NYFA Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants

The Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants program is a targeted financial assistance initiative designed to support professional dancers in the United States who are facing dire financial emergencies due to circumstances beyond their control. Administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) with support from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, this program aligns with the late artist’s longstanding commitment to supporting fellow creatives in times of urgent need. The Foundation originally established Change, Inc. in 1970 to formalize this mission. In response to the outsized impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing financial disruptions within the performing arts sector, the program was launched to offer meaningful relief. Eligible applicants can receive a one-time grant of up to $3,000 to cover up to three months of essential expenses. These include rent, utilities, food, transportation, and medical care. An additional $1,000 of the award may be used for dance-related necessities such as class fees, gear, studio rentals, and physical therapy. This grant is not meant for mortgage payments, student loan debt, or expenses for dependents. Applicants must reside in the U.S., D.C., Tribal Nations, or U.S. Territories, and demonstrate both ongoing dance performance activity and a recent financial emergency caused by career disruption. To qualify, applicants must be at least 21 years old and must not be enrolled in any degree-seeking program. They must show that their adjusted gross income has averaged no more than $75,000 (individual) or $150,000 (joint) over the past two years. Applicants must not have previously received either a Rauschenberg Medical or Dancer Emergency Grant. Artistic eligibility requires having worked as a paid live dance performer in public-facing performances annually since at least 2019, across genres including ballet, hip-hop, modern, aerial, and more. Activities in educational or commercial settings, exotic dance, or solely digital platforms do not count toward this eligibility. The application requires contact information, a summary of dance activities and income, a description of the financial emergency, and an explanation of how the grant will promote stability. Applicants must list specific eligible expenses and submit a detailed resume documenting their professional dance history since 2019. All applications are submitted via Submittable and reviewed for economic urgency. Awards are determined through a two-step process: NYFA reviews for eligibility and completeness, then an outside panel assesses need. Final awardees are selected via a lottery from the top-scoring pool. Each grant cycle offers about $65,000 in total funding. The current cycle, Cycle 19, opened on July 15, 2025, and will close on August 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. Applicants will be notified of decisions by September 19, 2025. Future cycles are scheduled on a bimonthly basis through at least June 2026, with Cycle 20 opening on September 9 and Cycle 21 on November 4. NYFA strongly encourages early submission and offers support for applicants who need accommodations, including assistance with paper applications. For questions, applicants can contact Mollie Quinlan-Hayes at emergencyfunds@nyfa.org or call 212.366.6900 ext. 239.

Submit early to avoid technical issues. Inactivity during COVID or the past six months is acceptable if prior activity can be demonstrated.