Overview

The National Latinx Theater Initiative (NLTI) is a distinct program of the Los Angeles-based Latino Theater Company (LTCo). The LTCo serves as a champion for its artistic ensemble, staff, and community, and for the Latinx theater sector writ large.

Inspired by The Black Seed, a first-ever national strategic plan conceptualized and led by the Black theater field to create impact and thrivability for Black theater institutions, the National Latinx Theater Initiative is an unprecedented effort by the nation’s philanthropic community to deploy significant resources to the Latinx theater sector.

The Need for NLTI:

Culturally specific Latinx theater companies across the United States and Puerto Rico serve the fastest-growing demographic in the country, yet they continue to be systematically underfunded.

The Census Bureau estimates that there are roughly 6868 million Hispanics in the U.S. as of 2025, comprising nearly 20.5% 20.5% of the nation's population—both figures are new highs. The Pew Research Center estimates that by the year 2050, the U.S. population will be 29% Hispanic.

According to Spain's INE (National Statistics Institute), quarterly figures show the population at nearly 49.8 million, meaning the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population is nearly 20 million higher than in Spain.

In 2021, the most recent year for which both figures were available, only $117.1 million in funding support was awarded to all Latinx arts and culture nonprofits in the United States (https://latinxfunders.org/funding-trends/). (No statistics that focus specifically on Latinx theaters’ philanthropic funding could be found.)

This figure represents .033% of the total of $3.5 billion awarded by foundations to the arts and culture sector that year.

Yet despite the challenges of staying financially viable and operating on budgets of less than $3 million, approximately 169 Latinx theater companies have persevered and continue to serve their communities.

There has never been a more pressing moment for an initiative like NLTI to rally support for Latinx theater companies. Round 1 of the NLTI took place from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2026. It was the first time that prominent U.S. funders are banding together to address the perennial underfunding of a sector of the American theater that speaks directly to the “largest minority group in the country.”

Using a Peer-Review Panel process coupled with a second-tier review by a Subcommittee of the national Steering Committee and two funders, 52 Latinx theaters and ensembles representing a geographically diverse 12 states, four major cities (Chicago, Greater Miami, Los Angeles, and New York City), and Puerto Rico. Annual grants awarded totaled $3,178,000. All 52 grantees received three years of funding totaling $9,534,000.

Combined with programming support, such as webinars and local and national convenings, budgeted at $471,069 (4%), more than $10,300,000 have been provided to this vital group of grantees, for a combined total of direct support of 83%.

Of the $12,400,000 raised over the first three years of the initiative, $2,172,829 (17%) has been dedicated to program administration.

In 2023, according to a survey completed by the 52 grantees, a Total of 1,336,815 audience members were served: In-person count: 685,915; Online count: 650,900. Many grantees attributed the NLTI to increasing their capacity to serve their communities.

As we enter Round 2 of the NLTI (October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2031), we will build on the unmitigated success of Round 1, which, according to final reports from grantees, provided much-needed opportunities to stabilize theaters, compensate arts leaders, managers, actors, and other staff, add development and marketing positions, and take on new artistic projects. Additionally,

We have issued a new RFP to our database of about 170 Latinx theaters and ensembles. We intend for most of the 52 Round 1 grantees to transition to Round 2 because building stability and sustainability is our primary goal. However, we recognize that new voices in the field should be given a chance to join the cohort.