Fox Theatre Grant Program

To be considered for grant funding, all applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the online grant system by midnight on Friday, July 18, 2025. The LOI does not require the submission of the two proposals, bids, or estimates for the grant work. Those two items are due when submitting the grant application. After an internal review, only approved applicants will be invited to complete the full grant application, which must be submitted by Friday, August 1, 2025. Please note that after the July 18th deadline, organizations can no longer submit an LOI or apply for a 2025/2026 Fox Theatre Grant, and the portal will close for that purpose.  The online grant portal will close for applications on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm, and additional applications will not be accepted.

For more information about the 2025/2026 Single-Year Grants, the four funding categories, and how to navigate the online grant portal, please refer to the two resources below.

2025/2026 SINGLE-YEAR GRANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

2025/2026 SINGLE-YEAR GRANT APPLICATION INFORMATION

Eligible applicant organizations must be one of the following:

• Designated as a 501c3 organization by the IRS.
• Owned and operated by a city or county government.
• Owned by a city or county government and operated by a 501c3 organization.
• Please note that K-12 private and public schools, as well as private and public colleges and universities, are ineligible for funding.

Awardees must adhere to the following conditions:

• Recipients must sign a contract outlining the terms and conditions of the grant.
• Matching Funds (if applicable):
  • Applicants must secure at least a dollar-for-dollar match of the grant amount.
  • Matching funds can come from private or public sources, including fundraising events or earned income.
  • Donated materials, services, and overhead costs may qualify as matching contributions if they directly support the project budget and align with Fox Gives’ grant parameters.
• Work must begin within six months of the award date. Failure to start within this timeframe may result in a review of the grant.
• Regular progress reports will be required, with specific details outlined in the grant agreement.
• A final project report and financial accounting must be submitted within the grant’s fiscal year. If the project is not completed as agreed, additional negotiations regarding funding continuation or return may be required.

Grants are awarded on an annual basis and may support the following kinds of needs:

• Securing an engineering and/or architectural team to provide final planning and budgets.
• Completing an overall preservation project or repurposing of a related structure, either a phase or other essential improvements, according to a study and planning process.
• Completion of a multi-year preservation plan or a long-term preservation plan for a historic structure.
• Acquisition of a historic property or related properties.
• Acquisition of real property or construction. A project may include the renovation or alteration of a property to comply with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Purchase and installation of equipment, including assistive listening devices, seating, listening devices, staging, sound equipment, lighting equipment, and projection systems, to enhance accessibility and expand the availability of programming.

The following criteria will be used to evaluate and rank applications for these grant funds:

• Historical significance of the resource.
• Physical condition of the property.
• Proposed use of the site and quality of the interpretive program.
• Quality of the preliminary planning or contract documents, including credentials of the project team, feasibility of the budget, and work schedule.
• Appropriateness of the project to meet the needs of the resource.
• Ability of the applicant to match the funds requested and to complete the proposed work, maintain the property, administer the grant funds, and develop programs to sustain and interpret the property.

Organizational multi-phased projects may apply for funding for up to three consecutive years, with a total of $500,000 available over the three years. Organizations receiving funding of $250,000 or more are not eligible to reapply for three years. Reapplication is possible for a new project that demonstrates its importance or benefits surpassing those of the previous project.

The maximum amount that an applicant organization may apply for annually for this grant is $100,000, and this is a matching grant. The minimum funding request for the Preservation & Facilities Grant is $20,000.

These grant funds enable awardees direct access to experts in the field and to other resources to meet a range of specific technical, organizational, or operational needs, including but not limited to:

• Planning–operational and strategic.
• Professional development and training.
• Organizational development.
• Developing partnerships and community programs.
• Business planning and operations towards sustainability.
• Developing leadership and the effectiveness of staff and board members.
• Guidance on technology.

Applications will be reviewed annually.  The maximum amount that an applicant organization can apply for annually for this grant is $25,000, and this grant does not require a matching contribution. The minimum funding request for the Technical Assistance Grant is $20,000.

Grants for Historic Structure Studies or Planning are awarded annually to support the completion of a Historic Structure Study or Planning project – the first steps in caring for historic structures.

The study and planning should address such needs as:

• Obtaining a professional contractor or team to review the overall conditions of the structure, followed by presenting priorities and steps for planning.
• Retaining expertise in specific areas for study, such as architecture, engineering, paint analysis, archives, and other collections, interpretation, community use, and potential cultural and economic impact.
• Hiring a preservation architect to create an interior or exterior restoration plan.
• Hiring a consultant to develop a conservation plan for archives and collections.
• Planning for renovations or repurposing of related structures (not necessarily historic).

Levels of grant amounts depend on the complexity of the structure and scope of the work.  The maximum amount that an applicant organization may apply for annually for this grant is $50,000, and this is a matching grant. The minimum funding request for the Historic Structure Studies or Planning Grant is $20,000.

Urgent or Emergency Grants can be sought throughout the year, but funding will be awarded when remaining funds are available from the regular Single-Year Grant cycle after the August 1st annual deadline. Please reach out to Leigh Burns at leigh.burns@foxtheatre.org to see if your project may be eligible for Urgent or Emergency grant funding.

Urgent or emergency support may be available to historic theaters and related structures in emergencies when immediate and unanticipated work is necessary to save a historic structure. Examples of urgent or emergency needs include:

• Fire or water damage
• Natural disasters
• General disrepair posing an immediate threat to the structure or architectural integrity
• Imminent demolition
• An option to purchase a structure (temporary or long-term), especially if a structural change or possible demolition is evident.

Important Information:

• The maximum amount that an applicant organization may apply for annually for this grant is $100,000. The minimum grant funding request for the Urgent/Emergency Grant is $20,000.
• A cash match is not required for these projects; however, a grant award from the Institute could be used as leverage for other support.
• If the applicant does not own the building, a certified letter of consent from the property owner is required to proceed with the application.