About the Foundation

The Shen Family Foundation, through The Ted & Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund, supports exceptionally gifted and original composers and choreographers creating new works in musical theater and ballet. Our mission is to foster high artistic aspiration and innovation—advancing these vital art forms through distinctive new creations that expand their boundaries and deepen their cultural impact.

Over many decades, we have been inspired by the transformative legacies of Stephen Sondheim and George Balanchine, whose visionary work reshaped their respective art forms. Since 2001, we have sought to identify and support the next generation of artists who have both the talent and commitment to create musical scores and choreography that push artistic boundaries. In musical theater especially, we champion distinctive music–writing marked by individuality and harmonic complexity, countering the commercial pressures for generic, derivative scores that rely on mass appeal rather than originality.

Grant Recipients

The Foundation makes grants exclusively to nonprofit arts organizations for commissioning, developing, and producing new work. A complete listing of recipients is available in the tabs that follow.

Musical Theater
We have provided lead or major funding for approximately 150 productions and cast recordings—including 45 projects for Stephen Sondheim and 27 projects for Michael John LaChiusa. These figures exclude separate grants for readings and workshops.

Beyond individual productions, we have funded major initiatives including the Shen Musical Theater Curriculum at Yale University (established 2006); commissioning partnerships with Signature Theatre (American Musical Voices Project) in 2006 and The Public Theater (Musical Theater Initiative) in 2008; the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts' 2025 exhibition on the history of Black musical theater; and the 2024–26 We Shall Someday Project, which has harnessed musical theater narrative to catalyze social discourse and activism that engage community-building, education, and the arts—specifically exploring the musical's story about the 1961 Freedom Riders and three generations of a Black family's pursuit of racial justice.

Ballet
We have provided major funding for new choreography, primarily through New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, with particular emphasis on the works of Alexei Ratmansky (18 works) and Justin Peck (12 works), as well as through other commissioning sources.

In addition, we support Suzanne Farrell's dedication to preserving and championing the genius of George Balanchine—through the Balanchine repertory of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet Company at Kennedy Center (2001–2017); her ongoing engagement at New York City Ballet staging and coaching selected Balanchine ballets; and her forthcoming documentary film, The Balanchine Couple, currently in production.

We also provide funding for the ABT Studio Company, which attracts top international talent and is uniquely committed to teaching the highest standards of classical technique and artistry while actively engaging dancers with new choreography and its collaborative creative process.

Grant Guidelines and Restrictions

• As a private foundation, The Shen Family Foundation can make grants only to entities that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
• Grants cannot be made directly to individuals.
• Grants are focused on funding the development and production of specific musical theater and ballet works.
• Grants may also support selected projects that align with our mission, but are not available for general operations, galas, or other fundraising events.
• The Foundation does not have a formal application process and may not be able to respond to unsolicited grant requests.