Purpose:
The Malcolm Ewen Emergency Fund exists to provide short term financial assistance to members of the Chicago theatre community who are in need due to emergency related extraordinary financial need.
Categories of Assistance:
Including but not limited to:
- Assistance with rent or mortgage
- Living expenses
- Utilities (gas, electricity, oil)
- Telephone or other communication devices
- Clean–Up or replacement expenses not covered by insurance
Assistance is not provided toward:
- Taxes
- Credit card payments
- Loans
- Education
- Legal fees
- Court-ordered payments (alimony, child support, etc.)
- Professional materials (resumes, headshots, audition tapes, etc.)
Level of Assistance
Eligible members of the Chicago theater community can receive a one-time payment of up to $1,000 per fiscal year (July 1- June 30)
Eligibility:
Applicants for assistance from The Malcolm Emergency Ewen Fund must be active members of the Chicagoland theater community, union and non–union alike, having worked with or without salary since July 1, 2023. Paid employment is not a condition of eligibility. “Members of the Chicago theatre community” is an inclusive definition and includes workers involved in any aspect of theater production, including dance, management, front of house, performance, music, theater design, technical theater workers (including shop staffs, technicians, stage managers, crew workers and other technical support), directing or playwriting. These workers must have done their work in a theater setting, or created projects intended for theatrical production
Definition of Emergency:
Emergencies are defined as fire, natural disaster, sudden loss of job, eviction, an abrupt change of circumstance that could be the loss of a roommate or family member, or other catastrophic circumstances causing great financial harm.
Malcolm Ewen Emergency Fund Documentation:
Documentation of Membership in Theater Community
To apply for Malcolm Ewen Emergency Fund assistance, qualified theater workers must provide the following:
- A form of documented proof of vocational or avocational work in the Chicago theater at any time after July 1, 2023, including but not limited to:
- W2 Forms or 1099 forms
- Contracts
- Pay Stubs
- A theater program identifying the on- or offstage role the applicant has played and the dates of performance
- An annotated resume or biography including verification of performance details and dates
A brief narrative (no longer than 200 words, double-spaced) explaining the circumstances and need for support at this time. No documentation of financial need is required.
Documentation of the emergency that could include the bills for which you need help, a police report, notices from a landlord or employer, or other communication which verify the applicant’s circumstances.
Documentation of Expenses and Bills Applicant is Requesting for Payment
An applicant must provide documentation for the bills applicant is requesting for payment, including but not limited to:
- Pages of lease specifying to whom and what rental amount is paid, or copies of mortgage/maintenance bills, or copies of past method of payment (canceled check, money order form, or receipt for cash).
- Bills for expenses directly incurred by the emergency and not covered by insurance.
- Utility or other living expense bills for which the applicant seeks payment. (Please Note: If you are in need of utility assistance, explore your eligibility for programs such as ComEd’s Payment Assistance Program and People’s Gas Share the Warmth Program).
The Malcolm Ewen Emergency Fund reserves the right to alter, amend, modify and change the purpose, categories of assistance, limitations on assistance, eligibility and documentation at any time.
Click here to download the Malcolm Ewen Emergency Fund Application.
Click here for instructions on how to complete the application.
