The Booth Ferris Foundation, established in 1957 by Willis H. Booth and his wife, Chancie Ferris Booth, aims to contribute to various charitable purposes. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated approximately $281 million to deserving organizations across different sectors.
The Booth Ferris Foundation focuses on supporting arts and culture organizations located in New York City, aiming to enhance the city's vibrancy and cultural richness. Eligible organizations include those involved in performing, presenting, arts education, intermediary, advocacy, public policy, and capacity-building activities. The Foundation offers support for capacity building with limited support for capital projects. Priority is given to organizations that demonstrate artistic excellence, engage diverse audiences, maintain an annual budget over $1 million, have a proven record of measurable outcomes, and show robust financial health from diverse funding sources. The grant supports activities that strengthen nonprofit infrastructure and sustainability, such as strategic planning, board development, financial management, and technology improvement. For capital support, projects must have met at least 50% of their fundraising goals to apply, with priority given to smaller-scale projects.