Penumbra

Contribute to a more just, compassionate world.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” 

– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Even in our darkest hours, there are glimmers of light. Stories of resistance. Wisdom handed down from ancestors. Wells of strength we don’t realize we have until we need them most. Each hopeful flicker reminds us that we are not the first to pass this way — and that the future, uncertain as it may be, is worth fighting for.

This season, we conjure light in the darkness.

Help fuel community and individual wellbeing through art, joy, and education. A donation in any amount will support:

• World-class Black art that sparks dialogue and collective action.
• Culturally grounded wellness practices that restore and build community connection.
• Youth programs that foster belonging, pride, and leadership.
• Racial healing workshops that offer practical tools to support organizational and communal wellbeing.

Together, we can provide the care our communities so desperately need. No act is too big, or too small, to meet the moment.

“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”

–Toni Morrison

About Penumbra

Penumbra’s mission is to empower Black communities and allies through excellent live theater, robust equity programs, and culturally informed wellness services. Through our legacy of rootedness and resilience, we serve three key needs in our community: acknowledging racism, addressing inequities, and attending to the trauma sustained by those weathering racism.

Founded in 1976 during the Black Arts Movement, Penumbra remains Minnesota’s only professional Black theater company and one of the few of its kind nationwide to operate continuously for nearly 50 years. We have produced nearly 200 plays and more than 30 premieres while cultivating generations of BIPOC artists who now shape stages across the country. In 2022, the Ford Foundation recognized Penumbra as one of twenty American Cultural Treasures, affirming our national impact and legacy.

Today, under the leadership of President Sarah Bellamy, Penumbra has evolved into a multidisciplinary Center for Racial Healing—a dynamic performing arts, wellness, and learning center that nurtures creativity, develops new work, and advances sustainable strategies for social change. 

Ways to Give

1. One-time Donation

Make your gift through GiveMN, online, in-person, or by mail.

2. Gifts of Securities, Stock, and IRAs

When you donate securities, you not only avoid capital gains tax, you can claim a charitable deduction for the full, appreciated value of the securities. Securities and IRAs are easy to transfer electronically — ask your tax advisor for details.

3. Consider Planned Giving

You can strengthen your community for generations to come by naming Penumbra (EIN 41-1563764) as a beneficiary of your will, donor advised fund, trust, retirement plan, IRA, or life insurance policy.

Contact Information

Penumbra

270 North Kent Street

Saint Paul, MN 55102

651.224.3180

Questions? Contact our development team at development@penumbratheatre.org.