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THE ACTORS' FUND OF AMERICA

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131635251 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Y400 · Mutual & Membership Benefit · Very Large (>$50M) · entertainmentcommunity.org
revenue
$66.1M
expenses
$64.2M
net assets
$119.0M
employees
415
volunteers
231
program ratio
87%
mission · from form 990

WE OFFER A SAFETY NET FOR PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONALS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Actors' Fund of America provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals through social services, emergency financial assistance, career counseling, and health care. It serves individuals across the U.S. with programs tailored to the unique challenges of the industry, including housing support, mental health services, and senior care. The organization operates nationally with key facilities in New York and New Jersey.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $25.97M
    HUMAN SERVICES (SOCIAL SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING, HEALTH SERVICES AND SENIOR RESIDENTIAL CARE.) THE FUND HELPED APPROXIMATELY 26,000 PEOPLE THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THESE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONALS. (SEE SCHEDULE O).PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT 2: HUMAN SERVICES (SOCIAL SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING, HEALTH SERVICES AND SENIOR RESIDENTIAL CARE.)THE FUND'S HUMAN SERVICES OFFER COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MEET THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF ENTERTAINMENT AND PERFORMING ARTS PROFESSIONALS. IN 2024, THE FUND HELPED MORE THAN 25,981 PEOPLE THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.SOCIAL SERVICESTHE FUND OFFERS FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS A WIDE ARRAY OF CHALLENGES FACED BY PEOPLE IN PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. IN 2024, WE HELPED 11,274 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS. THE FUND PROVIDED $7.6M IN EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 5,489 INDIVIDUALS.YOUTH SERVICESLOOKING AHEAD SUPPORTS YOUNG PERFORMERS IN DEVELOPING THE VALUES, SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO FULFILLING ADULT LIVES. IT SERVES YOUNG PEOPLE, THEIR PARENTS AND ALUMNI, THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING, EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SOCIAL EVENTS. AS OF 2024, 1,102 YOUNG PERFORMERS ARE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.THE CAREER CENTEROUR CAREER COUNSELING, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, JOB DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SERVICES HELP PEOPLE FIND WORK THAT CAN BE DONE WHILE CONTINUING IN THE INDUSTRY OR WHILE DEVELOPING A NEW PROFESSIONAL DIRECTION. OFFERING CLASSES, SEMINARS, GROUPS, TUITION ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING, THE CAREER CENTER EMPOWERS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND FULFILLING WORK THAT COMPLEMENTS THEIR INTERESTS AND SKILLS. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM SERVED 3,299 PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONALS. CAREER TRANSITION FOR DANCERS AND THE DANCERS' RESOURCE THE FUND HAS LONG SUPPORTED THE DANCE COMMUNITY IN MANAGING THE DEMANDS OF A LIFE IN DANCE. TO ASSIST DANCERS DURING AND POST-CAREER, OUR CAREER TRANSITION FOR DANCERS AND DANCERS' RESOURCE PROGRAMS HELP OUR COMMUNITY AROUND CAREER PLANNING AND TRANSITION, HEALTH, WELLNESS AND SUPPORT FOR INJURED DANCERS, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS. IN 2024, 763 DANCERS AND CHOREGRAPHERS RECEIVED SERVICES AND CAREER TRANSITION FOR DANCERS PROGRAM PROVIDED $132,250 IN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO 53 DANCERS.HEALTH SERVICESOUR ARTISTS HEALTH INSURANCE RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS WITH COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON THE LATEST INSURANCE OPTIONS, AND HELPS INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFY AND ENROLL IN HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. IN 2024, 4,030 PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM, WITH 2,415 COMPLETING ENROLLMENT IN HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MOUNT SINAI HEALTH SYSTEM, THE FRIEDMAN HEALTH CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY, IS THE ONLY HEALTH CENTER IN NYC SOLELY FOCUSED ON THE PARTICULAR HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO WORK IN PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. IT OFFERS PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY CARE AND ACCEPTS MOST INSURANCES PLANS, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL INSURANCES, SEVERAL MARKETPLACE/EXCHANGE PLANS, MEDICARE AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION. IN 2024, 10,762 PATIENTS WERE SERVED.
  2. #2 $3.72M
    AFFORDABLE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS A CRITICAL CONCERN FOR MANY IN THE PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. WITH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND THROUGH MARKETING OUTREACH, THE FUND HELPS PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONALS SECURE HOUSING; IT ALSO DEVELOPS AND OPERATES AFFORDABLE, SUPPORTIVE AND SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING THROUGH ITS SUBSIDIARY, THE ACTORS FUND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. (SEE SCHEDULE O).PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT 3: HOUSINGHOUSING IS A CRITICAL CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK IN PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. THE FUND WORKS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE DOROTHY ROSS FRIEDMAN RESIDENCE, A 178-UNIT AFFORDABLE, AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RESIDENCE ON WEST 57TH STREET IN MANHATTAN, NYC, PROVIDES HOUSING TO SPECIAL LOW-INCOME ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING SENIORS, WORKING PROFESSIONALS, AND PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS. SOCIAL SERVICES AND A VIBRANT ACTIVITIES PROGRAM HELPED RESIDENTS BUILD COMMUNITY, FOCUS ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND STAY ENGAGED, CREATIVE AND ACTIVE.THE PALM VIEW IS A 40 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FACILITY IN WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, THAT IS AVAILABLE TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AND SENIORS WITH DISABILITIES. THE SCHERMERHORN RESIDENCE IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN PROVIDES 217 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME PROFESSIONALS IN ENTERTAINMENT AND PERFORMING ARTS AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS OR CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS. HOUSED IN THE BUILDING IS THE MARK O'DONNELL THEATER AT THE ACTORS FUND ARTS CENTER, A 2,000 SQ FT BLACK BOX THEATER THAT OFFERS LOW-COST REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE SPACE TO MORE THAN 60 SMALL ARTS GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS EACH YEAR. IN ADDITION TO OUR THREE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESIDENCES, OUR HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS, ONLINE INFORMATION VIA OUR HOUSING BULLETIN BOARD AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SEMINARS IN NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES.
named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Emergency Financial Assistance
Provides grants to performing arts and entertainment professionals facing unexpected financial crises, covering essential expenses such as housing, utilities, and health care.
Housing Programs
Develops and operates affordable, supportive housing through the Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation, including the Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence (NYC), The Palm View (West Hollywood), and The Schermerhorn Residence (Brooklyn).
Housing Resource Center
Provides one-on-one consultations, housing seminars, and online resources to help entertainment professionals secure affordable housing.
Looking Ahead
Youth program offering counseling, leadership development, and educational support to young performers and their families.
Social Services
Offers free and confidential counseling and support to address personal, financial, and health challenges faced by entertainment professionals.
The Actors Fund Home
169-bed skilled nursing and assisted living facility in Englewood, NJ, providing senior care for members of the entertainment community.
The Career Center
Provides career counseling, job training, entrepreneurship support, and tuition assistance to help professionals transition within or outside the industry.
activities · 11 groups

What they do

  • Affordable Housing Development and Management 2 activities
    • Affordable and supportive housing development and operations
      Develops, owns, and operates affordable and supportive housing facilities for low-income entertainment professionals, seniors, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and formerly homeless individuals. Operates multiple properties including the Dorothy Ross Friedman Residence (178 units in NYC), Palm View (40 units in West Hollywood), and Schermerhorn Residence (217 units in Brooklyn with integrated arts space). Also develops new affordable housing, including a project for 157 permanently affordable units.
    • Housing support and resource services
      Provides housing support through a housing bulletin board for room rentals and sublets, one-on-one housing consultations, online housing information, and affordable housing seminars in New York and Los Angeles via its Housing Resource Center.
  • Advance Care Planning Support 1 activity
    • Advance care planning and legal document support
      Provides free access to an online will-writing tool through a partnership with FreeWill, enables completion of Power of Attorney and Health Care Directive documents, and hosts quarterly educational sessions on advance care planning for entertainment professionals.
  • Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
    • Cultural access services for members
      Provides members of the entertainment community with access to cultural events through a ticket concierge service for house seats, distribution of tickets to special performances, and invitations to celebrations and galas.
  • Direct Financial Assistance to Individuals 1 activity
    • Emergency financial assistance for entertainment professionals
      Provides emergency financial assistance to cover essential living expenses such as health care, housing, utilities, health insurance premiums, prescription co-payments, and grocery costs for performing arts and entertainment professionals facing critical financial need. In 2024, distributed $7.6 million in emergency financial assistance to 5,489 individuals.
  • Charity Event Organization 1 activity
    • Fundraising events
      Raised $1.8 million at the 2026 Annual Gala, the highest amount in the organization's history.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Grantmaking and fund administration
      Administers emergency financial assistance grants on behalf of other organizations for performing arts and entertainment professionals.
  • Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facilities 1 activity
    • Health care services and health support
      Operates a 169-bed health care facility in Englewood, NJ, offering skilled nursing, short-stay rehabilitation, assisted living, and dementia care for members of the entertainment community. Also provides subsidized skilled nursing care at The Actors Fund Home and free flu shots to uninsured professionals. Supplies personal protective equipment to staff and patients at the Entertainment Community Fund Health Center.
  • Home-Delivered Meals for Seniors and Homebound 1 activity
    • Nutritional support for seniors
      Provides healthy meals to home-bound seniors in supportive housing.
  • Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 1 activity
    • Social and case management services
      Provides free and confidential social services, including workshops, support groups, career counseling, education, training, and job development services to performing arts and entertainment professionals. In 2024, served 11,274 individuals through social services and 3,299 through career development programs.
  • Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
    • Subsidized rehearsal and co-working space for artists
      Provides approximately 5,500 square feet of affordable rehearsal and co-working space for artists, including through the 2,000 sq ft black box theater at the Schermerhorn Residence, which serves over 60 small arts groups and individual artists annually.
  • Youth Development and Support Services 1 activity
    • Youth services program
      Enrolls young performers in the Looking Ahead program, which provides tailored support services. As of 2024, enrolled 1,102 youth participants.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$66.15M
Contributions & grants$33.74M51%
Program service revenue$26.04M39%
Investment income$6.91M10%
Other revenue$-544K
expenses
Total expenses$64.20M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$34.67M
Grants paid out$9.38M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$181.86M
Cash$26.55M
Investments$60.84M
Liabilities$62.91M
Net assets$118.95M
Liquid reserves16.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -33.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 11
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JOSEPH BENINCASA PRESIDENT & CEO (NON-VOTING) 40 $1.00M
BARBARA DAVIS COO & ASSISTANT SECRETARY 40 $623K
CONNIE YOO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40 $446K
JORDAN STROHL EXECUTIVE DIR., ACTORS FUND HOME 40 $402K
THOMAS EXTON CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER 40 $388K
KEITH MCNUTT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WESTERN REGION 40 $332K
TAMAR SHAPIRO MANAGING DIR. OF SOCIAL SERVICES 35 $281K
THOMAS BORCHARD MANAGING DIR. OF HR AND ADMIN. 35 $235K
MARIA BOX DIRECTOR OF NURSING 40 $231K
JOHN TORRES MANAGING DIRECTOR OF IT 35 $230K
DANIEL ARNOW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AFHDC 35 $190K
board members · 14
  • ABBY SCHROEDER — SECRETARY
  • ALLISON WRIGHT — TRUSTEE
  • ALVIN VINCENT JR — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREW FLATT — TRUSTEE
  • ANNETTE BENING — CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
  • BILLY PORTER — TRUSTEE
  • BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL — TRUSTEE (THRU 06/2024)
  • BROOKE KENNEDY — TRUSTEE
  • BROOKE SHIELDS — TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2024)
  • CAROLYN CARTER — TRUSTEE
  • CHANDRA WILSON — TRUSTEE
  • CHARLOTTE ST MARTIN — TRUSTEE (THRU 06/2024)
  • CHRIS KEYSER — TRUSTEE
  • DANNY WHITMAN — TRUSTEE (AS OF 11/2024)
relationships · 26

Who they work with

  • AFM Local 802 Partner — Administers the Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund on behalf of AFM Local 802.
  • American Guild of Musical Artists Partner — Administers the Relief Fund on behalf of the American Guild of Musical Artists.
  • Annette Bening Government — Chair of the Board of the Entertainment Community Fund, participated in the 2026 Gala.
  • BroadwayHD Partner — Partner providing discounted subscriptions to members.
  • Casting Society Partner — Administers Casting Society Cares on behalf of the Casting Society.
  • Daryl Roth Partner — Honored at the 2026 Annual Gala for contributions to the entertainment community.
  • Douglaston Development Partner — Development partner in the Rialto West mixed-income, mixed-use affordable housing project.
  • Entertainment Community Fund Network — AFHDC is a subsidiary of the Entertainment Community Fund.
  • Entertainment Community Fund Portal Partner — Online platform providing access to workshops, programs, and services for entertainment professionals.
  • FreeWill Partner — Partner organization providing the online will-writing tool.
  • Greater Orlando Performing Arts Relief Partner — Administers emergency financial assistance for individuals in the Greater Orlando area through GOPAR.
  • HBO Partner — Honored cast from HBO Original _The Gilded Age_ at the 2026 Annual Gala.
  • IATSE Local 161 Partner — Administers the Hardship Relief Fund on behalf of IATSE Local 161.
  • IATSE Local 476 Partner — Administers the Chicago Studio Mechanics Hardship Relief Fund on behalf of IATSE Local 476.
  • IATSE Local 600 Partner — Administers the Hardship Fund on behalf of IATSE Local 600.
  • IATSE Local 700 Partner — Administers the Hardship Relief Fund on behalf of IATSE Local 700.
  • IndieSpace Partner — Operating tenant providing affordable rehearsal and co-working space for artists in the Rialto West building.
  • NYC Department of Environmental Protection Government — City agency partner in the development of Rialto West.
  • NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Government — City agency responsible for designing and maintaining the adjacent Lorraine Hansberry Plaza public open space.
  • NYC Housing Development Corporation Government — City agency partner in the development of Rialto West.
  • NYC Housing Preservation & Development Government — City agency partner in the development of Rialto West.
  • Oregon Shakespeare Festival Partner — Administers the Hunter Brown Emergency Assistance Fund for current or former employees of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
  • Origin Story Productions Partner — Served as Executive Producers for the 2026 Annual Gala event.
  • THE ACTORS FUND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Partner — Subsidiary organization through which The Actors' Fund develops and operates affordable, supportive, and special needs housing.
  • The Gilded Age cast Partner — Featured performers and honorees at the 2026 Annual Gala.
  • Yoshiki Partner — Recognized at the 2026 Annual Gala and performed during the event.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Industry-Tailored Integrated Support
    methodology: industry-specific support
    By designing services specifically for the unique structural challenges of the entertainment industry—such as unstable income and project-based employment—the organization increases utilization and effectiveness because the support is contextually relevant and accessible across all professional roles, visible or behind-the-scenes.
  • Integrated Affordable Housing Development
    methodology: integrated-housing-approach
    By combining real estate development, advocacy, and educational programming with mixed-income, mixed-use models, the organization increases sustainable access to affordable housing because this approach creates long-term community assets and serves diverse income levels within the entertainment industry.
  • Safety Net Model for Entertainment Professionals
    methodology: safety_net_model
    By providing integrated emergency financial assistance, health and wellness support, and housing services tailored to the episodic nature of entertainment careers, the organization fosters stability and resiliency because consistent access to holistic resources mitigates the risks of income unpredictability and career instability.