--- title: "Philanthropy That Moves the Needle: Funding People Over Buildings — Notes from the Wings" description: "Learn how impactful arts philanthropy creates systemic change by funding individual artists and scholarships rather than buildings or capital campaigns." 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": "Article", "headline": "Philanthropy That Moves the Needle: Funding People Over Buildings", "description": "Learn how impactful arts philanthropy creates systemic change by funding individual artists and scholarships rather than buildings or capital campaigns.", "datePublished": "2026-09-13T07:01:41.629+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-09-13T07:01:41.655982+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sue Gilad", "url": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/about" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzanne Gilad", "url": "https://www.suzannegilad.com" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes/impactful-arts-philanthropy-funding-people" } }, { "@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" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Philanthropy That Moves the Needle: Funding People Over Buildings", "item": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes/impactful-arts-philanthropy-funding-people" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is impactful arts philanthropy?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Impactful arts philanthropy is a giving strategy that prioritizes the financial health and professional development of individual artists and arts workers. Unlike traditional capital campaigns that focus on building renovations, this approach targets systemic barriers by funding scholarships, grants, and mentorships that allow creators to sustain long-term careers in the theater industry." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I start a theater scholarship fund?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Starting a theater scholarship fund involves defining your criteria—such as supporting stage managers or diverse playwrights—and partnering with an existing non-profit or educational institution. Donors should focus on providing 'gap' funding for living expenses or tuition, ensuring the grant is large enough to remove a genuine financial obstacle for the recipient." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why is funding people better than funding theater buildings?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "While buildings provide a home for art, funding people addresses the talent drain currently facing the industry. High living costs often force talented artists out of the field. Direct support for individuals ensures that the creative pipeline remains diverse and robust, preventing the arts from becoming accessible only to those with personal wealth." } } ] } ] --- [Suzanne Gilad ](/) [About ](/about)[Producer ](/producer)[Author & Editor ](/author-editor)[Speaking ](/speaking)[Philanthropy ](/philanthropy)[Notes ](/notes)[Glossary ](/glossary)[Contact ](/contact) [Notes from the Wings](/notes)/ Philanthropy # Philanthropy That Moves the Needle: Funding People Over Buildings Why investing in individual artists and scholarships creates more systemic change in theater than naming rights or capital campaigns. By Sue Gilad September 13, 2026 8 min read Share [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsuzannegilad.lovable.app%2Fnotes%2Fimpactful-arts-philanthropy-funding-people)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Philanthropy%20That%20Moves%20the%20Needle%3A%20Funding%20People%20Over%20Buildings&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsuzannegilad.lovable.app%2Fnotes%2Fimpactful-arts-philanthropy-funding-people) Impactful arts philanthropy refers to a strategic approach to giving that prioritizes sustainable career pathways and individual creative growth over physical infrastructure. By shifting capital toward scholarships, living wages, and mentorship programs, donors ensure that the human element of the industry—the writers, designers, and performers—can thrive regardless of their socioeconomic background or personal financial standing. I remember standing in the lobby of a newly renovated regional theater a few years ago. The brass plaques were polished, the marble floors gleamed, and a donor’s name was etched in glass above the bar. It was a beautiful monument to generosity. Yet, that same week, I spoke with a brilliant young stage manager who was considering leaving the industry because she couldn’t afford the commute to her unpaid internship. The building was secure for the next fifty years, but the talent required to fill it was leaking out of the pipeline. That moment crystallized my philosophy: we must stop funding the shells and start funding the souls. ## The Limits of Infrastructure Giving For decades, the default for major donors has been the capital campaign. There is a tangible satisfaction in seeing your name on a wing or a mezzanine. However, a building does not create art; people do. When we lock millions of dollars into real estate, we often neglect the [creative team](/glossary/creative-team) members who are struggling to pay rent between contracts. In my work as a producer on shows like \*The Outsiders\* and \*Angels in America\*, I’ve seen firsthand how the pressure of financial instability can stifle the very innovation we claim to support. Physical spaces are necessary, but they are not the primary bottleneck in the arts today. The bottleneck is the cost of living and the cost of entry. If a venue has state-of-the-art acoustics but the playwright had to work three jobs to finish the script, the system is failing. As I discuss in [Strategic Theater Philanthropy Models That Work](/l/strategic-theater-philanthropy-models-guide), the most resilient organizations are those that invest in their human capital with the same fervor they apply to their HVAC systems. “ > A building is a container. If we don't fill it with diverse, supported, and financially stable artists, we are simply maintaining a museum of what theater used to be. Sue Gilad ## The Ripple Effect of Scholarships and Grants When you fund a scholarship, you aren't just paying tuition; you are buying time. You are giving a student the freedom to focus on their craft rather than their debt. This is why I have focused so much of my personal giving on [Broadway scholarships](/l/broadway-scholarships). A thousand dollars given directly to a student for housing or supplies can have a greater impact on the future of the American theater than ten times that amount given to a general building fund. The Broadway League often reports on the economic impact of our industry, but the human impact is harder to quantify. I’ve mentored writers through the process of [professional manuscript development](/notes/professional-manuscript-development-for-authors) and seen how a small grant at the right moment can prevent a career from stalling. These individual investments create a systemic shift by ensuring that the voices on our stages represent a wider breadth of experience, not just those who can afford to wait for a break. 70% Of arts workers report financial stress as their primary barrier to creative output. 12:1 The ratio of building-focused donations vs. individual artist grants in traditional giving. 5x Increase in retention for emerging producers who have access to mentorship funds. ## How to Pivot Your Giving Strategy If you are a donor looking to make a lasting difference, it requires a shift in mindset. You have to be comfortable with the 'invisible' win. You won't see your name on a wall, but you might see it in the 'Special Thanks' section of a Playbill for a show that wins a Tony Award five years from now. This is the essence of [establishing a theater scholarship fund](/notes/establishing-a-theater-scholarship-fund). It is a long-term play that values the arc of a career over the immediate gratification of a ribbon-cutting ceremony. ### Transitioning to People-First Philanthropy 1. 01 Audit Your Current Giving Look at your annual donations and categorize them: How much goes to 'bricks and mortar' versus 'people and programs'? 2. 02 Identify Pipeline Gaps Talk to artistic directors about where their talent pool is shrinking. Often, it's at the mid-career level or entry-level internships. 3. 03 Create Named Scholarships Instead of a named lobby, create a named fund that covers living expenses for apprentices or designers. 4. 04 Commit to Multi-Year Support Artists need stability. A three-year grant is exponentially more valuable than a one-time gift because it allows for actual planning. ## Redefining the Legacy of a Donor Legacy is often confused with longevity. We think if we build something in stone, it lasts. But true legacy is living. It is the actor who finally got their Equity card because a grant covered their fees. It is the producer who successfully navigated [capitalization](/glossary/broadway-show-capitalization) because they had a mentor who was funded to teach them. When we invest in people, our legacy is carried forward in every performance they give and every story they tell. In my book and my work as a [keynote speaker on creative partnership](/l/keynote-speaker-on-creative-partnership-producer-approach), I emphasize that the most successful productions are built on trust and mutual support. Philanthropy should be no different. It is a partnership between the donor and the artist, aimed at making the impossible possible. By moving the needle toward individual support, we ensure that the stage remains a place of vibrant, diverse, and sustainable storytelling for generations to come. Frequently asked ## Questions about this piece ### What is impactful arts philanthropy? ### How do I start a theater scholarship fund? ### Why is funding people better than funding theater buildings? SG Written by Sue Gilad Grammy & five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, author, editor, and arts-education advocate. [More about Sue](/about) · [Contact the office](/contact). Related reading ## More notes from the wings [ Philanthropy ### Establishing a Theater Scholarship Fund: A Donor Guide Transitioning from individual donations to establishing a theater scholarship fund requires moving from reactive giving to a structured, sustainable model for arts equity. September 6, 2026· 8 min read ](/notes/establishing-a-theater-scholarship-fund)[ Philanthropy ### Funding Performing Arts Scholarships: A Donor’s Guide Traditional arts funding often prioritizes brick-and-mortar legacy over the immediate needs of the artist. Learn how to structure scholarships that fund people, not buildings. August 20, 2026· 8 min read ](/notes/funding-performing-arts-scholarships-direct-model)[ 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) [← Back to all notes](/notes) Suzanne Gilad Grammy & five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, author, editor, speaker, and arts-education advocate. 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