The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation is seeking applications for its Performing Arts Program.
Donor Name: Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
State: Illinois
County: Cook County (IL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/31/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The PMAFF Performing Arts Program knows that the arts have a unique ability to evoke emotion and connect to the beauty and complexity of own humanity and that of others. The performing arts engage on both a personal and collective level – strengthening communities, building empathy, calling to action, creating a sense of meaning and shared purpose, and encouraging to imagine new futures where all cultures, identities, and communities are valued, supported, and flourishing.
In anticipation of the launch of the PMAFF’s new strategy for the Performing Arts later in 2026, They are inviting organizations to respond to this Request for Proposals – Envisioning the Future: Holistic Resources for New Work Development. This initiative will be the first time that the foundation’s Performing Arts program will fund performing arts organizations beyond theatre and classical music. Other music genres, dance, and multidisciplinary live performance art forms will also be eligible for funding As this pilot is designed to build relationships between the foundation and organizations new to us and those have not funded recently, grantee partners funded since January 1, 2023, are not eligible to apply.
This initiative will proceed in two phases. The first phase of funding supports the administrative and
artistic costs of the creation and development of a new work. During this phase, the Foundation will review all submitted applications and select up to 30 to move forward to its organizational due diligence process and participate in virtual site visits. From among these organizations, the Foundation anticipates making grants to up to 25 organizations, to support their proposed projects.
The second phase of the initiative will occur in the Foundation’s November 2027 grant cycle. Organizations selected for grants in phase one will be invited to complete a renewal application that includes a preview of the completed work and outlines the costs associated with a fully realized production of the work.
Funding Information
- Production Phase: up to $250,000
- Development Phase: up to $150,000
Eligibility Criteria
- U.S.- based nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations;
- Organizations that center the arts in their mission (arts and culture is the primary area of organizational focus). examples include performing arts presenting organizations, dance companies, theater ensembles, music organizations, etc.
- Organizations located in Chicago and the immediate surrounding suburbs (Cook County)
- Organizations with annual budgets of up to $10M;
- Organizations that have been operating and consistently producing performance work since January 1, 2023
- Projects led by one artist, multiple artists, or collaborative
- Proposals for the commissioning, devising, and development of original work;
- Proposals for work centered in the performing arts; examples may include music, dance, theater, etc.
Ineligibility
- Commercial and/or for-profit enterprises or non-presenting organizations;
- Individual artists or those applying through a fiscal sponsor;
- Organizations funded by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation’s Performing Arts program since January 1, 2023;
- Organizations not primarily working in or headquartered in Chicago or the immediate surrounding suburbs (Cook County)
- Proposals to adapt existing work
- Work that has already been developed and is at the production stage of development.
For more information, visit PMAFF.
