SOBRE LAS SUBVENCIONES “PAGA A TU GENTE” (PAY YOUR PEOPLE GRANTS):
Las subvenciones Pay Your People son de $1,000 y están destinadas a compañías o colectivos de teatro independiente y espacios (venues) con base en la ciudad de Nueva York. El propósito es compensar a artistas o líderes históricamente excluidos por su trabajo artístico, administrativo o de liderazgo dentro de sus espacios o producciones.

En el caso de los espacios, los fondos pueden utilizarse para subvencionar el alquiler de un artista que use su espacio o para pagar directamente a artistas o personal administrativo.
Por favor, tenga en cuenta que, aunque todas las subvenciones se llaman Pay Your People, se mantendrán dos grupos de selección separados: uno para espacios y otro para compañías/colectivos.

SOBRE EL “BIG GIVE”:

Marque su calendario: The Big Give será el 4 de diciembre.
The Big Give es nuestro evento anual de entrega de subvenciones y una oportunidad para conocer a más miembros de nuestra comunidad y generar nuevas conexiones.
Como parte del liderazgo de su organización, le animamos a asistir, traer a otros miembros de su equipo o junta directiva e invitar a amistades. Es una noche maravillosa con comida y bebida gratuitas.
El evento presencial tendrá lugar en Judson Memorial Church y también habrá una versión virtual a través de Zoom.

Confirme su asistencia (RSVP) aqui.
Alguien de su organización debe estar presente en The Big Give (ya sea en persona o por Zoom) para recibir la subvención si su nombre es seleccionado en el sorteo.

Usted es elegible si:

• Es una compañía o colectivo de teatro independiente con base en la ciudad de Nueva York, una producción con patrocinio fiscal o un espacio (venue) con 99 asientos o menos.
  
   
• Puede comprometerse a usar los fondos para pagar a artistas o líderes de color y/o a personas históricamente excluidas del financiamiento debido a su identidad o expresión de género, orientación sexual, discapacidad, desventaja económica, estatus migratorio/refugiado u otras razones que usted defina.
  
   
• Planea producir al menos una obra, lectura o taller entre diciembre de 2025 y diciembre de 2026.
  
   
• Tiene una cuenta bancaria a nombre de su organización o cuenta con un patrocinador fiscal que pueda recibir los fondos. NO se emitirán cheques a personas individuales.
  
   

No es elegible si:

• Si usted es un espacio que recibió la subvención “The Little Venue That Could” en 2025, no puede aplicar a Pay Your People este año.
  
   
• Si recibió una subvención Pay Your People en 2024, no puede aplicar este año. Las organizaciones no pueden recibir esta subvención dos años seguidos. Podrá volver a aplicar en 2026.
  
   

PROCESO DE SOLICITUD:
Para solicitar los fondos, debe completar la solicitud a continuación y confirmar su asistencia (RSVP) para The Big Give.

Antes de enviar su solicitud, tenga en cuenta:

• Solo se debe enviar una solicitud por espacio/compañía/colectivo.
  
   
• Esta solicitud le pedirá subir una foto de su espacio o de un ensayo/presentación para usarla en la presentación de The Big Give o materiales promocionales. Al subirla, usted otorga permiso a IndieSpace para incluirla en la presentación, donde podría aparecer en fotos o videos del evento utilizados posteriormente con fines de comunicación.
  
   

EL PROCESO TIENE TRES PASOS:

1. LEA TODA ESTA INFORMACIÓN: Ya está haciendo este paso. Asegúrese de considerar todo antes de aplicar. Si tiene preguntas, puede escribirnos; estamos felices de ayudar.
   
    
2. LLENE LA SOLICITUD: Para ser considerado y entrar en el sorteo, debe completar la solicitud a través de Submittable. Usted o alguien de su organización debe estar presente (en persona o por Zoom) en The Big Give para recibir la subvención si su nombre es seleccionado. El evento será el 4 de diciembre a las 7pm.
   
    
3. CONFIRME SU ASISTENCIA A THE BIG GIVE: Debe registrarse en EventBrite antes de enviar la solicitud.
   Aunque solo se necesita una solicitud por organización, pedimos que cada persona que asistirá al evento se registre individualmente. Incluso si no solicita la subvención, puede asistir; mientras más, mejor.
   
    

Si tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda para completar la solicitud por teléfono, puede escribirnos a hello@indiespace.org.

CRONOGRAMA DEL PROCESO:

• 14 de octubre: Se abre la solicitud 12:00 am
• 11 de noviembre: Cierra la solicitud 11:59 pm
• 12 al 21 de noviembre: El personal y la Junta de IndieSpace revisan las solicitudes para verificar elegibilidad.
• 24 de noviembre: Se notificará a los solicitantes sobre su estatus. Si no recibe un correo antes del 24 de noviembre, comuníquese con nosotros.
• 4 de diciembre: Evento The Big Give en Judson Memorial Church y por Zoom.
  
   

PROCESO DE PAGO:
Los solicitantes elegibles entrarán en el sorteo en vivo durante The Big Give el 4 de diciembre.
Los cheques se entregarán esa misma noche; también existe la opción de PayPal.
Para quienes participen virtualmente, el equipo de IndieSpace se pondrá en contacto para coordinar el pago por PayPal, ACH o cheque.

Los pagos se harán a nombre de las organizaciones, espacios o patrocinadores fiscales, nunca a individuos.

Debe tener una cuenta bancaria a nombre de la organización o trabajar con un patrocinador fiscal que pueda recibir los fondos.

Es muy importante que usted o alguien que represente su organización esté presente (en persona o por Zoom) durante el sorteo para reclamar la subvención.
Solo se puede representar una organización por persona. Si el nombre se llama tres veces y nadie responde, se seleccionará a otra organización.Los cheques se entregarán esa noche y ¡estarán listos para pagar a sus artistas y líderes!

NOTA IMPORTANTE:
No se sienta obligado a dedicar demasiado tiempo a esta solicitud. No es una prueba. Queremos facilitar el proceso, no hacerlo más difícil. Puede escribir respuestas breves o reutilizar texto de otras propuestas. Solo buscamos confirmar que está produciendo activamente y que usará los fondos según el propósito del programa: pagar a artistas y líderes de color o a personas que aportan perspectivas subrepresentadas en nuestra comunidad.No se evaluará el estilo narrativo de sus respuestas.

ABOUT THE PAY YOUR PEOPLE GRANTS:

The Pay Your People Grants are $1,000 for NYC-based indie theater companies/collectives, and venues to compensate historically excluded artists or leadership for working in, administering, or performing in their spaces and/or productions. For venues, you can use these funds to subsidize a rental from an artist in your venue or to pay performers or administration directly.

Please note that while all of these grants are being called “Pay Your People” grants, we will still maintain separate drawing pools for venues and companies/collectives.

ABOUT THE BIG GIVE:

Mark your calendar now: The Big Give is December 4! The Big Give is our annual grant giving event and creates an opportunity for all of us to get to know more members of our community, and maybe even make some productive connections. As leadership in your org, consider coming to the event yourself, bringing other company and board members, and bringing friends. It’s always an awesome night, with free food and drink provided. The in-person event will take place at Judson Memorial Church and the virtual party will take place via Zoom.

RSVP here. 

Someone from your organization must be present at The Big Give (in person or on Zoom) to receive a grant, if you are pulled from the lottery.
 

You are eligible if:

• You ARE a NYC-based indie theater company, fiscally sponsored collective/production, OR indie theater venue (venues with 99 seats or less).
• You CAN COMMIT to using the grant to pay artists or leaders of color and/or artists or leaders who have been historically and currently excluded from funding based on gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, disability, economic disadvantage, refugee/immigration status or for other reasons you define.
• You ARE planning to produce at least one show, reading, or workshop in the 12 months following The Big Give (December 2025 to December 2026).
• You HAVE a bank account in your organization's name or have a fiscal sponsor to receive funds. Checks will NOT be written to individuals.

You are NOT eligible if:

• **If you are a venue that RECEIVED the Little Venue that Could grant in 2025, you ARE NOT eligible to apply for a Pay Your People Grant this year.
• **If you received a Pay Your People Grant in 2024, you ARE NOT eligible to apply for the Pay Your People Grant this year. Organizations/Companies/Collectives can not receive this grant two years in a row. If you received a grant in 2024, you are eligible to apply again for Pay Your People in 2026.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

To apply for funds, please complete the application below AND RSVP for The Big Give.

Before submitting your application, please note:

• Only one application for the Pay Your People Grant should be filled out per venue/company/collective.
• This application will ask you to upload a performance/rehearsal or venue photo to be used in a slideshow at The Big Give event or in marketing materials. By uploading this photo, you give IndieSpace permission to use it in the slideshow at The Big Give, where it may also be captured in the background of photos or video taken that evening to be used in future marketing.

THIS PROCESS HAS THREE STEPS:

1. READ ALL OF THIS INFO - You are already doing this one! Be sure to consider everything in these guidelines before applying and ask questions if you have them! We are happy to answer them.
2. FILL OUT THE APPLICATION: To be considered for the Pay Your People Grant and entered into the lottery, you must complete the application through Submittable. And you or someone from your org/collective must be present (in person or on Zoom) at The Big Give to receive a grant if you are pulled in the lottery. The Big Give will be on December 4 at 7pm.
3. RSVP TO THE BIG GIVE - You must RSVP for The Big Give on EventBrite PRIOR to submitting the application. Register HERE.  While only one grant application must be filled out per venue/company/collective, we ask that each person who will be attending The Big Give party RSVPs individually - share the RSVP link with others. You are welcome and encouraged to attend The Big Give party even if you are not applying for a grant. The more the merrier!

 
If you have any questions about the application or need assistance completing the application via phone, please reach out to our staff by emailing hello@indiespace.org.

APPLICATION CYCLE:

Eligible applicants will be entered into the live grant drawing that will occur at our hybrid The Big Give event on December 4. Checks will be written and given out at the event that evening; PayPal is also possible, if preferred. For those who attend the event virtually, IndieSpace staff will reach out to you and arrange payment either via PayPal, ACHor check.

Payments will be made to companies, venues, or fiscal sponsors, not directly to individuals.

You must have a bank account set up in the name of the company or venue that is accepting the grant check or be working with a fiscal sponsor that can receive the funds.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT you or a colleague representing your company or venue is present, either in-person or virtually, when the names are pulled to claim and receive one of the $1,000 grants. You may only represent ONE company at the event. Names will be called three times. If someone is not present to respond, we will pull another organization’s name for that grant. Checks will be cut that night and you’ll be on your way to paying artists and leaders! 

October 14 - Application Opens at 12:00am

November 11 - Application Closes at 11:59pm

November 12 - November 21 - Applications are reviewed by the IndieSpace staff and Board for eligibility only

November 24 - Applicants are notified of their application status and eligibility. If you do not receive an email regarding your eligibility by November 24, please contact us at hello@indiespace.org. 

December 4 - THE BIG GIVE event at the Judson Memorial Church & on Zoom!

PAYMENT PROCESS:

Eligible applicants will be entered into the live grant drawing that will occur at our hybrid The Big Give event on December 4. Checks will be written and given out at the event that evening; PayPal is also possible, if preferred. For those who attend the event virtually, IndieSpace staff will reach out to you and arrange payment either via PayPal, ACH, Zelle, or check.

Checks will be cut to companies, venues, or fiscal sponsors, not directly to individuals.

You must have a bank account set up in the name of the company or venue that is accepting the grant check or be working with a fiscal sponsor that can receive the funds.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT you or a colleague representing your company or venue is present, either in-person or virtually, when the names are pulled to claim and receive one of the $1,000 grants. You may only represent ONE company at the event. Names will be called three times. If someone is not present to respond, we will pull another organization’s name for that grant. Checks will be cut that night, and you’ll be on your way to paying artists and leaders!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Do not feel obligated to spend a tremendous amount of time on this application. This is not a trick. We do not want to further tax your limited resources. Feel free to write very short descriptions, even one sentence, or to copy language from other grant proposals. We ask questions primarily to verify that you are actively producing and that you commit to using funds as we intend them to be used, including to pay artists or leaders of color and/or artists or leaders who bring an underrepresented perspective to our community through gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, economic disadvantage, refugee/immigration status or other reasons you define. Your narrative is not otherwise being judged in any way.

There is no required reporting for this grant. You may be asked for a testimonial on the impact of this grant at the end of the grant period.

About This Grant:

As part of our Community Resource Program, the Indie Theater Fund has opened an Emergency Mental Health fund that will be awarding individuals $500 micro grants for indie theater makers to use toward therapy, medication, meditation classes, and any other mental health related costs. It is our hope that by providing this financial resource, we can help remove barriers that prevent artists from seeking and receiving the care, support, and information they need to care for their mental health. 

Who is Eligible?:

This application is open to any NYC-based Indie theater artist in need of mental health funds, even if you have previously been awarded this grant. Anyone and everyone is welcome to apply, but funds will be prioritized to BIPOC, Trans/Non-Binary, disabled, and immigrant artists.

Application Process: 

To apply for funds, please complete the application below. This application should take you 10 minutes or less to complete. If you have any questions about the application or need assistance completing the application via phone, please reach out to our Programs Manager at veshonte@indiespace.org

Payment Process:

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by our staff on the last Monday of each month. You will receive a notification of your application status by the Wednesday of that review week. Eligible applicants will then be entered into that month's lottery*, with priority* being given to BIPOC, Trans/Non-Binary, disabled, and immigrant artists. Priority will also be given to applicants who have not been awarded with a previous Mental Health Microgrant.

Any eligible applicant whose number was not pulled will roll over into the next month's lottery. This process will continue each month until all applicants have received a grant. A max of $10,000 will be given out each month.

Randi and I are continuously working hard to advocate for and grow our new Mental Health initiative. Our goal is to be able to serve every artist in need of this funding, and though it may take time, we will continue to raise and allocate funds in order to do so. 

Please note that if you are an individual who has already received funding from us in 2023, you will be prompted to upload a W-9 into your application in order to receive funds again. If you need a blank copy of a W-9, you can download one here.

*We will be using the Random Picker software to run our grant lotteries. Screen recordings of each lottery will be made and are available to review by request. 

*Priority is given via a weighted lottery system. All applicants who identify as BIPOC, Trans/Non-Binary, disabled, and/or immigrant artists will be given a weight of 2. An additional point will be given to those who have not received Mental Health previously.  

*Starting with the January 2024 lottery, applicants will be able to receive the Mental Health grant no more than twice in a calendar year. Once you have received it twice, any subsequent applications will be declined. 

About The Emergency Grant:
The IndieSpace Emergency Fund provides grants to arts organizations who have experienced a sudden loss or unforeseen circumstance that will impact their ability to move forward with a production (i.e. broken equipment, an ill artist etc.) Emergency Grants are not available to fill a gap in your fundraising efforts.

Grants will occasionally be provided to individuals facing a hardship that doesn't fall within one of our other grant programs for individuals.

About the Loan Program:

The IndieSpace Loan Program is meant for those with emergencies that are temporary and where funds are anticipated. We are happy to offer loans with 0% interest and flexible repayment terms to be determined together. 

Who is Eligible?:
This application is open to any NYC-based Indie theater company or venue. Indie theater venues are considered theaters or performance spaces with 99 seats or less. Emergency grants are given on a rolling basis, however, we do prioritize funding to companies or venues that are BIPOC, Trans & Non-Binary, Immigrant, and/or Disabled/Deaf run and operated. Individuals may also apply for funds, but they are limited and are only given on a case by case basis.

Application Process:
To apply for funds, please complete the application below. We hope this application will not take a long time to complete. Please note that this application will require some documentation uploading as support to your application. Please have any of the following ready and on hand to submit, if applicable: insurance claim, production or operating budget, photos of space or production damage, etc.  

If you have any questions about the application or need assistance completing the application via phone, please reach out to our Executive Director, Randi Berry, at randi@indiespace.org.

Payment Process:

• Applications will be accepted and reviewed by our staff and board within 24hrs of receipt. We aim to respond with application status update by email and/or payment details within 2 days of your submission. Funds will be paid out via PayPal or check depending on what you selected in your application. Zelle and ACH are also an option that can be discussed via email once the grant is approved.

Additional Info:

• We can not guarantee a payout of the full amount requested in your application. Grants may equal up to 25% of the total in the Emergency Fund pool at the time of the application.
• Grants can not be made to an organization to fill shortfalls in organizational budgets or fundraising as this is an unfortunate circumstance that many in our community are facing and we do not have the resources to support everyone in this way. If you are unsure or have questions about the emergency you are facing and want to discuss eligibility, please email randi@indiespace.org