Our Mission
The Saints volunteers happily supporting arts
organizations in Chicago since 1980.
"To support arts organizations (primarily not-for-profit) in Chicago and
nearby communities through volunteer and charitable services."
The Saints were founded with a two-part mission: providing volunteer services to performing arts organizations
and offering charitable financial support through grants. Over the past four decades, this dual approach has
made The Saints an indispensable resource for Chicago's cultural landscape. In 2024, the League of Chicago
Theatres honored The Saints with its prestigious Tribute Award, recognizing the organization's significant
impact on the theatre community — see Saints Honored with Tribute Award.
Volunteer Services for the Arts Community
At the heart of The Saints' work is our volunteer usher program. Each year, more
than 1,500 members provide ushering services for over 200 performing arts organizations across the Chicago
metropolitan area. Our volunteers arrive before performances, professionally dressed and ready to welcome
patrons, scan tickets, distribute programs, and ensure audiences have a positive experience. After performances,
ushers assist with house cleanup and lost-and-found items, allowing venue staff to focus on other priorities.
Performing arts organizations benefit from The Saints' services at no cost to their
operations. Saints Coordinators handle all scheduling and communications, relieving venues of the administrative
burden of managing ushers. The only compensation our volunteers request is the opportunity to enjoy the
performance they are helping to present. This arrangement creates a sustainable model where the arts community
receives skilled, reliable volunteer support while volunteers experience the cultural richness Chicago has to
offer.
Financial Support Through Arts Grants
Beyond volunteer services, The Saints provide substantial financial support to the
performing arts community through our Arts Grants and MatchGrants programs. In 2025, The Saints awarded
more than $125,000 in grants to twenty-five arts organizations across the Chicago metropolitan area. Since the grant
program began, The Saints have contributed nearly $1.7 million to support theater, dance, and music
organizations.
Grants fund a diverse range of projects, including costume and set design,
commissioning new works, accessibility equipment and ASL interpreters, community engagement initiatives, and
technical equipment purchases. The selection process is conducted by an all-volunteer grants commission that
evaluates proposals based on project description, financial viability, collaboration among organizations, and
dedication to cultural and ethnic diversity.
Funds for these grants come almost exclusively from annual membership dues and
member donations, ensuring that The Saints' support flows directly from the arts-loving community to the
organizations that create Chicago's vibrant performing arts scene. Arts organizations interested in applying can
review the annual application process, with applications typically opening in early February.
Get Involved
The Saints are always looking for performing arts organizations interested in receiving ushering services or applying for arts grants, and we also welcome
new members who share our passion for supporting Chicago's cultural community.
To learn more about Saints' services and to become a Saints supported arts company or venue, click HERE.
Interested in learning more about becoming a member? Click HERE. Or, contact us at info@saintschicago.org.