Broadway tickets aren't cheap, and not every fan can get to New York. The good news is that seeing a show is only one way to support Broadway. Theatre runs on a whole community of workers, nonprofits and audiences, and there are plenty of ways to help it thrive without buying a ticket. Here's how.
The most direct way to support the people who make Broadway is to give to the charities that serve them. Some help out-of-work actors, musicians and crew. Others bring students to their first show, develop new writers or green the industry. Our guide to Broadway charities and nonprofits lists the major organizations by cause, and our post on how to choose a Broadway charity explains what to check before you give.
Giving Tuesday falls on December 1 this year. Many theatre nonprofits run matching campaigns that day, which can double the impact of your gift. If your employer offers a matching gift program, that can multiply it again.
Each fall and spring, cast members at Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring shows collect donations in red buckets for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. If you're seeing a show anyway, even locally on tour, a few dollars in the bucket goes a long way.
Many of Broadway's best fundraisers are open to fans, and some are free to attend. Broadway Barks in Shubert Alley is free, and at the Broadway Flea Market you can browse tables of memorabilia without bidding on anything. See our Broadway charity events calendar for dates.
Many Broadway shows start at nonprofit theatres, in New York and across the country. Subscribing to your local regional theatre, donating to it or volunteering as an usher supports the pipeline that feeds Broadway. Read more in our post on nonprofit theatres on Broadway.
Many theatre nonprofits rely on volunteers for events, mailings and outreach. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, for example, uses volunteers at its big events. Smaller organizations often welcome help with marketing, writing or event planning.
The Broadway Green Alliance runs reuse and recycling drives for textiles and other materials, keeping them out of landfills. Check its website for upcoming drives.
Word of mouth is still one of the most powerful forces in theatre. Posting about a show you loved, recommending a cast album, or sharing a theatre nonprofit's campaign costs nothing and helps a lot.
Public arts funding, school arts programs and the policies that affect theatre workers are all shaped by elected officials. Registering to vote, staying informed and voting in every election, including local ones, is one of the most lasting ways to support the arts. Broadway for Democracy helps the theatre community do exactly that, and we never tell anyone how to vote.
We're a new Broadway nonprofit, and every gift helps us build voter education events, our Leading Ladies series and programs that bring theatre audiences into civic life. Give this Giving Tuesday.
Donate to a Broadway charity, volunteer, attend free events like Broadway Barks, support your local nonprofit theatre, and share the shows you love.
Donations collected in red buckets at participating shows go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Yes. Most Broadway charities accept donations online, many events are livestreamed, and touring productions take part in red-bucket appeals.
Giving Tuesday 2026 is Tuesday, December 1.
