National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency, established by the US Congress to support and fund the arts and creative thinking. The Endowment has existed for over fifty years and provides grants to artists of many styles, including dance and choreography, with funding available for organizations and specific projects. Much of their funding is donation based. They also fund the regional arts organizations (NEFA, MAAF, South Arts, Arts Midwest, MAAA, and WESTAF).

The Jerome Robbins Foundation is a foundation created by the late Jerome Robbins initially to help performing artists, specifically those in theater and dance. During the AIDS crises, funding went almost completely to that cause, but now has returned to being directed back to performing arts. They offer competitive funding, with only invitational consideration and continued funding for projects already supported.

http://jeromerobbins.org/foundation

National Dance Project is the dance division of the New England Foundation for the Arts (which specifically serves CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT).  The National Dance Project offers specific funding solely to dance projects and focuses on the multiple steps of dance performance, such as touring and production. Their funding also can be related to residencies and international exchanges.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is a charitable foundation promoting the growth of arts and humanities in communities and education. Among their program are grants and funding, including the 2014 total grantmaking of about $232 million. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded almost $6 billion in grants, to projects across the globe.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation supports various art discipline with grants and funding, from the Mid-Atlantic region (VA, WV, PA, NY, NJ, MD, DE, DC, and the Virgin Island). Through their ArtsCONNECT program their support dance organizations trying to developing more last and permanent relationships between artists and their native communities. They offer tour support and matching grants, among other support. Another specific program provided by MAAF is USArtists International, which allocates grant funds to touring and travel needs, among other production costs.

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation supports and gives grants to not only artistic endeavors, but also to environmental conservation, child health causes, and medical research. The Foundation’s Arts Program gives grants to contemporary dance organizations, among other disciplines. Since its first awards it has given more than $1.3 billion in grants.

The Wallace Foundation offers support for youth education and the arts. The Foundation is entering its third decade as a well-known donor and supporter of the arts in communities. They also have many smaller sub-programs and funds that can be found and allotted for specific projects.

The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and works to promote artistic development in the greater Philadelphia area. In close partnership with The University of the Arts, the Center gives grant aid to projects in Performance or Exhibitions. They also have tiers of grant awards, some for emerging artists, and some for proven ones.

South Arts is a geographically awarded grant supplier that works to promote the arts and heritage of the South. They serve the South, including: TN, KY, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, and LA. Their grants can be used for a variety of purposes, most prominently touring, including a specific Dance Touring Initiative.

Mid America Arts Alliance awards funding and grants to arts providers, including dancers and choreographers within their geographic borders, allowing them to present their work on a more national and global platform, focusing mostly on touring support and community engagement. Their region contains: AR, KS, MO, NE, OK, and TX. Their programs reach over 300 communities each year.

Knight Foundation is a charitable foundation that supports integration of arts and other culture into communities. With resident communities in eight states, and nonresident communities in eight more, the Foundation has a wide reaching national presence and access to grants.

Arts Midwest is a regional arts organization encompassing the states of the Midwest (ND, SD, IN, IL, IA, MI, MN, OH, and WI) and beyond. Through more than twelve separate programs, Arts Midwest integrates the communities within their jurisdiction with each other and with communities on the other side of the globe. Their funding reaches a wide spread audience of over one million people annually.

Western State Arts Federation is the regional arts organization responsible for the western states of the US (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, and WY). Their competitive grants that are accessible to dancers and choreographers are in their extensive TourWest program. Their funding therefore also tend to focus on production and touring aid.

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, was founded in 1945 along with the United Nations, to give solidarity and stability to education and research within the global community. Their work is mostly focused on cultural heritage and maintaining that, with their role as the “intellectual” UN body. Funding is traditionally given for cultural preservation of customs and traditions.