Emergency Grants

Below please find a list of emergency grants for artists and arts organizations impacted by COVID-19. For general funding opportunities, visit the Funding page of our website. To have a grant listed below, reach out to us at info@asiwny.org. Other resource lists and organizations to follow:

The Actors Fund has partnered with other entertainment industry organizations to provide emergency financial assistance to those in immediate financial need. Funds are available to union and non-union workers in entertainment and the performing arts. Learn more
The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Each grant is given as one-time assistance for a specific emergency, examples of which are fire, flood, or emergency medical need. Learn more
Colorado-based Artists’ Charitable Fund assists American visual fine artists (painters and sculptors) living anywhere in the United States by paying a portion of their medical/dental/eye-care bills. This fund does not provide financial assistance due to loss of income. Learn more
The Blues Foundation established the COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund to provide immediate resources to full-time professional North American blues musicians whose revenue streams have been severely diminished by the current coronavirus pandemic. The fund is intended for blues musicians for whom performing makes up the bulk of their income and who have no other outlets for work. Award amounts are intended to assist primarily with immediate essential needs such as food, rent/mortgage, utilities, phone and car payments. Medical insurance premiums will also be considered. Learn more
CERF+’s emergency relief grants provide immediate financial assistance to eligible artists working in craft disciplines (such as woodworkers, fiber artists, metalsmiths, glass artists, potters, and furniture makers) after career threatening emergencies. The $3,000 emergency grants are available to established artists working in craft disciplines including folk and traditional artists. Learn more

The City of Buffalo and the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency in partnership with WEDI invite microenterprises based in the City of Buffalo to apply for funding to assist in the preparation, prevention, and response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Application and details available: February 8, 2021
Learn more

On March 20, 2020, the State of New York received a Major Disaster Declaration DR-4480 NY from the then President for the COVID-19 Incident. The incident started on January 20, 2020 and is ongoing. The declaration authorizes public assistance for Category B Emergency Protective Measures related to the COVID-19 response. To mitigate the pandemic’s impact on nonprofits, New York State is launching a targeted initiative to provide information and training to NON-MEDICAL Private Nonprofits (PNPs) and intermediary organizations applying for FEMA funding to reimburse costs incurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. PNPs and their umbrella organizations are invited to FEMA overview sessions, hosted by the Division of the Budget (DOB) and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), offering an overview of the FEMA public assistance process as well as a number of COVID-19 disaster specific topics and policies that FEMA has implemented, including new and updated policy and guidance recently released by FEMA. The learning objectives of these sessions are:

  • The documentation required and the process working with DHSES to qualify with FEMA as an eligible applicant
  • The process by which FEMA determines applicant, facility, work, and expenditure eligibility
  • The types of expenditures that non-medical private non-profits would typically incur
  • The variances in eligibility of activities and expenditures driven by policy across three distinct time intervals
  • Activities and expenses that FEMA considers ineligible for reimbursement and other constraints and limitations applicants must be aware of
  • The application process in the FEMA Grants Portal

For more details on the initiative and related resources, please access the Grants Gateway site. Learn more

Eligible private nonprofits can apply for expenses incurred January 20, 2020 through December 31, 2021. Reimbursement is exclusive to COVID-19 emergency and major disaster declarations through FEMA’s Public Assistance program. Items that may be eligible for reimbursement include face coverings, Personal Protective Equipment, cleaning and disinfection, COVID-19 diagnostic testing, screening and temperature scanning and portable temporary physical barriers for social distancing

Learn more

In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the artist community, Foundation for Contemporary Arts has operated the FCA Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund since March 2020. The COVID-19 Fund will disburse one-time $2,000 grants to eligible artists who have lost income from canceled performances or exhibitions because of the pandemic. The program will remain open through September 2021. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of artists. Deadline: Applications accepted through September 2021 Learn more
The Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for comic creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. Since inception, the Hero Initiative has been fortunate enough to benefit creators with more than $1 million worth of much-needed aid, fueled by individual contributions. Applicants must have been a working comic book writer, penciler, inker, colorist, or letterer on a work-for-hire basis for no less than 10 years since January 1, 1934 and must demonstrate to the Hero Disbursement Committee adequate evidence of financial need via verbal and written documentation. Learn more
The nonprofit welcomes applications throughout the year to professionals in the creative arts. There are no deadlines. Funding is determined according to the individual’s need and is disbursed in the form of a grant not to exceed $1000. Funding will be based on a sliding scale according to each individual’s specific case. All applications are reviewed and given consideration according to the most critical situations and urgency. Learn more
New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen sharp reduction in rental income. Watch NYSCA’s information session on this fund by clicking here. Learn more

The Erie County Department of Social Services is pleased to share that the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program will open Tuesday, June 1, 2021. The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will provide income-qualified renters who experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 with up to 12 months back rent and up to three months future rent. Utility arrears assistance will also be available in some cases.

The NYS ERAP application portal will open on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 9 AM. The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will also have a call center dedicated to the ERAP program open 7 days a week from 8 AM to 7 PM at 1-844-NY1-RENT or 1-844-691-7368

Learn more

The New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations in the State of New York who have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant is for small businesses, micro-businesses, and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations.

Grant awards will be calculated based on a business’s annual gross receipts for 2019 (see below for more information). Grant amounts and calculations are subject to change by Empire State Development.

  • Annual gross receipts: $25,000 – $49,999.99: Award is $5,000 / business
  • Annual gross receipts: $50,000 – $99,999.99: Award is $10,000 / business
  • Annual gross receipts: $100,000 – $2,500,000 [UPDATED 08.25.21]: Award is 10% of gross receipts (maximum grant is $50,000)

Learn more