Theatre work is unpredictable. Shows close without warning, injuries end runs, and even working artists can go months between jobs. Broadway has built a set of charities to catch its own people when that happens. If you want your donation to help actors, musicians, stagehands and writers directly, these are the organizations to know.
Founded in 1882 as The Actors Fund and renamed in 2022, the Entertainment Community Fund is a national human-services organization for everyone who works in performing arts and entertainment, onstage and off. It offers social services, emergency financial help, health insurance counseling, affordable housing and career support. It also runs the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey.
One of its programs, the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, was founded in 1996 by Broadway performer Phyllis Newman. It offers counseling, support groups and financial help to women in entertainment facing serious medical diagnoses.
One of Broadway's longtime charities, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS raises money across the theatre community through red-bucket appeals, Broadway Bares, the Broadway Flea Market and other events. A significant share of its grants goes to the Entertainment Community Fund to support entertainment workers, and the rest funds HIV/AIDS and social-service organizations nationwide.
Not everyone who makes a show is on stage. The Behind the Scenes Foundation gives grants to entertainment-technology workers, including crew members, technicians and designers in the U.S. and Canada, who are seriously ill or injured. Grants can cover medical bills, living expenses and other emergencies.
Actors' Equity Association, the union for stage actors and stage managers, created the Actors' Equity Foundation in 1962 as a separate charity. That lets it do things labor law doesn't allow a union to do. The Foundation runs career-development workshops for members and makes grants to nonprofit theatres across the country.
Broadway's pit musicians belong to Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians. Its Musicians' Emergency Relief Fund helps members facing illness, career setbacks or financial hardship, with financial assistance, mental health support, senior services and more.
The Dramatists Guild Foundation supports the playwrights, composers, lyricists and book writers who create new work. It offers emergency and housing grants, free writing rooms in New York, and fellowships.
If you want to help the widest range of entertainment workers, start with the national organizations. If you care about a specific group, like crew, musicians or writers, the specialized funds above put your gift right where you want it. Before you give, it's always worth confirming a charity's tax-exempt status with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
For the full picture, including education, access and civic organizations, see our guide to Broadway charities and nonprofits. Giving Tuesday is December 2 this year, and many of these organizations run matching campaigns that day.
Broadway for Democracy works on a different need: helping theatre fans and theatre workers take part in civic life. We help the Broadway community register, get informed and vote, and we never tell anyone how to vote. Support our work here.
The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly The Actors Fund, provides emergency financial help, social services and career support to actors and other entertainment workers nationwide.
Yes. The Behind the Scenes Foundation gives grants to entertainment-technology workers who are seriously ill or injured, and the Entertainment Community Fund serves crew members as well.
Yes. A significant share of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS grants goes to the Entertainment Community Fund, which serves entertainment workers.
The Local 802 Musicians' Emergency Relief Fund helps members of New York's musicians' union facing illness or financial hardship.
