SILVER SPRING, Md. – In response to the COVID-19 disruption, The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD), with support from the Ford Foundation, the Howard Gilman Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and individual supporters, is seeking to meet the urgent needs of the Black Dance community through the IABD Emergency Fund.

This fund will award grants to those directly impacted by COVID-19.

Applications to apply for the Emergency Fund opened to IABD Members on Monday, April 6. Members in good standing may apply for emergency assistance funds which can be used for food, housing, healthcare, or any other economic hardships brought about by the COVID-19 disruption.

Selected individuals will receive a one-time grant in the amount of $1,000, and selected organizations will receive $2,500 one-time grants to support general operation.

“In response to the challenges that lie ahead for many, it is our goal for this fund to provide critical support to the Black Dance sector and those individuals and organizations that have been drastically impacted,” said President and CEO, Denise Saunders Thompson.

“It is our hope that some of the unrecoverable losses will be temporarily alleviated. We are deeply humbled by the response of our philanthropic partners who assisted in the reinstatement of this fund. Thank you for answering the call.”

To make a donation visit iabdassociation.org/donations/fund.asp?id=196 26. The Emergency Fund is needbased and will be reviewed weekly. Applicants must provide a brief description of the economic impact COVID-19 has had on their personal finances and/or life as a dancer, dancerelated personnel in the field (i.e. choreographers, designers, production staff, etc.), teaching dance and/or employing dancers.