Best Grants for Theater in Iowa

Theater and other arts nonprofits, hospitals, clinics, and tribal organizations in Iowa can receive US $2,000 - US $15,000 to run arts and wellness projects featuring professional artists. Grants from Arts Midwest help fund performances, workshops, creative aging, clinical arts programs, and initiatives engaging veterans in the arts between December 2025 and June 2026.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Iowa offering theater, opera, music, education, or health and wellness programs in the Greater Cedar Rapids area can seek program support funding. Grants from Carleen and Eugene Grandon Charitable Foundation help Linn County–focused groups, and those serving nearby counties, run charitable programs rather than building projects.

Marshfield Area Community Foundation Scholarships

The mission of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation is “Connecting people who care with causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in the Marshfield area”. Education is a valuable tool and a cause that matters to all of us. Through assisting students with financial support to receive an education, not only do students and the families of those students benefit, but also our community benefits, which further allows us to achieve our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Marshfield area.

Geographical Area

The official geographic service area of Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc., beginning to our west and traveling clockwise, includes the following communities in addition to Marshfield (It also includes towns and rural areas between these communities.): Chili, Granton, Neillsville, Loyal, Greenwood, Withee, Owen, Spencer, Unity, Colby, Curtiss, Pittsville, Abbotsford, Dorchester, Stetsonville, Medford, Stratford, Rozellville, Hewitt, Auburndale, Blenker, Milladore, Sherry, Arpin.

James Brasington Theater Scholarship

This scholarship is for a student wo is attending school full-time pursuing an undergraduate degree intending to study theater arts. Preference to a student who shows interest in and affinity for the art of acting and shows financial need. This scholarship can be renewed 3 additional years.

High schools producing plays or musicals that explore diverse perspectives can receive US $10,000 to strengthen their theatre programs, including in Iowa. Grants from Educational Theatre Association Foundation support 2026–27 productions that hire professional mentors reflecting the student body and culminate in multiple performances plus a community event fostering dialogue.

Graduating high school seniors in New Jersey’s Morris County pursuing college-level theater, dance, music, or visual arts studies can receive scholarship support for tuition. Grants from Arts Council of the Morris Area help students with demonstrated artistic excellence further their arts education, which may interest Iowa theater organizations supporting college-bound youth artists.

Iowa high school seniors pursuing theater, dance, music, or visual arts study may be eligible for this arts scholarship, which supports tuition at accredited colleges or arts programs. Morris Arts’ Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship awards US $1,500 based on artistic excellence, work samples, essays, activities, and recommendations, with funds paid directly to the student’s institution.

Emerging U.S.-based music writers of color can access funding through the Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship to support critical writing on live or recorded music. Grants from Japanese American National Museum provide US $5,000 in unrestricted support, plus opportunities to publish and present work, which may benefit early-career arts writers connected to theater and performance in Iowa.

Individual artists, arts organizations, and fiscally sponsored projects creating environmental artistic activism in Iowa can apply for support to produce solution-focused work on climate and other urgent issues. With a mission to open doors for underrepresented artists, Puffin Foundation prioritizes U.S.-based projects using any eligible art form, including theater, that thoughtfully address environmental concerns.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) theater companies in Iowa and across the U.S. can receive US $20,000 - US $30,000 to fund paid apprenticeships for early-career theater administrators and technicians. Arts Midwest’s Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeships program supports roles like technicians, set designers, operations, HR, communications, and marketing staff involved in community-based theater work.

Individual professional dramatists in Iowa can receive one-time emergency support for essential living expenses such as housing, utilities, food, health care, and transportation. Dramatists Guild Foundation supports theater writers across the U.S. with $500 Bridge Grants for those in severe financial hardship who meet specific professional criteria and have limited savings.

Theater and media arts artists and small arts nonprofits in Iowa can seek funding for video, film, and live theater projects through the Puffin Foundation’s Annual Artist Grant Program, with awards up to US $3,500. Grants from Puffin Foundation help U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients create accessible, non-AI artistic work.

High school seniors in Iowa pursuing theater studies at a U.S. university can receive up to US $10,000 annually for tuition through the Andrew Lloyd Webber University Scholarships. American Theatre Wing supports students from historically underrepresented communities in any theater discipline, with awards renewable for four years plus mentorship and professional development opportunities.

Emerging musical theatre composers, lyricists, librettists, and writing teams working professionally in Iowa can receive flexible support for their artistic careers through the Jonathan Larson Grants. American Theatre Wing offers these US $10,000 awards to writers creating new, fully producible musical theatre works, who reside or work in the U.S. at least part-time.

Public K–12 schools and 501(c)(3) parent groups in Iowa can seek funding to create or enhance in-school theater programs through the American Theatre Wing’s Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative Classroom Resources Grants. Focused on theater education, these national grants offer up to US $50,000 for equipment, instruments, production supplies, licensing fees, and artistic consultants.

Graduate students from eligible Asian countries pursuing full-time theater or related arts coursework in the U.S., including Iowa institutions, can receive US $15,000 for travel and living expenses. Asian Cultural Council supports international cultural exchange and connects fellows with a global arts community; funding does not cover tuition or research costs.

Individual theater artists and arts professionals in Iowa and across eligible countries can seek funding for self-directed international research and cultural exchange projects. Focused on artistic disciplines including theater, Asian Cultural Council supports travel-based immersion, dialogue, and collaboration rather than production residencies or single-event travel, with options for single or joint applicants meeting experience and residency criteria.

Individual theater artists, scholars, and arts professionals 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. Those working in theater in Iowa-connected projects may benefit if their work involves U.S.–Asia arts exchange and research-focused exploration.

The Howard Fellowships, administered by the George A. and Eliza Gardner Howard Foundation, support early mid-career artists and scholars with $40,000 awards for independent projects in selected fields. This unrestricted, non-residency fellowship encourages significant creative development and public visibility through exhibitions or publications. Applicants should demonstrate a promising program of work and must currently reside in the U.S. or its territories. Ten fellowships are awarded annually, promoting artistic and intellectual advancement.

The Arts Fund Grants provide vital support for emerging artists from Australia and the USA, facilitating their artistic development through grants of up to $5,000. This funding can be used for travel, living expenses, tuition, and other related costs. Eligible applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of either country and have a formal offer from an accredited institution. The program emphasizes merit-based opportunities across various artistic fields, fostering international collaboration and cultural exchange.

The ASTR Thomas Marshall Graduate Student Awards aim to support graduate students researching theatre or performance by assisting with the costs of attending the annual ASTR conference. This grant offers up to three honorariums of $800 each, along with complimentary conference registration. Eligibility is open to any graduate student in relevant fields, with selection based on the applicant’s interest and academic achievements.

The American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) David Keller Travel Grants support untenured scholars with terminal degrees in attending the annual ASTR conference. With up to three $800 honorariums and complimentary registration, the grants aim to foster active participation in the organization. Eligible recipients include independent scholars and adjunct faculty, with selection based on their interest and achievements in scholarship and service. This initiative enhances networking and professional development within the theatre research community.

The ASTR Selma Jeanne Cohen Conference Presentation Award supports scholars participating in plenary or working sessions at the ASTR conference. This award encourages exploration of the intersections between theatre and dance, providing funds for travel and hotel expenses. Eligible applicants include graduate students, independent scholars, and faculty members accepted to present at the 2025 conference. The award offers a $1000 honorarium and complimentary registration, promoting active engagement in ASTR's community.

The ASTR Po-Hsien Chu International Scholar Award Fund aims to support international scholars facing unique challenges in the U.S. due to their visa status. This initiative offers annual research awards to up to two scholars, with a focus on at least one Asian recipient. The $1000 honorarium promotes access to funding for groundbreaking research in theatre and performance studies and encourages recipients to engage with the ASTR community through conferences and mentoring.

The ASTR Targeted Research Area Grant supports projects by scholars focusing on under-represented areas in theatre, dance, and performance studies. This includes research on Asian, African, Latin American, and Middle Eastern disciplines, as well as pre-1900 studies and essential translations. The grant, offering up to $3000, encourages recipients to publish their findings and collaborate with Theatre Survey editors. Eligibility extends to scholars with terminal degrees and graduate students, provided they are ASTR members.

The ASTR Theater and Performance Art Studies Research Fellowships provide funding for scholars conducting significant research in theatre and performance studies. With awards up to $3000, these fellowships support academic projects, allowing recipients to cover various research expenses. Eligible applicants include anyone holding a terminal degree and a member of ASTR, with the selection based on project merit. However, applicants cannot seek a Targeted Research Area Grant for the same project in the same year.

The Actors' Equity Foundation, established in 1962, is dedicated to supporting the professional theatre community through grants. Annually, it funds over 150 nonprofit theatres and arts organizations, promoting initiatives that enhance the performing arts landscape. The Theatre Grants are specifically aimed at organizations with 501(c)(3) status, ensuring a commitment to artistic excellence and fiscal responsibility. By investing in diverse programs, the Foundation plays a pivotal role in nurturing both emerging and established talent within the theatre industry.

Armstrong County Community Foundation

The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,

• Gives grants, scholarships, and organizational support to address the needs of our community.
• Builds a permanent endowment to help our donors create a legacy through this endowment.
• Promotes informed philanthropy to increase and sustain charitable resources for the region.
• Provides leadership and builds partnerships to identify and solve community issues.

Susan Falsetti-Burdett Memorial Scholarship Fund for Music

Born in Kittanning in 1957, Susan Burdett was the daughter of Aldo and Dorothy (Trenchik) Falsetti, and was a lifelong resident of our community. Susie was a loving daughter, sister, mother, wife, and friend. She taught music to many over the years, and also taught at Divine Redeemer School. She was caring, compassionate, sharing and understanding. Her charity will live on through this Susan Falsetti-Burdett memorial Scholarship Fund for Music.

Scholarship Details

• Available to High School Seniors
• Nonrenewable

All ACCF Scholarships are merit based.