Sweet Relief Musicians Fund 4952 Warner Avenue, Suite 242 Huntington Beach California 92649 Telephone 714-846-3030 Toll Free Assistance line 888-955-7880 Fax 714-846-3636 Email info@sweetrelief.org Managing Director: Bill Bennett bill@sweetrelief.org Communications Director: Rob Max rob@sweetrelief.org

Please read the following before requesting an application:

Candidacy for assistance depends, among other factors, on the availability of funds and the number of eligible applicants, along with the following criteria:

1. The applicant must be a musician who has regular public performances, or performed on at least three widely released recordings (audio or audiovisual), or written music that has been performed on three widely released recordings, or published on three occasions. The term "Musician" includes vocalists, songwriters, composers, arrangers, and instrumentalists.
2. The applicant must demonstrate financial need. Sweet Relief may request tax returns, bank statements, and/or any other information deemed necessary to verify such need.
3. Except for retired or semi-retired older musicians the applicant must have, or recently have had, a serious medical condition. A condition is considered to be serious when it substantially affects the applicant’s ability to work within or outside the music industry (i.e. a survival job). A diagnosis by a medical doctor, or hospital or medical bills indicating such condition, must be provided.
4. Our grants for older musicians provide short-term assistance for basic needs.

Any individual who does not meet these criteria but believes himself or herself to be eligible for assistance may request an application for a grant by providing a written explanation as to why the Grant Committee should make an exception to the above policies.

Please note: We would sincerely love to help anyone who needs it; however, if you have not had the experience required in Part 1 above, you are not yet eligible for assistance.

To request an application or to obtain access to our online application please click here. You may also email us with "application request" in the subject line. Make sure to include the following information:

1. Your full name
2. Ground Mailing Address
3. Phone number and the best time of day to reach you
4. A brief description of your current situation

You may also call 714-846-3030 or (toll free) 888-955-7880 or fax 626-792-2899

Entertainment Industry Organizations

The Actors Fund
National human services organization that helps everyone who works in entertainment and performing arts. The Actors Fund provides comprehensive social services including counseling, crisis intervention and connections to local resources for personal, family or work related problems as well as emergency financial assistance for basic living necessities.

Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund
The Fund serves veterans of the theatrical community — those who have worked in the exhibition, distribution or production of theater or movies — who are encountering an illness, injury or life-changing event. Call the Fund at 888.994.3863 for information about their aid and grant programs.

Actors' Equity Association
Actors' Equity provides grants through The Actors Fund to current paid members with earnings of three years. The grants are intended to help with living expenses and are given once per 12-month period.

American Federation Of Musicians: The Lester Petrillo Memorial Fund
The Lester Petrillo Memorial Fund for Disabled Musicians provides a modest grant to temporarily or permanently disabled musicians who are members of the AFM.

American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists Financial Assistance
AFTRA members of at least two years' standing may be eligible for grants for living expenses. Contact your local for more information.

American Guild Of Variety Artists
AGVA members who have completed initiation and paid dues for one year can apply for emergency aid for basic needs or medical expenses. Contact the Los Angeles office at 818.508.9984 or the New York office at 212.675.1003.

American Guild Of Musical Artists Relief Fund
AGMA members in good standing may be eligible for emergency financial assistance. Grants are administered by the Actors Fund from the New York, Chicago and Los Angeles offices.

Professional Musicians Local 47
The Local 47 Musicians' Relief Fund is an emergency assistance fund that helps cover expenses when a member musician is in financial distress and cannot work due to a sudden illness or injury.

Music Industry Organizations

Opry Trust Fund
Any person who has been employed full time in the country music industry may be eligible for financial aid from the Opry Trust Fund.

Jazz Foundation Of America
The Musicians' Emergency Fund offers aid to elder jazz and blues musicians in crisis.

Motown/Universal Music Group Fund
The Fund provides grants for assistance to R&B recording artists formerly affiliated with Universal Music Group and any of its labels to ensure that artists in need have access to financial resources for health, welfare and medical needs.

Music Maker Relief Foundation
The Musical Sustenance Program gives grants to meet basic life needs and emergency relief to people 55 years or older and rooted in a Southern musical tradition.

Musicians Foundation
Musicians Foundation helps professional musicians by providing emergency financial assistance in meeting current living, medical and allied expenses. All professional musicians are eligible to apply.

Society Of Singers
SOS helps singers who have financial needs resulting from personal, family, or medical crises. Applicants must have derived their primary income from professional singing for five or more years.