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Ngoma Center for Dance  ·  501(c)(3) Nonprofit  ·  Washington, DC

Support Our Work

Your investment sustains professional artists, keeps youth tuition affordable, and ensures that Black concert dance has a permanent institutional home in Washington, DC and beyond.

Donate Today
$2.8M
Raised in philanthropic support since 2012
14K+
Patrons and participants served across all programs
9
States reached — plus Canada and Kenya internationally
20
Years of DDT artistry & world premiere productions
See Our Work

Ngoma Impact

Watch how your support transforms lives through Black concert dance.

Watch the Ngoma Impact Story
Giving Levels

Become a Patron

Join our family of supporters with a named giving level. Each level includes special recognition and exclusive benefits.

Friend of DDT
Dance Enthusiast
$25–$99 / year

Start your journey as a DDT patron. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps our work accessible to all audiences.

Recognition in DDT season programs
Ngoma e-newsletter subscription
Invitations to community events
Become a Friend
Champion
Visionary
$500+ / year

Join our most distinguished circle of supporters. Champions sustain our most ambitious programs — world premieres, touring, and youth scholarships.

All Patron benefits
4 complimentary tickets to any DDT production
Exclusive post-show reception access
Personal meeting with Artistic Director Shawn Short
Contact Us
Beyond Online Giving

Other Ways to Give

Financial gifts are just one way to support Ngoma. We welcome a full range of support from our community.

Corporate Sponsorship

Align your brand with Washington, DC's most distinctive Black-led arts institution. Sponsorship packages are available for individual productions, the season, or specific programs including youth education and the DC Black Dance History project.

Inquire about sponsorship
In-Kind Giving

We gratefully accept in-kind donations of dance supplies, rehearsal space, equipment, professional services (legal, accounting, marketing), and technical production materials. Contact us to discuss what you have to offer.

Discuss in-kind support
Volunteer

Share your time and skills at performances, community events, and administrative projects. Volunteers are essential to our ability to present world-class dance while keeping ticket prices accessible.

Join our volunteer team
Planned Giving

Consider including Ngoma Center for Dance in your estate plan or planned giving strategy. A legacy gift ensures that the institution you believe in continues to serve artists and communities for generations to come.

Learn about legacy giving
School & Youth Scholarship

Sponsor a Ngoma School student's tuition for a semester or full year. Your scholarship gift directly funds dance training for a youth artist who otherwise could not access professional-level education.

Fund a scholarship
Matching Gifts

Many employers offer matching gift programs that can double or triple the impact of your donation. Check with your HR department to see if your company participates and help us maximize every dollar.

Check matching eligibility
Why It Matters

The Impact of Your Gift

Your donation does real, specific work. Here's what different giving levels make possible.

When you give to Ngoma, you're not writing a check to an institution. You're making it possible for a young dancer in DC to train at a professional level they couldn't afford otherwise.

Shawn Short, MFA  ·  Founding Artistic Director

DDT gave me the training, the stage, and the belief that a Black dancer from Washington, DC could perform on a world stage. That's what your support makes possible.

DDT Alumni  ·  Now Performing Internationally
Gift Amount Your Gift Funds
$25 Dance supplies and props for one youth student in The Ngoma School
$50 One professional artist stipend for a community outreach event, bringing DDT to schools and rec centers
$100 One rehearsal session for a professional DDT company member — keeping world-class dancers in the studio
$250 One week of Ngoma School tuition for a student who could not otherwise afford professional dance training
$500 Costumes and technical production elements for one work in a DDT world premiere performance
$1,000+ Full scholarship for one Ngoma School student, or co-sponsors a DDT performance at a regional venue
Common Questions

Giving FAQ

Yes. Ngoma Center for Dance is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. You will receive an email acknowledgment of your gift for your records.
Your gift directly supports Ngoma's programs — professional artist fees, youth education scholarships, production costs for world premiere performances, community outreach events, and institutional operations. We are committed to transparency; our annual reports are available upon request.
Yes. Monthly giving provides Ngoma with reliable, sustainable funding that allows for better program planning. You can set up a recurring gift through PayPal and cancel at any time. Monthly donors at any level receive our Artistic Patron recognition.
Please make checks payable to Ngoma Center for Dance and mail to our Washington, DC address. Contact us at info@ngcfddt.org for our current mailing address.
Please reach out directly to Shawn Short at info@ngcfddt.org or call 202-540-8338. We offer customized sponsorship packages for productions, programs, and the full season. Sponsorships include recognition across all materials, complimentary tickets, and personal acknowledgment from the Artistic Director.
Yes. Restricted gifts to specific programs (The Ngoma School, DC Black Dance History, youth scholarships) or productions are welcome. Please note your designation in the PayPal comments field, or contact us directly to arrange a restricted gift agreement.
Gratitude

Thank You to Our Supporters

Ngoma Center for Dance is made possible through the generous support of individuals, foundations, corporations, government agencies, and community partners.

Board of Directors
Dave Domzalski
Chairman  ·  President/Owner, Barmetrix Miami
Tyler Lewis
Vice Chairman  ·  Director, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Anthony Spivey, MBA
Treasurer  ·  DDT Artist, Educator
Shawn Short, MFA, PGC in Business
Founder / President
Jessica Potts, MA
Secretary  ·  PGCPS School Teacher / Former DDT Dancer / Alpha Kappa Alpha
Dr. Benjamin A. Dukes, Ph.D, LICSW, RDT, RYT
Member  ·  School Therapist
Anthony Hyman, M.Ed
Member  ·  VA School Teacher / Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Tony Thomas
Member  ·  Tony Thomas Designs
Quoc Tran, MBA
Member  ·  Theatre / Business Professional
Partnerships & Relations
  • Atlas Performing Arts Center
  • University of Maryland College Park
  • Joy of Motion Dance Center
  • Metro Weekly Magazine
  • Netflix
Government Support
  • DC Commission on Arts & Humanities
  • PG County Arts & Cultural Heritage
  • Maryland State Arts Council
  • DC Mayor's Office
  • US Air Force
Foundation Support
  • New York Foundation for the Arts
  • Eugene M. Lang Foundation
  • Carmax Foundation
  • Brite Funds Foundation
  • Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
Corporate Support
  • Actionsprout
  • Pearl Diver (New Zealand)
  • Facebook
  • Gilead
  • The Executive Leadership Council
  • American Psychological Association
Service Organizations
  • United Way of the National Capital
  • Intl Association of Blacks in Dance
  • DC Black Fund
Individual Donors
Edwin SortoIrene HoltzmanJames Bennett Brooke SullivanTisa HuffHannah Mills Lewis StewartKathleen ReynoldsMarkland Walker Kate ShugarGerald HaynesPatricia Hopkins Brian LeakeTarwah MerchantRenee Richard Thia DavisEllen EanetJulie Ferguson Queen Kumba SankohSean Noltey Shawn RawlsTaurean Barber Jack RobinsonMichelle ThompsonRichard Green Frances RobinsonCarol EguchiAngela Walker Heather SloaneEric CohenAlemu Shakar Natalie JohnsonBridget ReeseThomas Brown John WilliamsAnthony ThomasRick Fox Christian RichardsonChristine Motta Anonymous (×6)
We Need You

Help us dance forward.

DDT alumni: Complexions Contemporary Ballet · Phoenix Dance Theatre (UK) · Momix · UniverSoul Circus · Virginia Ballet Theatre · English National Ballet · and more. Every gift sustains the pipeline that gets them there.