--- title: "Notes from the Wings — Suzanne Gilad" description: "Stories from the stage, the editing desk, and everywhere in between — essays from Sue Gilad on producing, editing, speaking, and philanthropy." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzanne Gilad", "alternateName": "Sue Gilad", "jobTitle": "Broadway Producer, Author, Editor, Speaker", "description": "Grammy and five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, published author, professional editor, and arts-education advocate.", "award": [ "Grammy Award", "Tony Award for Best Musical (5x)", "30 Tony Award wins across productions" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "CollectionPage", "name": "Notes from the Wings", "url": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes", "description": "Essays from Sue Gilad — Broadway producer, author, editor, speaker." }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Notes from the Wings", "item": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes" } ] } ] --- [Suzanne Gilad ](/) [About ](/about)[Producer ](/producer)[Author & Editor ](/author-editor)[Speaking ](/speaking)[Philanthropy ](/philanthropy)[Notes ](/notes)[Glossary ](/glossary)[Contact ](/contact) Notes from the Wings # Stories from the stage, the editing desk, and everywhere in between. Essays from Sue Gilad on producing Broadway, editing books, speaking to leaders, and the work of giving back. [All](/notes)[Producer](/notes?category=producer)[Author & Editor](/notes?category=author_editor)[Speaking](/notes?category=speaking)[Philanthropy](/notes?category=philanthropy) [ Featured · Philanthropy ## Funding Performing Arts Scholarships: A Donor’s Guide How high-net-worth individuals can structure direct-to-student scholarship models that eliminate institutional overhead and prioritize talent over facilities. August 20, 2026· 8 min read Read the piece → ](/notes/funding-performing-arts-scholarships-direct-model) Shareable Highlights ## Pocket a line. Post it. Come back later. Tap the share icons to send any of these to LinkedIn or X — the link returns readers right here. Philanthropy > “How high-net-worth individuals can structure direct-to-student scholarship models that eliminate institutional overhead and prioritize talent over facilities.” Sue Gilad [Read the piece →](/notes/funding-performing-arts-scholarships-direct-model) [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suzannegilad.com%2Fnotes%2Ffunding-performing-arts-scholarships-direct-model)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%22How%20high-net-worth%20individuals%20can%20structure%20direct-to-student%20scholarship%20models%20that%20eliminate%20institutional%20overhead%20and%20prioritize%20talent%20over%20facilities.%22%20%E2%80%94%20Suzanne%20Gilad&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suzannegilad.com%2Fnotes%2Ffunding-performing-arts-scholarships-direct-model) Philanthropy > “Why funding the 'total cost of attendance' is the only way to ensure true diversity in the next generation of Broadway artists.” Sue Gilad [Read the piece →](/notes/equitable-theater-scholarship-funding-models) [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suzannegilad.com%2Fnotes%2Fequitable-theater-scholarship-funding-models)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%22Why%20funding%20the%20'total%20cost%20of%20attendance'%20is%20the%20only%20way%20to%20ensure%20true%20diversity%20in%20the%20next%20generation%20of%20Broadway%20artists.%22%20%E2%80%94%20Suzanne%20Gilad&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suzannegilad.com%2Fnotes%2Fequitable-theater-scholarship-funding-models) Philanthropy > “Why funding the 'middle' of a creative career is the most vital intervention a philanthropist can make to save the arts.” Sue Gilad [Read the piece →](/notes/mid-career-artist-grants-and-scholarships) [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suzannegilad.com%2Fnotes%2Fmid-career-artist-grants-and-scholarships)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%22Why%20funding%20the%20'middle'%20of%20a%20creative%20career%20is%20the%20most%20vital%20intervention%20a%20philanthropist%20can%20make%20to%20save%20the%20arts.%22%20%E2%80%94%20Suzanne%20Gilad&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.suzannegilad.com%2Fnotes%2Fmid-career-artist-grants-and-scholarships) [ Philanthropy ### Equitable Theater Scholarship Funding: Beyond Tuition True equity in theater education requires more than just paying for classes. We must address the 'hidden costs'—rent, meals, and materials—that keep talented artists from low-income backgrounds out of the room. August 9, 2026· 7 min read ](/notes/equitable-theater-scholarship-funding-models)[ Philanthropy ### Closing the Gap: Mid-Career Artist Grants and Scholarships Focusing on mid-career artist grants and scholarships prevents the systemic 'talent drain' that occurs when established professionals can no longer afford to stay in the industry. July 29, 2026· 8 min read ](/notes/mid-career-artist-grants-and-scholarships)[ Philanthropy ### Holistic Arts Scholarship Models: Funding Hidden Costs A scholarship that only covers tuition often leaves the most talented students behind. We must evolve our giving to include the hidden costs of an arts education. July 27, 2026· 7 min read ](/notes/holistic-arts-scholarship-models-beyond-tuition)[ Philanthropy ### Establishing Individual Arts Scholarships in Theater Establishing individual arts scholarships requires moving beyond one-off checks toward a structured legal framework that identifies and supports emerging theatrical talent with precision. July 27, 2026· 9 min read ](/notes/establishing-individual-arts-scholarships)[ Philanthropy ### Impact-First Arts Giving: Funding Students Over Buildings Impact-first arts giving is a philanthropic strategy that prioritizes the direct financial support of individual artists and students over the construction or endowment of physical facilities. By funding scholarships and living stipends, donors remove the economic barriers that prevent first-generation theater students from entering the industry. July 16, 2026· 7 min read ](/notes/impact-first-arts-giving-theater-philanthropy)[ Philanthropy ### Stop Funding Bricks: Human-Centered Arts Giving I prefer to put my name on a student's future rather than a theater's lobby. Discover why moving away from naming rights allows for a more vibrant, equitable Broadway ecosystem. July 11, 2026· 8 min read ](/notes/human-centered-arts-giving-manifesto)[ Philanthropy ### Strategy for Creating a Theater Scholarship Program Learn how to structure a theater scholarship that prioritizes human potential over infrastructure, focusing on high-impact disciplines like stage management and technical design. July 10, 2026· 7 min read ](/notes/creating-a-theater-scholarship-program)[ ![A young arts student rehearsing at a piano in a sunlit studio — the human potential scholarships fund.](/notes/post-15-scholarships.jpg) Philanthropy ### People Over Plaques: Why My Philanthropy Targets Human Potential In theater philanthropy, the temptation is to put a name on a wall. I've chosen a different path: investing in the people who will eventually inhabit those rooms. June 30, 2026· 5 min read ](/notes/why-i-fund-scholarships-not-buildings)[ ![A young theatre student standing alone on a rehearsal stage under a warm gold spotlight.](/notes/post-5-scholarship.jpg) Philanthropy ### What Makes a Scholarship Worth Applying For Why I started two scholarships with very different rules, and what I wish more students knew before they apply. June 1, 2026· 5 min read ](/notes/what-makes-a-scholarship-worth-applying-for) Suzanne Gilad Grammy & five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, author, editor, speaker, and arts-education advocate. Explore - [About](/about) - [Broadway Work](/producer) - [Author & Editor](/author-editor) - [Speaking](/speaking) - [Philanthropy](/philanthropy) - [Notes from the Wings](/notes) - [Theater Glossary](/glossary) - [Contact](/contact) Scholarships - Suzanne Gilad Grant - Sue Gilad & Larry Rogowsky Theatre Scholarship Get in touch © 2026 Suzanne Gilad. All rights reserved. Bringing extraordinary stories to life — on stage and on the page.