The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) maintains an Emergency Assistance Fund to aid Members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) who are experiencing financial hardship.
The Fund was established in March 2020 when directors and choreographers sought to help fellow directors and choreographers meet their basic needs. Leadership gifts were provided by SDC Members Marc Bruni, Rachel Chavkin, Michael Greif, Thomas Kail, Susan Stroman, and Evan Yionoulis, and Josh Lehrer & Jeffrey Seller. Additional gifts were made by Liz Diamond, Andréa Burns & Peter Flynn, Sue Lawless, Des McAnuff, Jason Moore, Bartlett Sher, and Seema Sueko, and SDCF Trustees Mark Brokaw, Sheldon Epps, and Linda Hartzell. A full list of donors is below. A portion of this fund is specifically earmarked for New York City-based Members, thanks to a generous donation from the Howard Gilman Foundation.
The 2025 Emergency Assistance Fund is now open. SDC Members can apply for a one-time grant up to $575 and SDC Associate Members up to $300. The application can be found here.
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Please feel free to email EmergencyGrant@sdcfoundation.org any questions.
We thank all who have participated as contributors and all who have received assistance from this fund. The Emergency Assistance Fund is a partnership. There are times in each of our lives when we may have surplus to share and times when we each have needs. We encourage you to apply for what you need, to leave some for the person behind you, and, if your circumstances allow, to donate to the Fund so we can keep the mutual support going.
Who is eligible:
Current SDC Members and SDC Associate Members in good standing who are experiencing financial hardship.
What can the funds be used for?
- Disaster relief
- Health insurance premium payments or other uncovered medical costs
- Eldercare or childcare costs
- Rent, mortgage, utility payments
How to apply:
1. Download and complete the application found here. Please read thoroughly and answer all questions.
2. Fill out this W9 Form or submit your own.
3. Submit the application and your W9 to SDCF at EmergencyGrant@sdcfoundation.org with Zixsecure in the subject line to send securely.
You will be notified, on average, within two weeks of receipt whether your application is approved. If approved, funding is typically released within two weeks of the notification, but please allow up to three weeks for processing as sometimes we are working on a high volume of requests.
The EAF Committee is composed of SDC members Jo Bonney, Mark Brokaw, Maggie Burrows, John Rando, and Maria Torres.
In addition to SDCF’s Emergency Assistance Fund, SDC remains available to be helpful in working with Union members during trying times. Please reach out to info@sdcweb.org for assistance.
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