Emergency Grants

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & PROJECT-BASED

Emergency Project Funds

Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Emergency Grants ($500-$3,000) are available by application to U.S.-based artists in all disciplines who have sudden opportunities or unexpected expenses to present work to the public. Artists should apply 6-8 weeks before funding is needed for last-minute support. For guidelines and more information please visit their website.

Multidisciplinary

The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Artist Development Grant
Artist Development grants provide up to $500 to local artists from Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben counties. These grants support professional opportunities as well as help to alleviate economic disparity and insecurity facing artists.The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Artist Development Grant

Erie Arts & Culture, Emergency Financial Assistance Fund
Through Erie Arts & Culture’s newly formed Emergency Financial Assistance Fund, creative and cultural professionals, which includes artists of all disciplines, who have experienced a disruption to their income stream can request up to $500 in assistance from Erie Arts & Culture. Awarded funds can be used to assist with basic living expenses, such as housing, utilities, or groceries. The objective is to provide financial support in moments of crisis to those in the sector who are experiencing financial hardship.

The Haven Foundation 
The Haven Foundation gives financial assistance to provide temporary support needed to safeguard and sustain the careers of established freelance artists, writers, and other members of the arts and art production communities who have suffered disabilities or experienced a career-threatening illness, accident, natural disaster or personal catastrophe.
Contact: email form on website 

J. Happy Delpech Foundation – Midwest 
Grants of up to $250 to artists in the Midwest with AIDS or serious illness. 
Mailing Address:
J. Happy Delpech Foundation 
1579 North Milwaukee, Suite 211 
Chicago, IL 60622
Telephone: (312) 342-1359

Martha Kate Thomas Fund for Artists
The Martha Kate Thomas Fund for Artists was established in 2013 through a legacy gift to the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County. Grants from this fund will be awarded to artists who live or work in Boulder County and meet any one or more of these priority groups: artists with unforeseen needs due to special circumstances, Artists of Color, artists with disabilities, Indigenous artists, New generation artists (18-30 years old). Grant awards will not exceed $3000. Art forms can include but are not limited to: Music, Theater, Dance, Film/Video, Literature, and Visual Art.

Mayer Foundation 
The Mayer Foundation offers economic relief grants to needy individuals who are distressed or suffering as a result of poverty, low income or lack of financial resources.
Email: [email protected] 

Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund
The Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund provides rapid response awards to meet the urgent needs, and provide immediate financial relief to Pinellas County artists, arts organizations and creative businesses who have been impacted by an emergency situation/disaster we are facing, and, should the need arise and the resources be available, for future emergency situations as well.

Springboard Emergency Relief Fund – Minnesota 
Springboard’s Emergency Relief Fund exists to help meet the emergency needs of artists living in Minnesota who are in need of immediate monies to cover an expense due to loss from fire, theft, health emergency, or other catastrophic, career-threatening event. Artists may apply for up to $500. Payment is made directly to the creditor, not the artist. 
Telephone: (651) 292-4381
E-mail: [email protected]

LITERATURE

American Poets Fund 
The fund assists poets of demonstrated ability who are in a state of urgent financial need. Grants cannot be used to promote or otherwise enhance literary talent or reputation, and applications are not accepted. Academy Chancellors, Fellows, and prize winners must bring the circumstances of qualifying poets to the attention of the American Poets Fund committee by sending a letter of nomination, including specifics about the nominee’s current financial situation, to the Executive Director of the Academy.

American Society of Journalists & Authors 
The mission of the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund is to help established freelance writers who, because of advanced age, illness, disability, a natural disaster, or an extraordinary professional crisis are unable to work. A writer need not be a member of ASJA to qualify for a grant. However, applicants must establish a record of past professional freelance nonfiction writing over a sustained period of years, which means qualifications generally similar to those of ASJA members. WEAF does not award grants to beginning freelancers seeking funding for writing projects, nor does it fund works-in-progress of any kind.
Telephone: (212) 997-0947
Fax: (212) 937-2315
Email: [email protected]

Authors League Fund
The Authors League Fund helps professional writers and dramatists who find themselves in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income or other misfortune. The Fund gives open-ended, interest-free, no-strings-attached loans. These loans are not grants or scholarships meant to subsidize personal writing projects.
Telephone: (212) 268-1208
Email: [email protected]

The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation
The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation financial assistance program helps booksellers with specific unforeseen emergency financial needs. The Foundation assesses each request to determine a course of action to provide relief to the bookseller. All grants are paid to third-party vendors and not directly to the bookseller. Binc is also offering an Expedited Application for COVID-19 Emergency. This application is for individual assistance only. If you are an owner requesting assistance for your bookstore please email [email protected].
Telephone: 866-733-9064
Email: [email protected]

Carnegie Fund for Authors
The Carnegie Fund offers grants-in-aid to qualified commercially published book authors who have suffered financial emergency as a result of illness or injury (their own or that of spouses or dependent children) or who have suffered some equivalent misfortune. Grant amounts vary according to need. 
Contact:email via form on website.

Clayton Memorial Medical Fund – Pacific Northwest  
The fund helps professional science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery writers living in the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska deal with the financial burden of medical expenses. The fund generally follows the standards of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for Active or Associate membership in determining professional status.
Email: [email protected]

The Direct Aid Fund by Lampblack
Every week for the remainder of 2021, Lampblack will give up to $100 to a Black poet, storyteller, or essayist in need.

Human Rights/Hellman-Hammett Grants 
Human Rights Watch administers the Hellman/Hammett grant program for writers who have been victims of political persecution and are in financial need. Hellman/Hammett grants typically range from $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000. The grants are awarded annually after the nominations have been reviewed by a selection committee composed of authors, editors, and journalists who have a longstanding interest in free expression issues. Nomination forms (available online) should be sent to the New York office of Human Rights Watch by February 15 annually. 
Telephone: (212) 290-4700
Email: [email protected]

The PEN Writers Fund 
Emergency fund for professional–published or produced–writers with serious financial difficulties. Grants up to $2,000. Writers do not have to be a Member of PEN American Center to receive a grant.

The PEN Fund for Writers and Editors with HIV/AIDS 
The PEN Fund for Writers and Editors with HIV/AIDS, administered under the PEN Writers’ Emergency Fund, gives grants of up to $2,000 to professional writers and editors who face serious financial difficulties because of HIV or AIDS-related illness.
Email: [email protected]

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America Emergency Medical and Legal Fund
The SFWA Emergency Medical Fund offers interest-free loans to members facing unexpected medical expenses. Active SFWA members are eligible to request assistance from the Fund.

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Emergency Fund
The SCBWI Emergency Fund has been established to provide assistance to SCBWI members of at least six months’ standing in times of emergency or hardship. The emergency or hardship could involve, for example, matters of health, family issues, or natural disasters that are in any way restricting or preventing an SCBWI member’s ability to work as an author or illustrator.

MEDIA ARTS

Ad Relief of Greater Los Angeles 
Ad Relief of Greater Los Angeles (formerly the Advertising Industry Emergency Fund) has been established to provide aid and to promote the raising of monies for aid in times of need to members of the Southern California advertising and promotions industry and their families. Persons eligible for aid must have been employed for a continuous period of one year by an advertising or promotions entity within the Greater Los Angeles area.
Telephone: (310) 397-7830
Email: [email protected]

Broadcasters’ Foundation 
The Broadcasters Foundation of America provides Emergency & Disaster Grants to radio and television broadcasters find themselves in acute financial need and do not have insurance to cover their losses after a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, tornado or wildfire, extreme flooding, house fire, or other serious misfortune. 
Telephone: (212) 373-8250
Email: [email protected]

Directors Guild Foundation 
The DGF provides no interest, confidential loans to Guild members in good standing who are in need of emergency financial assistance. This program allows members to maintain their privacy by ensuring their anonymity during a difficult time.
Telephone: (310) 289-2037 
Email: [email protected]

Motion Picture and Television Fund 
MPTF offers a number of services for members of the entertainment industry and their families including: crisis support with social workers, financial assistance, low-cost basic medical services, health insurance premium support, senior housing and support, daycare, and referrals to other service providers.
Telephone Toll-Free: 855-760-MPTF (6783)
Email: [email protected]

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants
One-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts (not performers), and choreography, and who live in the U.S., District of Columbia, U.S. Territories or tribal nations. Cycles continue bimonthly through at least June, 2024.
Email: [email protected]

Screen Actors Guild Foundation 
The SAG Foundation provides assistance to eligible SAG-AFTRA members during times of crisis and personal need, offering emergency financial aid, as well as grants for health coverage in cases of catastrophic injury or illness or need for COBRA coverage.
Telephone: Davidson Lloyd, Director of Assistance Programs: (323) 549-6773
Contact: email via form on website

Screen Actors Guild Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund (MPPWF)  
The Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund serves SAG-AFTRA members in the New York region and all Locals East of Omaha, Nebraska. The MPPWF is designed to assist eligible members who are struggling with a financial, personal or medical crisis. Financial assistance is available for rent, utilities, mental health and medical care as well as other basic living expenses. Administered by the Actors Fund, offering access to their services as well.
Telephone: New York : (212) 221-7300, Ext. 119; Chicago: (312) 372-0989; All others: (800) 221-7303; For emergencies only on evenings and weekends: (212) 621-7780

Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund (MPPAF) 
The Pioneers Assistance Fund (MPPAF) serves members of the motion picture entertainment industry (exhibition, distribution and trade services) who are encountering an illness, injury or life changing event. Services include temporary financial aid for emergency needs, monthly stipends for frail or disabled low income senior veterans, and social service counseling.
Telephone: (888) 994-3863

MUSIC

American Federation of Musicians (AFM): Lester Petrillo Memorial Fund
The Lester Petrillo Memorial Fund for Disabled Musicians provides a modest grant to temporarily or permanently disabled musicians who are members of the AFM.
Telephone: (212) 869-1330 ext. 224

American Guild of Musical Artists Relief Fund
The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Relief Fund provides support and temporary financial assistance to members who are in need. AGMA contracts with The Actors Fund to administer this program nationally as well as to provide comprehensive social services. Financial assistance is available for rent, utilities, mental health and medical care, as well as other basic living expenses. Grants are made case-by-case, based on need.
Telephone: East Coast: (212) 221-7300, Ext. 119; Midwest: (312) 372-0989; West Coast: (323) 933-9244, Ext. 55. For emergencies on evenings and weekends only: 212-621-7780
Email: East Coast: [email protected]; Midwest: [email protected]; West Coast: [email protected]

Bagby Foundation for Musical Arts
The Foundation offers small grants to support opera and classical music professionals, with a focus on pensioners.
Telephone: (212) 986-6094

Blues Foundation HART Fund
The Blues Foundation has established the HART Fund (Handy Artists Relief Trust) for Blues musicians and their families in financial need due to a broad range of health concerns. The Fund provides for acute, chronic and preventive medical and dental care as well as funeral and burial expenses.
Telephone: 901-527-2583, Ext. 10
Email: [email protected]   

California Jazz Foundation
To request a Financial Assistance Application or an Emergency Medical Referral, applicant must show at least 5 years of primary employment as a jazz artist and California residency.  

Gospel Music Trust Fund
The Purpose of the Gospel Music Trust Fund is to give financial assistance in the nature of gifts in time of need, in the event of an emergency or major catastrophe, terminal or severe illness without efficient insurance, to individuals who derive or have derived a substantial portion of their income from the field of gospel music. An individual requesting assistance within the purpose of the Trust Fund, for themselves or their children must have ten years of full-time employment within the Gospel/Christian music field.

Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund 
The Opry Trust Fund provides financial assistance in time of extraordinary need, emergency or catastrophe to individuals who are or have been employed full time in a facet of the country music industry (i.e. performer, songwriter, publisher, radio, session musician, etc.). Examples of distribution needs include: medical bills, living expenses, rent or mortgage, and utilities. The Opry Trust Fund accepts referrals from individuals within the country music community, including Opry members, as well as from other charitable organizations, such as MusiCares and the Performers Benefit Fund.
Telephone: 1-800-SEE-OPRY

Jazz Bridge
Jazz Bridge assists Jazz and Blues musicians living in the Greater Philadelphia Metro area who face financial, health, housing, and similar crises. The organization also supports musicians by providing paid performance opportunities through live neighborhood concerts and special event presentations. 
Telephone: (215) 517-8337
Email: [email protected]

Jazz Foundation of America 
The Housing and Emergency Assistance program provides jazz and blues artists with an experienced social worker to assess his/her situation and provide rapid assistance including financial support, legal services, housing counseling, and more. 
Telephone: (212) 245-3999
Email: [email protected]

Music Maker Relief Foundation
The Musical Sustenance Program offers emergency funds, monthly living stipends, and assistance in obtaining social services to artists working in the Southern musical tradition, focusing on those 55 years or older with an annual income of $18,000 or less. 
Telephone: (919) 643-2456
Email: [email protected]

MusiCares Foundation 
MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares’ services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, including addiction resources.
Telephone: West Coast: (800) 687-4227; Central: (877) 626-2748; Northeast: (877) 303-6962

Musicians Emergency Resource Foundation – Kentucky & Southern Indiana 
MERF grants financial and resource assistance to Kentuckiana (select counties in Kentucky and Southern Indiana) music industry professionals in times of need and emergency crisis.
Contact: email via form online

Musicians Foundation 
The Musicians Foundation assists professional musicians (who have worked at least 5 years) with grants for medical and allied living expenses in the case of emergency situations.
Telephone: (212) 239-9137 
E-mail: [email protected]

Rhythm and Blues Foundation 
The fund provides financial and medical assistance to Rhythm & Blues artists of the 1940s through the 1970s.
Telephone and Fax: (800) 980-5208
Email: [email protected]

Pinetop Perkins Foundation – Pinetop Assistance League (PAL) for Elder Musicians
Provides financial assistance to elderly musicians for medical and living expenses. The Pinetop Assistance League does not disburse funds direct to individuals. Payments are made by check to the creditor on your behalf.

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. Sweet Relief offers assistance to all who reach out. While financial grants may not be available to every applicant, other resources information, counseling and financial services are additional options each artist may take advantage of.
Telephone: (888) 955-7880
Email: [email protected]

PERFORMING ARTS

American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA)
AGVA offers its current and previous members emergency aid through the AGVA Sick & Relief Fund.
Telephone: (212) 675-1003, Ext. 102

Dancers’ Resource
The Dancers’ Resource was created in response to the unique situation dancers face due to the physically demanding nature of their work, coupled with the significant financial challenges of earning a living in dance. Support includes counseling, healthcare referrals, educational seminars, emergency financial assistance, and more.
Telephone: Eastern Region : (212) 221-7300, Ext. 119; Central Region: (312) 372-0989, Western Region: (323) 933-9244, Ext. 455
Email: Eastern Region: [email protected]; Central Region: [email protected]; Western Region: [email protected]

Dramatists Guild Fund
The Dramatists Guild Fund awards one-time emergency grants to individual playwrights, lyricists and composers in need of temporary financial assistance due to unexpected illness or extreme hardship. To be considered for personal grant, you must have had a play or musical either presented for a paying audience anywhere in the United States or Canada, and/or published by a legitimate publishing/licensing company; or be an active member of The Dramatists Guild.
Telephone: (212) 391-8384
Email: [email protected]

Entertainment Community Fund
The Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) assists those working in theater, film, television, radio, music, dance, opera and circus throughout the U.S. The Fund offers a broad spectrum of programs including emergency financial assistance, affordable housing, health care and insurance counseling, secondary career development, senior care and more. Programs are administered through offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and eligibility varies by program.  
Telephone: 800.221.7303
Email: [email protected]

Episcopal Actors Guild of America
To apply to the EAG Emergency Aid & Relief Program, which offers grants for financial need, the primary determining criterion for eligibility is that the applicant be a  professional performing artist who is pursuing an established and ongoing career in the performing arts. Theatre performers who perform live onstage before a live audience are the primary focus of the program.
Telephone: (212) 685-2927
Email: [email protected]

HOWL Emergency Life Project (HELP) 
The Howl Emergency Life Project was created to provide emergency financial assistance and social service support to artists who have participated in the annual Howl Festival or who make their careers in New York City’s East Village and Lower East Side arts community and whose work challenges the traditional boundaries of dance, theatre, music, multimedia and the spoken word. Eligibility for the financial assistance program requires an application, documentation of professional earnings and an interview.
New York City Contact: 212.221.7300, ext. 119 or [email protected]
Chicago Contact: 312.372.0989 or [email protected]
Los Angeles Contact: 323.933.9244, ext. 455 or [email protected]

Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants

One-time grants of up to $3,000 to professional dancers facing dire financial emergencies, due to the loss or lack of recent/current live performance work, because of circumstances outside of their control. Grants are for up to three months of essential expenses; you must demonstrate an urgent and critical need for emergency support in order to apply. Cycles continue through at least June, 2024. Email: [email protected]

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants
One-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts (not performers), and choreography, and who live in the U.S., District of Columbia, U.S. Territories or tribal nations. Cycles continue bimonthly through at least June, 2024.
Email: [email protected]

Renaissance Entertainers, Services, and Crafters United Foundation (RESCU) 
The RESCU Foundation was established to promote and maintain the health and medical well-being of the participants of Renaissance Fairs, historical performances and other artistic events through several programs including financial assistance and counseling for emergency medical needs.
Telephone: (800) 374-9215
Email: [email protected] 

Theatre Bay Area  
The Mary Mason Lemonade Fund is a confidential resource for San Francisco Bay Area theatre practitioners with terminal or life-threatening illnesses who are in need of supplemental financial assistance to improve the quality of their lives as they deal with medical conditions.
Telephone: (415) 430-1140, Ext. 14
Email: [email protected]

TheatreWashington Taking Care Fund – Washington, DC
Taking Care Fund is an initiative of theatreWashington to assist currently active Washington, DC area theatre professionals and artists in personal emergency situations.
Email: [email protected]

The Valentine Fund
The Valentine Fund was initiated in 1987 to provide financial assistance to members of the Portland-area theatre community in times of medical or personal emergency.

VISUAL ARTS

Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation, Inc. 
The Emergency Assistance Program provides interim financial assistance to qualified artists whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation. An applicant must be able to demonstrate a minimum involvement of ten years in a mature phase of his or her work in the disciplines of painting, sculpture or printmaking. The maximum amount of this grant is $15,000; an award of $5,000 is typical.
Telephone: (212) 226-0581
Email: [email protected]

Artists’ Benevolence Fund – Laguna Beach, CA
The Artists’ Benevolence Fund by the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival provides financial assistance to working artists who live in Laguna Beach and have suffered a catastrophic event that has resulted in financial hardship.
Telephone: For additional information, please contact the Benevolence Fund Trustees: Linda Grossman 949-770-2244, Monica Prado 949-338-4073, Larry Gill 949-235-1121, or Gavin Heath 949-395-4976

Artists’ Fellowship, Inc.
The Artists’ Fellowship, Inc. is a private, charitable foundation that assists professional fine artists (painters, graphic artists, sculptors) and their families in times of emergency, disability, or bereavement.
Telephone: (212) 255-7740 Ext. 216
Email: [email protected] 

CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund)
CERF+ Craft Emergency Relief Fund offers resources to artists working in craft disciplines includes emergency relief grants, preparedness (Get Ready) grants, and access to preparedness resources. One of the eligibility requirements for the Emergency Relief Grant is having had a recent career-threatening emergency such as serious illness, injury, or significant loss from theft, fire, flood or other disaster.
Telephone: (802) 229-2306
Email: [email protected]

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants
One-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography, and who live in the U.S., District of Columbia, U.S. Territories or tribal nations. Cycles continue bimonthly through at least June, 2024.
Email: [email protected]