Apply for a Basic Needs Grant

Be sure you meet our eligibility requirements. You must be seriously ill or injured to apply for a grant. Due to the small size of our organization, we are unable to provide Basic Needs financial grants due to lack of work or natural disasters.

For fire-related assistance and resources visit https://iatse.net/socal-fires/, Entertainment Community Fund, Motion Picture and Television Fund, or NYWIFT.

It is common to experience depression or anxiety when you are dealing with a serious illness or injury, or a lack of work. Our Mental Health Initiative has many tools and resources available to help.

How do I apply for a grant?

Complete the Basic Needs Application which requires such information as a letter from your medical doctor or other documentation of your medical condition, documentation of your industry earnings, financial information, copies of bills you are seeking assistance with (Behind the Scenes does not assist with credit card, legal, IRS, student loans or child support), a current bank statement, and a copy of your most recent Federal tax return.

You must provide the required supporting documentation listed on Page 7 of the application. All documentation must be provided in PDF format. If it is not, it will delay the processing of your application. You can easily scan your documents with your phone using a free app like Adobe Scan which is available in the App Store for iOS or Android.

An application may be submitted on behalf of an eligible person by a spouse or domestic partner, family member, a legal guardian or a person acting under a valid power of attorney or other legal authority. In certain situations an application may be submitted by a close friend or colleague on behalf of the eligible person.

The Basic Needs Application is in Adobe Acrobat format. Acrobat Reader may be obtained free at http://www.adobe.com. Download the fillable PDF form and:

Fill in digitally, save and email along with supporting documentation to [email protected], or
Print, complete, and mail to P.O. Box 368, Lakeville, CT 06039

The form may also be obtained by calling 212-244-1421 or emailing [email protected]

How are applications reviewed and how quickly can I expect an answer?

Applications are reviewed by a formal Review Committee. Grant decisions are generally made within one to two weeks of receiving a completed application and all supporting documents (in a PDF format). If a grant is awarded, you will be contacted immediately to coordinate delivery of the grant.

Payment must be made to the service provider and can be sent directly to the provider or to the grant recipient for distribution. All funds awarded must be used within three months unless special arrangements are made.