Photo by Todd Rosenberg
THE DANCERS’ FUND
The Dancers’ Fund provides short-term financial assistance to Chicago dance professionals diagnosed with a critical health need. In 2020, we broadened our grantmaking to include support for general health and wellness needs.
There are two grant opportunities through The Dancers’ Fund:
The Critical Health Need Grant helps cover medical expenses related to the diagnosis of a critical health issue. Those expenses include, but are not limited to, doctor and hospital visits, surgery, medical testing, therapy, and medication. Funding of up to $5,000 is available annually.
The General Health and Wellness Grant helps cover non-critical health expenses related to general health and wellness, such as insurance premiums, medical bills, dental bills, and mental health sessions. Funding of up to $1,000 is available annually.
The Dancers’ Fund is a temporary assistance resource and is not intended for long-term or recurring support. Previous awardees may reapply after a twelve-month period; however, such grant requests will only be considered on a case-by-case basis and where extraordinary circumstances exist.
Eligible expenses
Critical Health Need Grant:
Bills dated within 12 months of application date
Bills for medical treatment or related services associated with the applicant’s critical health condition
Non-medical expenses, if the applicant’s prioritization and payment of their medical expenses associated with a critical health need have left the applicant financially depleted.
General Health and Wellness Grant:
Bills dated within 12 months of application date
Bills related to medical care, mental wellness, or dental care
Lab or vaccination fees
Copays or deductibles for medical encounters
Healthcare premiums
Eligible individuals
Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
Applicant must be a Chicago area resident at the time of and for at least 6 months prior to the date of the application.
Applicant must be a professional in the Chicago area dance community.
A professional is someone who is a practicing or retired member of the dance community and who can affirm one of the following:
For practicing professionals: A primary source of my income in the last 24 months was derived from being an active working professional in the Chicago area dance community as a dancer, instructor, choreographer, production technician, rehearsal assistant, administrator, etc.
For retired professionals: A primary source of my income during my career was derived from being an active working professional in the dance community as a dancer, instructor, choreographer, production technician, rehearsal assistant, administrator, etc.
“Professional” does not require formal affiliation with a dance company or production company; the term includes freelance/independent artists.
“Professional” does not include trainees or students.
Important to note
Awarded applicants will not receive any payments directly.
The Dancers’ Fund will pay the healthcare provider, utility provider, landlord, or other appropriate vendor(s) for the incurred and approved expenses on behalf of the awarded applicant.
Late fees and penalties are not eligible expenses.
Applications are accepted all year long.
TESTIMONIALS
An enormous ’Thank You’ to Chicago Dancers United for their financial assistance. No question this has been an exhausting year for artists… definitely would like to extend my gratitude for their willingness to help me (an accompanist and composer for dance but not necessarily a dancer specifically)… it speaks volumes to their commitment to helping the dance community at-large.
Robert Garrett
"The Dancers' Fund came to my aid at an extremely vulnerable time personally. I had just founded Chicago Movement Collective, at the same time my husband was unfortunately let go from his job due to COVID cutbacks. We had both been using his insurance for daily health needs as well as weekly mental health visits with a talk therapist. Suddenly, during one of our most emotionally traumatic experiences, my husband and I lost our safety net. With little to no questions, the Dancers' Fund gave us the support we needed. Organizations like the Dancers' Fund, that lift up the Chicago dance community, inspired me to found Chicago Movement Collective as my way to say "thank you" and also, keep Chicago dancing."
Ethan Kirschbaum
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Photo by Todd Rosenberg
“I am incredibly honored to receive such a gift at this trying and uncertain time. The Dancers' Fund was more than supportive as I could not fully pay for my medical bills due to loss of income related to COVID-19 and not having medical insurance. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your care back into our community. Many of us dancers have had the hardest time figuring out where we were going to find the means to pay for our medical expenses and Chicago Dancers United was there for us. I will forever be grateful for all you do for our dance community.”
Cesar G. Salinas
“Thank you to the Chicago Dancers Fund for supporting me during this process with my physical and mental health issues. I have been overwhelmed with Post Covid Syndrome issues since my diagnosis last March with severe Covid. Grateful to have survived Covid my artforms have been affected and that is my livelihood. One of the most overwhelming issues to my body as a dancer is chronic fatigue and my depression which has affected me more than I would like. But the most important health concern taking top priority has been my teeth. Unable to afford dental work in the past, my teeth decayed and had to be extracted. It has been difficult to get this work done because as I lose more teeth, it affects my digestion, chewing and causes discomfort. The fund has allowed me to get some of this work done, alleviating this immense burden while I am unable to work because of this disability. I am extremely grateful to be supported by these emergency funds and honored to be a part of this community.”
Hereaclitus Here Vernon