffalo Niagara Concert Band, and The Frankfurters, an internationally known Bavarian show band. He also acted as the summer/pops conductor of the Erie County Wind Ensemble and the Amherst Symphony Orchestra.

After retiring from a long career at Williamsville North High School, Geoff started working part time as director of the orchestra for musicals at St. Joseph Collegiate Institute. He also worked with the Mount Saint Mary Academy band and recruited and directed the orchestra for the annual school musical.

The NAACP X Society Awards Scholarship

The NAACP x Society Awards Scholarship is one of many funding opportunities available to students through NAACP's Inspire Initiatives. We offer scholarships to outstanding and qualified students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Through the generosity of our donors, we advance efforts to ensure equity in educational opportunity that prepares students for success in school, work, and life.

Scholarship amount: $1,000 to $5,000

This is a non-renewable scholarship opportunity.

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 BTCF: Simple Gifts Fund Grant supports young artists aged 13-19 in the Berkshire Taconic region, providing financial assistance for summer enrichment programs in the arts. Established in 1998 in memory of folk singer Bill Crofut, the fund aims to empower youth through small grants that can cover costs for tuition, art supplies, or living expenses. The grant fosters creativity and personal growth, ensuring that young individuals have opportunities to pursue their passions.

The Lazarus Family Scholarship in Bioethics and Humanities, offered by the AMA Foundation, supports students engaged in bioethics or the humanities, including art, music, and literature. This scholarship aims to foster the next generation of physician leaders by providing financial assistance to those who are committed to advancing health equity and community service. By recognizing diverse fields of study, it emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in medicine and the humanities.