The Big Give - December 4, 2025
The Big Give is IndieSpace's annual event, celebrating indie theater where we award grants to indie theater companies, fiscally sponsored collectives/productions, and indie theater venues.
We have created this joyous event so you can reconnect and socialize with your fellow indie theater makers, celebrate and honor the amazing work, artistry, and love in the indie theater community, AND so we can distribute $1,000 Pay Your People grants! We really hope you can join us!
The in-person celebration will take place at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square S, New York, NY 10012.
The virtual celebration will take place via Zoom.
Please note: There is additional logistics information about The Big Give below the Pay Your People section!
Pay Your People Grants
We’ll hold a lottery for the Pay Your People Grants at The Big Give.
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.
Application Cycle
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 and on Zoom!
Who Is Eligible?
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.
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.
Application Process
To apply for funds, please complete the application AND RSVP for The Big Give.
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
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.
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.
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!
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, or 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!
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.
Do you have additional questions?
We love additional questions! Be in touch with us anywhere down the line if you have any questions at all. We are here! We will be offering technical assistance throughout the application period. If you need any help filling out the application, please email hello@indiespace.org
The Big Give - Additional Details
Join us on December 4, as we give away “Pay Your People” $1,000 grants to deserving indie theater companies, collectives, and venues.
Below is additional information about The Big Give. If you have a question and it’s not answered here, please reach out to us. You can send us a note at hello@indiespace.org.
Please note: you are welcome to attend The Big Give party even if you are not applying for a grant.
Virtual Zoom Event
We’re excited to continue to offer a Zoom option for those that cannot join in person.
The Zoom link will be sent in the week before the event.
The Zoom Event will open before the event starts for people to gather, network, and connect.
In-Person Event at Judson Memorial Church
The in-person event will take place at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, Manhattan, NY 10012
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/q4NhgWwWQjVbHnNq7
How to RSVP
Everyone is welcome to join us at The Big Give, regardless of whether you are applying for our grants or not.
You will have the option to participate in The Big Give in whichever way feels the most comfortable, either in person or online.
When making your "ticket" selections on the next page, you will be able to decide how you will attend the event. Please note that it is important that you register for the event INDIVIDUALLY, NOT AS A COMPANY.
The order form will only allow you to reserve up to ONE ticket. Please have everyone in your company, family, or party fill out their own registration on Eventbrite. Due to the hybrid nature of this event, we can more easily track who will be attending from each location and who will be representing each company/venue. This information is crucial for us to set up the event spaces effectively and will also help streamline our grant-giving process.
While this event is free to attend, we do offer the opportunity to make a donation as you RSVP that will help us cover the cost of this event (food, drinks, staff).
Please remember that if you have applied or are applying for one of our Pay Your People grants, you or someone from your company MUST BE PRESENT AT THE BIG GIVE EVENT ON DECEMBER 4 TO RECEIVE A GRANT (in person or virtually). So, mark your calendars accordingly!
Location For In-Person Event:
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South,
Manhattan, NY 10012
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/q4NhgWwWQjVbHnNq7
A, C, E, B, D, F, and M trains are 0.2 miles away using the W 4 St. Washington Square MTA Stop
N, Q, R, and W trains are 0.3 miles away using the 8 St-NYU MTA Stop
The 1 Train is 0.3 miles away using the Christopher St-Stonewall MTA Stop
4 and 6 trains are 0.4 miles away using the Astor Place MTA Stop
The L train is 0.6 miles away using the 14 St - Union Sq MTA Stop
Many bus lines that pass near Judson Memorial Church
Accessibility For In-Person Event
The main entrance to the venue is located at 55 Washington Square South through the large double doors. There is one flight of stairs to get to the event space.
ADA Access ONLY: There is a different entrance for ADA and wheelchair access. This entrance will lead to an elevator. Please indicate during the RSVP process if you may require the ADA- and wheelchair-accessible entrance.
The venue has two unisex multi-stall bathrooms and two ADA-accessible bathrooms that are two floors below the event space.
ASL interpretation will be provided for both the in-person and virtual events. ASL Interpretation will be provided by Inclusive Communication Services.
Service animals are allowed in the venue.
Chairs and tables will be set up throughout the venue. This is often an event with standing room. There will be enough chairs to accommodate anyone who would like one. Chairs are armless.
Food and beverages will be served during the in-person event. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options will be available.
COVID-19 Compliance
Masks are optional, though we highly encourage their use when not eating or drinking.
Please take a Covid test before coming to the in-person event, stay home, and join us on Zoom if you aren't feeling well.
Activities and Entertainment at Judson Memorial Church
This year, we’ll have a small collective altar installation to honor what we’ve lost, but even more importantly, to celebrate what we continue to do, to wish for, and to renew.
This altar will hold messages of prosperity and renewal written by our community, as we release what no longer serves and reset together in collective abundance.
We encourage you to bring something to leave on the altar to honor something you've lost over the last year or to represent something you would like to come in 2026.
Bring a photo, a note, or a wish, or even write your reflection at the event if you prefer. This is an opportunity for collective creation!
Do you have additional questions?
Great! Please send us a note at hello@indiespace.org and we’re happy to answer it!
The Big Give and Pay Your People Sponsors
The Pay Your People grants are made possible, in part, by contributions from our sponsors! We are honored that these organizations support our work and the indie theater community.
Our special thanks to the Howard Gilman Foundation for their support of IndieSpace and The Big Give.
Our sponsors include:
We are so happy that they choose to support this joyous event and understand the importance of indie theater and the artists who make our community thrive.
Are you interested in sponsorship? Let us know. Send a note to joel@indiespace.org.
Images From Prior Events
