Why give?
Throughout time, playwrights have substantially influenced public attitudes and often set precedents for major societal shifts. They help change the way we think, feel, and empathize with each other. Playwrights Foundation is dedicated to raising up diverse emerging playwrights who are on the forefront of our culture. They are a new generation of storytellers who are creating change.
Studies have shown that playwrights are generally among the lowest-paid artists in the field, and that playwrights of color, women-identified, LGBTQIA, and other marginalized communities are at the very bottom of that pyramid with fewer opportunities presented to them. Playwrights Foundation is committed to bridging this gap by giving opportunities to those who are changing the landscape.
Can you give today?
Your Impact
“I wouldn’t have pursued playwriting if PF hadn’t chosen my first play for BAPF in 2005. I was a poet who wrote a play and when PF chose it, it sent me on a trajectory towards a career as a playwright. PF was the first to believe in me and support my development as a playwright.”
“Playwrights Foundation was the first support I had as a writer just out of college, and became an immediate artistic home when I moved to the Bay Area. More than 10 years later, I’m still working with many of the artists I met through PF.”
“Participating in PF’s Resident Playwrights Initiative gave me the necessary tools to start my career as a writer. I was offered strategic planning, development opportunities, mentorship, and a cohort of other playwrights.”
“Through all of my involvements of PF, there has been enthusiasm and support and a sense of listening and responding to playwright needs. As an alumni there is a real sense of support for local artists.”
Playwrights Foundation has served over 550 emerging playwrights, and our alumni have gone on to win every award in the theatre — Pulitzers, Obies, Tonys, and more.
Demographically, our network is approximately 55% women-identified, 48% POC, and 25% LGBTQIA. In the past two years, our playwrights were 58% female, 54% POC, and 15% LGBTQIA.
Over 75% percent of our Bay Area Playwrights Festival playwrights go on to be produced and/or commissioned by new play producers.
Many Bay Area theaters have presented work by Playwrights Foundation’s network of playwrights including Patricia Cotter at SF Playhouse, Geetha Reddy at the Ubuntu Theatre, Yussef El Guindi and Betty Shamieh at Golden Thread, Min Kahng at Bay Area Children’s Theatre, Megan Cohen at Cutting Ball, Michael Gene Sullivan at SF Mime Troupe, Christina Anderson at Crowded Fire, Sheila Callaghan at Shotgun Players, Suzan-Lori Parks at Berkeley Rep, just to name a few.
Your gift helps change the theatre landscape by building a new generation of storytellers and bridging the gap from first draft to production.
Invest in a new generation.
Prefer to give by check?
Make it out to Playwrights Foundation, and send it to:
1616 16th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
Make your Amazon purchases give back!
Visit smile.amazon.com and select Playwrights Foundation as your charity of choice. Choose Amazon Smile when you shop, and a portion of everything you buy will be donated to PF!