Introduction

Middle Eastern North African Theater Makers Alliance (MENATMA) is proud to launch the MENA Theater Makers Fund, a new national grant initiative which aims to serve as a catalyst for sustainability and innovation in the theater field by providing MENA cultural producers in the United States with critical funding to invest in their creative capacity to make lasting contributions to their communities and society.

The MENA Theater Makers Fund offers general operating support and cohort-based engagement to under-resourced theater organizations that support and uphold MENA communities. Eligible theater organizations must have annual operating budgets of under $500,000. Through an open application process, MENATMA will award $800,000 in total funding, awarding $30,000 to $45,000 each in unrestricted funding to theater organizations across the U.S.

Awardees will have access to additional funds to distribute to artists in their communities, selected by the awardee. More information to come.

This program is supported by Alternate ROOTS, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC), First Peoples Fund, and The Wallace Foundation’s Advancing Wellbeing in the Arts initiative and in partnership with the National Arts Regranting Partners.

Program Objectives

• Celebrate the longevity of organizations that have helped build the field of MENA Theater.
• Sustain the creation and presentation of works by MENA artists and arts organizations.
• Build the capacity of MENA theater organizations and artists.
• Support the creative expression of artists that exhibit a high level of artistic contribution, innovation and impact in the field.
• Empower MENA artists and arts organizations in their efforts to promote social justice and social change through the arts.
• Strengthen communities by investing in MENA cultural assets and social capital in the U.S.

Cohort Model

In addition to funding, grantees will also be invited to participate in a cohort engagement model, expanding MENATMA’s national community of peer organizations and artists. This cohort will foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mutual support among those committed to sustaining and creating theater by MENA artists and serving our diaspora MENA communities.

• MENATMA will host virtual networking sessions through the grant period to provide space for organizations to exchange ideas, share resources, and build connections.
• All grantees will be invited and given financial support to attend MENATMA’s next biannual convening which is scheduled in San Francisco in October 23-25, 2026.
• In addition, MENATMA staff and/or board members will offer one-on-one check-ins with each grantee to provide personalized support throughout the grant program.

Timeline

• Application announced January 5, 2026.
• Applications open January 12, 2026
• Online informational session during the week of February 16, 2026.
  Note: a recording will be available for those who cannot attend.
• Applications close on March 20, 2026
• All applicants will be notified by the end of June
• Public Announcement of the awards will be on July 4, 2026
• Grant period is from July 2026–June 2028
• Midterm check in with awardees July 2027
• Final check in with awardees July 2028

Eligibility Requirements

Please review the eligibility requirements for the MENA Theater Makers Fund before applying. Applicants must also meet all of the requirements below:

• Operating budgets of under $500,000, averaged over three years.
• A minimum of a three-year operating history.
• Must be based in the 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, and/or U.S. territories and other U.S. jurisdictions.

We welcome the following organizations to apply:

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations

• Fiscally sponsored organizations

• Artist collectives and ensembles with a fiscal sponsor:

  • A collective or ensemble can be defined by two or more people. For example, a playwright and director who have an agreement with a theater company to fiscally sponsor their project. A minimum of a three-year working history for the ensemble is required.
  • If you are in need of a fiscal sponsor to apply to this grant, please check out this list of organizations that provide this service.

The following are not eligible to apply:

• Individuals
• Federal agencies
• Municipal, county, or state government entities
• K-12 schools and preschools
• Colleges and universities

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by MENATMA staff for eligibility and completion. The final selection of finalists will be made by an external panel of peers. Any panelist with financial interest or direct involvement with an applicant will recuse themselves from the discussion of that application.

Selection Criteria

We strive for a balance of geography, populations served, and various theater practices. These factors will also be taken into account when the applications are evaluated.

Applications will be reviewed and scored based on the following factors, holistically evaluated:

• The organization’s mission and history of arts and cultural work has positively impacted the MENA community in their region..
• The organization’s leadership and team are deeply connected to the MENA community.
• The organization’s programming has consistently included MENA artists and stories over the past three years.
• The organization has successfully engaged MENA audiences with culturally relevant and accessible content, responding to their needs, challenges, and strengths.
• The organization demonstrates regional and national leadership in the theater field and advocacy for MENA communities.
• Competitive applicants will provide data, examples, and evidence, clearly demonstrating how this award will support their work and the MENA communities they serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please check out this PDF for answers to frequently asked questions.

How to Apply and Application Support

All applications are submitted online via Google Forms. The deadline to submit is Friday, March 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET.

• Please note: It is not possible to save your answers within Google Forms, so we’re providing a PDF with all the questions and instructions here. We recommend preparing your answers in a word editing software and then submitting using the form.

The application platform will send an automatic reply after your application has been submitted. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Unfortunately, no exceptions will be made.

MENA Theater Makers Alliance will hold an informational webinar the week of February 16. Applicants are encouraged to attend. A recording will also be made available following the live event.

If you have any questions after the webinar or need assistance applying online, please email grants@menatheater.org.