**Please note: in the event of any discrepancies between the answers to these Frequently Asked Questions and our authoritative documents, including but not limited to our Distribution Policies, the terms of the authoritative documents shall prevail**

Medical Financial Assistance

Medical Expenses

  • Unpaid or recently paid (within 6 months) medical bills from a qualified medical condition or injury. This includes medical bills for a spouse, legally committed partner, or child — if you are legally responsible. DAF does not cover medical expenses for your parents or extended family.
    • Ongoing medical expenses over multiple years require annual reapplication and proof of financial need.

Living Expenses

  • Essential living costs (only if you’re unable to work your regular job due to a medical condition — for up to 3 months.
  • Requires a note from a licensed medical provider.

End-of-Life Expenses

  • The Fund may assist:
    • Next of kin (spouse, partner, or parent) with funeral, burial, and unpaid medical expenses if they are legally responsible.
    • Qualified applicants after the death of an immediate family member (spouse, child, partner, or parent), if they’re responsible for unpaid medical bills.
    • A one-time Memorial Distribution of up to $1,000 may also be donated in the deceased’s memory to an arts-related organization of the next of kin’s choice.
  • To be eligible for medical financial assistance from the Denver Actors Fund, you must:
    • Have lived in Colorado for at least 6 months within the year prior to applying.
    • Have worked in the past 5 years in a creative or technical role (such as performer, designer, or crew member) for a credible theater company in Colorado.
  • Exceptions may be made if you’re over 65 and retired, or if a medical issue prevented participation in theater.
  • Current or recent (within 2 years) board members or officers of the Denver Actors Fund.
  • Anyone whose medical need arose during a criminal act for which they were convicted (excluding minor traffic offenses that didn’t harm others).
  • Educational theater programs, performing-arts academies or schools, and all productions staged to create performance opportunities for youth performers fall outside the capacity of the DAF to cover and do not count as qualifying productions.
  • Yes. You may receive up to 7% of the Denver Actors Fund’s General Fund balance over your lifetime. This is calculated based on the date of application compared to the fund’s most recent monthly bank statement.
  • In rare cases, the Board may approve a higher amount with a unanimous vote.

When members of the Colorado theater community find themselves in situational medical need, they fill out the initial application form, stipulating whether the need is financial or otherwise. If the request is financial, the applicant is asked to provide a specific need, with cost.  (Example: “The applicant is requesting $142 to fill a prescription order”).

To apply for assistance, you’ll need to provide:

  • Proof that you live in Colorado (you must have lived here at least six months out of the past year)
  • Evidence of your work in a Colorado theatrical production within the past five years
  • Documentation of the medical or dental expenses you need help with (such as bills, invoices, or estimates)
  • Bills or any other info showing that you are financially responsible for the expenses

For certain types of support, you might also need:

  • A note from a licensed medical professional if you’re applying for help with lost wages or living expenses
  • Relevant records that support your current financial situation 
  • Funeral or end-of-life expense documentation if applying on behalf of someone else

No.

Insurance is not required to receive assistance. However, it is strongly encouraged. 

The Denver Actors Fund is not a substitute for carrying personal health insurance.

  • The process varies based on several factors like billing status, documentation, the complexity of the application. DAF will do everything possible to process your request as quickly as possible.
  • Under normal circumstances, the applicant will receive an initial response within 72 hours with information about the next steps as necessary. It will expedite the application process if the applicant attaches documentation of all remaining post-insurance out-of-pocket medical expenses. Cell-phone photos of the applicable bills are recommended. 
  • If the assistance requested is help from one of our Action Teams, the applicant will usually receive a response within 48 hours.

Direct payments to the billing institution. Direct payments to the application for reimbursement are paid through Zelle.

Yes, DAF may assist the next of kin (spouse, partner, or parent) with funeral, burial, and unpaid medical expenses if they are legally responsible.

Additionally, a one-time Memorial Distribution of up to $1,000 may also be donated in the deceased’s memory to an arts-related organization of the next of kin’s choice.

PAWS Fund

The PAWS Fund is a separate fund for medical expenses related to domesticated animals, administered by The Denver Actors Fund. It was created to help Colorado theatre artists cover unexpected veterinary costs for their pets.

The PAWS Fund is an independent initiative that is to be administered separately from the primary Denver Actors Fund General Fund. As such, we can only pay out from it as long as there are funds remaining in it at the time of any given application.

To be eligible for assistance from the PAWS Fund, you must be an active or past participant in Colorado’s theatre community. This includes actors, directors, designers, stage crew, and other contributors to local theatre productions. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and applicants may be asked to provide details about their theatre involvement and the nature of the veterinary emergency.

  • DAF PAWS Fund distributions to any individual Qualified Distribution Recipient are not guaranteed and shall not exceed $500 to any single Qualified Distribution Recipient in any consecutive 12-month period, and shall not exceed $500 in any consecutive 12 month period to any single familial household that includes one or more Qualified Distribution Recipients (including spouses/partners, children, and other blood relatives in one shared residence). An applicant’s consecutive 12-month period shall be calculated from the date a Qualified Distribution Recipient completes and submits their initial application for aid.
  • The Board of Directors may approve additional distributions in excess of $500 on a case-by-case basis, under demonstrated special circumstances, by a unanimous vote of the board of directors.

Mental Health Care

The Denver Actors Fund partners with Maria Droste Counseling Center to provide affordable access to mental health support for Colorado theatre artists. Through this program, eligible participants can receive confidential counseling sessions with licensed professionals.

Eligibility for the mental health program follows the same guidelines as The Denver Actors Fund’s medical expense assistance. You must be a Colorado theatre artist or theatre company member who has participated in an on-stage or backstage role in a verified production within the past five years. This includes actors, directors, designers, stage crew, and other production contributors. Eligibility is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Maria Droste Counseling Center offers a variety of options depending on your needs. All sessions are provided by trained, compassionate professionals in a safe and confidential setting.

Thanks to our partnership with Maria Droste Counseling Center, participants pay a reduced rate per session with The Denver Actors Fund covering the rest of the cost. Co-pay will be determined on a sliding scale basis. Our goal is to remove financial barriers to seeking mental health care. 

Dental Assistance

The Denver Actors Fund provides support for urgent and necessary dental procedures for Colorado theatre artists. We know dental care can be expensive and often delayed, but maintaining good oral health is essential—especially for those who perform on stage. If you’re experiencing a dental emergency or facing high costs, we may be able to help.

Eligibility follows the same guidelines as our medical expense policy. You must be a Colorado theatre artist or company member who has worked in an on-stage or backstage role in a verified production within the past five years. This includes actors, directors, designers, stage crew, and others involved in theatre productions. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

If you’re seeking dental assistance, please contact The Denver Actors Fund first. Do not reach out to Dr. Kelly or Hakala Family Dentistry directly. We’ll review your request, determine your eligibility, and coordinate next steps if you qualify.

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Dr. Brian Kelly, DDS, a Broadway veteran turned top-rated dentist, The Denver Actors Fund is able to offer emergency and essential dental care at no cost to eligible theatre artists. Although now retired, Dr. Kelly continues to donate his time and expertise through the facilities of Hakala Family Dentistry.

While we encourage eligible applicants to take advantage of the donated care offered through Dr. Kelly and Hakala Family Dentistry, use of their services is not required. If you choose to go through your own dental provider, you must still apply through The Denver Actors Fund for potential financial assistance.

Volunteer Support

The Denver Actors Fund is completely volunteer-run, so there are many ways to get involved! We need help with hands-on support like delivering meals, driving people to medical appointments, running errands, pet care, and more. We also welcome volunteers with skills in fundraising, event planning, communications, and graphic design. We’re always looking for passionate, committed individuals to serve on our Board of Directors. Whether you have a few hours a week or want to take on a bigger role, there’s a place for you here.

Our Action Teams are groups of volunteers who provide practical, hands-on support to Colorado theatre artists during medical crises. This can include delivering meals, driving someone to a doctor’s appointment, walking a pet, or even assembling furniture to make a home more accessible. It’s all about showing up for each other when it’s needed most.

No experience is necessary — just a caring heart and a willingness to help. We’ll match you with opportunities that fit your comfort level and availability.

Fill out our Volunteer Interest Form. Once we receive your information, someone will reach out to connect you with opportunities and get you started.

Donations

Yes. The Denver Actors Fund is a registered 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. 

EIN: 46-2988908

Your donation goes directly to support Colorado theatre artists in medical need. The Denver Actors Fund provides financial assistance for medical expenses and other critical services to members of our theatre community facing health-related emergencies. As a completely volunteer-run organization, we keep our overhead extremely low, so nearly every dollar you give goes directly to helping members of our community.

Please note that general donations to The Denver Actors Fund do not go to the PAWS Fund or any other restricted fun unless specifically earmarked. This ensures that all donations are used exactly as intended to support our community.

Yes, through the Colorado Gives website, you can check the box to dedicate your donation to someone. If you are donating by mail or by another method, please indicate the person you would like to honor.

We understand the desire to help someone you know, but we’re unable to direct donations to specific individuals. That’s because we often cannot publicly share the medical details of someone’s situation due to privacy laws and personal dignity and we may not always know the specific needs in real time. Your gift to The Denver Actors Fund supports a community-wide safety net, ensuring we can respond quickly and equitably to those who need it most. Thank you for trusting us to distribute funds with care and confidentiality.

If you’d like your donation to support the PAWS Fund, which helps cover emergency veterinary expenses for pets of Colorado theatre artists, you can designate that when making your gift. Just select the PAWS Fund designation from the dropdown on the online donation form or note “PAWS Fund” in the memo or comment section of your donation. Please note that general donations to The Denver Actors Fund do not go to the PAWS Fund unless specifically earmarked. This ensures that both funds are used exactly as intended to support our community.

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