OVERVIEW: The Edgerton Foundation supports artistic, educational and cultural institutions across Los Angeles, but funds the development of New American Plays nationwide. Its grantmaking also supports efforts to address creative environmental and energy solutions, and security and international policy.
IP TAKE: While the foundation lacks transparency and does not accept unsolicited proposals, those working in theater arts should be aware of its New American Plays award program, which has supported the production of over 500 new plays with grants totaling about $19 million. This is one of a handful of funders that supports the development of new plays, making it a competitive space. Networking will be key.
PROFILE: Established in 2000, the Edgerton Foundation was founded by Bradford W. Edgerton and Louise Edgerton, his wife. Bradford Edgerton is a plastic surgeon in Southern California’s Permanente Medical Group, as well as a Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Southern California. The Edgerton Foundation invests in artistic, educational and cultural institutions across Los Angeles, and funds the development of new American plays nationwide. Smaller areas of interest include creative environmental and energy solutions, security and international policy.
Grants for Theater
The foundations supports the Edgerton Foundation New Plays Awards in collaboration with the New York City-based Theatre Communications Group. Launched in 2007, the initiative has supported the production of over 500 plays with close to $19 million in grants.
- In 2017, the first round of Edgerton Foundation New Play Award totaled $359,000, allowing 13 productions extra time for the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, helping to extend the life of the play after its first run.
- A subsequent gift of $400,000 enabled Occidental College to partner with The Theatre @ Boston Court and A Noise Within to create the Edgerton Foundation Theater Program
- Recent grantees include Anna Ziegler’s The Janeiad, Zora Howard’s Bust, and Joe Penhall’s The Consituent.
- Individual grants have ranged from $1,000 to around $2.4 million.
- .Additional grantmaking has also supported theaters of every size. Recipients include the Geffen Playhouse (Brad serves on its board); the Yale Repertory Theatre, the Signature Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Second Stage Theatre, the National Theater and the Public Theater.
Grants for Los Angeles, Community Development and K-12 Education
With the exception of theater the Edgerton Foundation’s funding concentrates around Greater Los Angeles, where its founders live and work. Los Angeles grantmaking tends to prioritize community and K-12 education. Note that these are much smaller areas of giving when compared to the foundation’s theater grants.
- Grantees include the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Harvard-Westlake School, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools and the Bishop’s School in La Jolla.
- The foundation has also supported the Pacific Council on International Policy, which is “committed to building the capacity of Los Angeles and California for impact on global issues, discourse, and policy.”
Grants for Global Development and Humanitarian Aid
Only a few grants have addressed global concerns. Recently, funding has gone to the International Medical Corps and the Pacific Council on International Policy, which
Important Grant Details:
The Edgerton Foundation made about $7.4 million in grants in a recent year. Grants ranged from about $1,000 to $258,000, with the exception of the California Community Foundation, which receives sums in the millions.
- The foundation’s theater awards are, by far, its largest giving area.
- See lists of theater awardees organized by year attached to the top of the New Play Awards webpage.
- This funder does not accept proposals for any of its programs, but its theater awards are conducted in collaboration with the Theatre Communications group, which can be contacted via email at info@tcg.org.
- The Edgerton Foundation does not provide a way to get in touch, but its phone number is listed as (310) 288-4252. A mailing address is provided below.
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CONTACT:
Edgerton Foundation
1925 Century Park East, 16th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 288-4252