Entertainment Community Fund
Emergency financial assistance and supportive services for entertainment professionals in need
Overview
The Entertainment Community Fund, formerly known as The Actors Fund, provides emergency financial assistance, health services, and supportive programs to everyone who works in the performing arts and entertainment industry. Their safety net extends far beyond actors to include crew, stagehands, and behind-the-scenes professionals.
Services include emergency grants for rent, utilities, and medical bills, as well as longer-term programs like career counseling, affordable housing, and substance abuse support. You do not need to be a union member to access many of their resources.
How It Works
The Fund has been serving the entertainment community since 1882, making it one of the oldest and most established support organizations in the industry. They operate offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
All core services are provided free of charge, funded by donations from the entertainment community. Eligibility is based on a history of employment in the entertainment industry.
Who Uses It
If you are facing a financial crisis or need long-term career support, the Entertainment Community Fund should be your first call. Their social workers understand the unique challenges of an entertainment career and provide judgment-free assistance. The Fund also operates The Performers' Health Center in New York City, which provides affordable medical, dental, and mental health services to performers regardless of insurance status. Their career transition programs have helped thousands of entertainment professionals pivot to new fields when they choose to leave the industry or need supplemental income between gigs.
Pricing & Plans
All core services provided by the Entertainment Community Fund are completely free to eligible entertainment professionals, with no registration fees, dues, or hidden costs. Emergency financial assistance grants typically range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the severity of the crisis and the applicant's situation. The Fund does not require union membership for many of its programs, broadening access beyond SAG-AFTRA and Equity members to include non-union performers and crew. Their affordable housing programs in New York City offer below-market-rate apartments to qualifying entertainment professionals, a benefit worth thousands of dollars annually in rent savings. Compared to general social services agencies, the Entertainment Community Fund offers specialized expertise in the entertainment industry's unique employment patterns and financial challenges. The Fund's financial counseling and career services, which would cost $100 to $300 per session through private providers, are provided at no charge to eligible applicants.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The Fund's deep specialization in entertainment industry challenges means their social workers genuinely understand the feast-or-famine income cycle, irregular employment patterns, and emotional toll of a performance career. With offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, they offer in-person support in the three largest entertainment markets in the United States. The breadth of services, from emergency rent assistance to long-term career counseling and addiction recovery, means they can address multiple interconnected challenges through a single organization. Their 140-plus-year history gives them institutional knowledge and community connections that newer organizations cannot match. The non-judgmental, confidentiality-focused approach encourages professionals to seek help early rather than waiting until a crisis becomes unmanageable. The Fund's relationships with industry employers and unions also allow them to advocate on behalf of clients in ways that general social service agencies cannot.
What Could Be Better
The application process for emergency assistance can take several business days, which may not be fast enough for truly urgent situations like imminent eviction or utility shutoff. Eligibility requirements, while broader than union-specific programs, still require demonstrable employment history in the entertainment industry, which can exclude those just entering the field. Geographic limitations mean that actors in smaller markets outside New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago may have difficulty accessing in-person services and must rely on phone or virtual consultations. The Fund's resources, while substantial, are finite, and during periods of widespread industry disruption such as strikes or pandemics, demand can outstrip available funding. Some long-term programs like affordable housing have waitlists that can stretch for months or years, limiting their usefulness in immediate crisis situations. The Fund's public association with financial hardship may create a perceived stigma for some professionals who are reluctant to be seen seeking assistance.
Our Recommendation
We recommend the Entertainment Community Fund as the first point of contact for any entertainment professional facing a financial emergency, health crisis, or career transition. It is especially valuable for freelance and non-union workers who may not have access to union-specific support programs and feel they have nowhere to turn. If you are a union member in good standing, check your union's specific assistance programs first, as they may offer faster or more targeted help for members. Actors who are financially stable should still familiarize themselves with the Fund's services so they can refer colleagues in need, as many struggling professionals are unaware these resources exist. For those dealing with substance abuse or mental health challenges, the Fund's entertainment-specific counselors are preferable to general practitioners who may not understand industry pressures. We encourage every entertainment professional to save the Fund's contact information in their phone regardless of their current financial situation, because career circumstances can change rapidly in this industry.
Pro Tips
Contact the Fund's intake line at the earliest sign of financial trouble rather than waiting until you are in full crisis, as early intervention allows for more options and better outcomes. Be prepared to provide documentation of your entertainment industry employment history, such as pay stubs, contracts, or union membership records, to expedite the eligibility determination process. If you are dealing with multiple challenges simultaneously, communicate that to your intake social worker so they can coordinate services across the Fund's departments rather than addressing issues one at a time. Take advantage of the Fund's career counseling services even when you are not in crisis, as proactive career planning can help prevent future financial emergencies. If you are a union member, ask your union representative about any partnership programs with the Fund that may streamline your access to services. Share information about the Fund with your entertainment community, as many professionals suffer in silence because they do not know that specialized, judgment-free help is available.