A practical guide to grants for dance companies, choreographers, and dance education programs, including NEA, foundations, and dance-specific funders.
2025–2026 STATUS UPDATE: NEA, NEH, and IMLS — the three primary federal cultural-funding agencies — were all subject to mass grant cancellations and proposed elimination in 2025. Courts have blocked the most extreme dismantling efforts, and grants are being progressively restored as of 2026, but cycles and priorities have been materially disrupted. Verify program status at the relevant agency website before applying.
Dance, like other performing arts, has a small but real grant ecosystem. The NEA is the largest federal funder, with several major foundations and dance-specific funders rounding out the field.
TL;DR: Quick Answers
- Who funds dance? NEA, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, MAP Fund, state arts agencies, community foundations.
- Who can apply? Dance nonprofits and ensembles, fiscally sponsored projects, dance education programs.
- What gets funded? Choreography, productions, residencies, education, audience engagement, capital.
- What’s the biggest opportunity? NEA Grants for Arts Projects plus state arts council pass-through.
Federal Funding
NEA Grants for Arts Projects Dance discipline.
NEA Challenge America for smaller, more accessible grants.
State arts agencies receive NEA partnership funding and re-grant locally, often the most accessible path.
Foundation Funders
- Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (major dance funder).
- Mertz Gilmore Foundation (dance-specific).
- MAP Fund (new and experimental performance work).
- Howard Gilman Foundation.
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (university and academic dance).
- Jerome Foundation (emerging artists).
- National Performance Network (regranting).
- Community foundations with arts priorities.
What Gets Funded
- Choreography commissions.
- Productions and seasons.
- Residencies and touring.
- Audience engagement and access.
- Dance education programs.
- Capacity and infrastructure, see capacity-building grants.
Tips for a Competitive Dance Application
- Curate strong work samples (video of recent work).
- Demonstrate artistic vision and merit.
- Address public benefit and community engagement.
- Engage state arts agency for smaller projects.
- Show financial health and sustainability, see sustainability plan.
How Grantboost Helps
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Read next:
- NEA Grants: A Guide to National Endowment for the Arts Funding
- Grants for Theater Companies
- Grants for Music Education
Further Reading
- National Endowment for the Arts
- Dance/USA
- New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA)
- Grants.gov (federal funding portal)
Disclaimer: Grant programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and policies vary by region and change frequently. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current rules in your area. Always consult a local grant writer or qualified expert in your region for advice specific to your organization, project, and jurisdiction.