This holiday season, please consider making a donation to Theatre for Young Audiences/USA during our "16 Days of Why TYA?" annual appeal campaign, running December 3rd to 18th!

Theatre for Young Audiences/USA is the leading national organization for the professional field of theatre for children and families. Our mission is to promote the power of professional theatre for young audiences through excellence, collaboration, and innovation across cultural and international boundaries.

We represent over 1,450 member theatres, organizations, and individual artists across 47 states. Dedicated to ensuring that all young people have access to high-quality theatre, We serve the entire field through programming, leadership development, research, and advocacy.

We are fundraising now to support our organization’s growth in the following areas:

Programming: Hosted by Kennedy Center, the 2025 TYA/USA Festival & Conference will invite theatremakers from across the world to gather for a joyful celebration of TYA/USA’s 60th anniversary, as we engage in artistic exchange, meaningful dialogue, and advocacy for the future of our industry. The all-ages festival will present ten shows, and the Conference will feature Breakout Sessions facilitated by dozens of TYA industry leaders, and a brand new Working Group to advance and diversify scholarship and publications that measure the impact of theatre programming. TYA/USA will also host a one-day Leadership Summit in partnership with Childrens Theatre Foundation of America, with separate tracks for Emerging Leaders and Existing Leaders.

Leadership Development: In 2024, we relaunched our prestigious Emerging Leader Fellowship Program which offered research and travel support to a cohort of three Emerging Leaders to visit arts organizations in Honolulu, HI; Chicago, IL; and Tulsa, OK. These fellowships offer valuable opportunities for growth, discovery, and exchange to emerging leaders in the field. We seek to continue this dynamic program in 2025.

Research and Advocacy: TYA/USA leads research projects to provide our industry with data in order to better understand the national landscape, analyze trends, track progress, and highlight ways the field can expand impact. This year, we are proud to partner with researcher Matt Omasta to publish a 2024 State of the Field report. We aim to provide our members with groundbreaking research to enhance their own fundraising efforts.

Your generous partnership during our “16 Days of Why TYA?” campaign will be invaluable in moving TYA/USA forward next year.

TYA/USA is a 501(c)3 organization. Your donation will be tax-deductible.

TYA/USA Annual Appeal 2024