Chicago Dance Health Fund

What Chicago Dance Health Fund does

Chicago Dance Health Fund (CDHF) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered at 200 West Monroe Street, Suite 1150, Chicago, Illinois. The organization provides financial relief for preventative healthcare and critical medical needs for working professionals in the Chicago concert dance industry, including dancers, choreographers, instructors, musicians, designers, and administrative and production personnel, and extends eligibility to retired professionals who previously met the income threshold. CDHF operates two core grant programs: a Critical Health Need Grant of up to $5,000 annually for individuals experiencing illness or injury affecting their ability to work, and a General Health & Wellness Grant of up to $1,000 annually for ongoing health maintenance including insurance premiums, medical and dental bills, and mental health sessions.

The organization's revenue model is event-driven and donation-based. Funding is generated primarily through the annual Dance for Life benefit performance (now in its 35th year, showcasing 50+ Chicago dance companies), the Dance Divas performance, the Day of Dance Health community event, and the Slay Bell Bingo fundraiser, supplemented by corporate sponsorships ranging from $1,500 (Associate Producer) to $25,000 (Presenting Sponsor), individual donations, and state/city arts funding (Illinois Arts Council Agency, Chicago DCASE). Notable sponsors include Fifth Third Bank, Gilead Sciences, and Peoples Gas. CDHF also maintains a discounted-care health-partner network with Howard Brown Health, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Athletico Physical Therapy to extend service reach beyond cash grants. In 2023, total grants awarded exceeded $80,000, and in 2025 the organization awarded over $75,000 in grants, more than doubling annual grantmaking from early-year levels of $10,000–$20,000. The board was expanded to 17 members and staff grew from a single project manager to a contracted workforce of 6 across operations, marketing/PR, development, accounting, and project management. In 2024, the organization rebranded from Chicago Dancers United to Chicago Dance Health Fund to better reflect its mission.

CDHF operates with no proprietary technology platform; grant applications are processed via Google Forms, donations are accepted through Qgiv, and the website is built on Squarespace. Distribution is regional (Chicago metropolitan area) and direct, with no resellers or intermediaries. The organization maintains historical ties to AIDS Foundation Chicago, which housed the Dance for Life fundraiser from its inception in 1992 until CDHF's 2015 spin-off as an independent entity.

Name

Chicago Dance Health Fund

Legal name

Chicago Dance Health Fund

Website

https://cdhf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Chicago Dance Health Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides Critical Health Need Grants (up to $5,000) and General Health & Wellness Grants (up to $1,000) to active and retired Chicago concert dance industry professionals facing medical and financial hardship, funded through annual fundraising events and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts & Culture Nonprofit

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Health and Welfare Funds (52512)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI)

Keywords

• Dance health grants
• Performing arts nonprofit
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Dancer wellness support
• Community health funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Revenue and Fundraising: Primary revenue comes from annual Dance for Life benefit performance, Dance Divas, Day of Dance Health, and Slay Bell Bingo events. Corporate sponsorships at various levels ($1,500-$25,000) and individual donations support grantmaking operations.
2. Sponsorship Revenue: Dance for Life sponsorships range from $1,500 (Associate Producer) to $25,000 (Presenting Sponsor), providing tickets, gala access, and logo recognition in exchange for support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Chicago Dance Health Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides financial relief for preventative healthcare and critical medical needs for Chicago dance industry professionals. The organization runs two grant programs—the Critical Health Need Grant (up to $5,000 annually) and the General Health & Wellness Grant (up to $1,000 annually)—funded primarily through annual fundraising events such as Dance for Life, Dance Divas, Day of Dance Health, and Slay Bell Bingo.

Product overview

Chicago Dance Health Fund is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) that provides financial relief for preventative healthcare and critical medical needs for Chicago dance industry professionals. The organization operates two core grant programs: the Critical Health Need Grant (up to $5,000) for critical illness or injury, and the General Health & Wellness Grant (up to $1,000) for ongoing health maintenance. Funding for these grants is generated through annual fundraising events including Dance for Life (the primary annual benefit performance now in its 35th year), Dance Divas, Slay Bell Bingo, and Day of Dance Health community events. The organization also partners with healthcare providers including Howard Brown Health, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Athletico Physical Therapy to provide discounted access to medical services for grant recipients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Critical Health Need Grant

Quantifiable outcome

• $75,000 awarded in grants in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, legacy and minor.

• Howard Brown HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally Qualified Health Center providing comprehensive medical care. CDHF partnership ensures dance professionals have access to high-quality healthcare regardless of ability to pay. Services include primary medical care, behavioral healthcare, HIV/STI prevention, youth and elder services. Preferred clinic location at 1525 E. 55th Street.
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial orthopedic and physical therapy services provider offering significant discounts to uninsured Chicago dance professionals. Includes Certified Performing Arts Medical Program (PAMP) founded in 1985 providing performance-oriented medical evaluation for dancers, singers, actors. Artist-centered approach considering unique demands of each art form.
• Athletico Physical TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessible physical therapy services for Chicago dance professionals. Staffed with physical therapists, certified athletic trainers, personal trainers, strength and conditioning specialists, and massage therapists. More than 50 specialty rehabilitation and outreach services. Accepts most major insurance plans with flexible scheduling including early mornings, late evenings, and Saturday appointments.
• AIDS Foundation ChicagolegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 35 years of improving lives for people living with HIV and AIDS. Originally hosted Dance for Life fundraiser under its wing since 1992. Continues as resource provider and beneficiary. CDHF maintains close relationship developed from origins as part of AIDS Foundation Chicago.
• American Cancer SocietyminorOthersCancer-fighting organization providing advocacy, research, and patient support. Offers resources for cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and survival that benefit dance community members affected by cancer.
• Entertainment Community FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly The Actors Fund. 501(c)(3) supporting performers and behind-the-scenes workers in performing arts and entertainment. Helps more than 17,000 people directly each year with resources similar to CDHF mission.
• Season of Concern ChicagominorOthersFounded 1987, provides financial assistance to Chicagoland theater practitioners impacted by illness or injury. Has distributed more than $3 million to those in need. Originally focused on AIDS-related illnesses, expanded to greater health needs of theater community.
• See Chicago DanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerService partner providing marketing and promotional support for CDHF events and mission awareness within Chicago dance community.
• Ruth Page Center for the ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerService partner and sponsor providing support for CDHF events and dance community initiatives.
• Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Chicago department providing sponsorship and promotional support for Dance for Life and CDHF programming.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Athletico Physical Therapy: Midwest-based physical therapy chain and CDHF partner providing discounted orthopedic and rehabilitation services for dance professionals. Comparable as a regional healthcare provider serving CDHF's beneficiary base.
• Howard Brown Health: Federally Qualified Health Center and CDHF core health partner serving Chicago-area LGBTQ+ and underserved populations with primary medical, behavioral, and HIV care. It is a regional peer that shares the same patient demographic and Chicago geography.
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab: Chicago-based rehabilitation hospital and CDHF partner that operates the Performing Arts Medicine Program (PAMP) founded in 1985. It shares CDHF's specialized focus on performing-arts physical medicine in the same city.

Direct peers

• Entertainment Community Fund: Formerly The Actors Fund, this 501(c)(3) provides social services, health support, and financial assistance to performers and behind-the-scenes entertainment workers nationwide, serving 17,000+ annually. It is CDHF's national-scale analog with an overlapping mission for performing-arts professionals.
• AIDS Foundation Chicago: Hosted Dance for Life under its umbrella since 1992 and remains a legacy resource partner. It is both a historical parent to CDHF's fundraising activity and a peer in Chicago HIV/AIDS and arts-community health programming.
• Season of Concern Chicago: Founded 1987, Season of Concern provides financial assistance to Chicagoland theater practitioners impacted by illness or injury, distributing over $3 million historically. It is the most direct functional analog to CDHF, serving a sibling performing-arts community in the same city.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: National health nonprofit and CDHF resource partner providing cancer prevention, detection, and patient support services to community members affected by cancer. Comparable as a large incumbent in the patient-support and health-navigation space.
• Illinois Arts Council Agency: State arts agency that funds CDHF and Dance for Life. Comparable as a public-sector grantmaker in the Illinois arts ecosystem, providing funding that CDHF depends on as part of its revenue mix.

Emerging players

• Twist Out Cancer: Chicago-based nonprofit using artistic expression to support those touched by cancer. Shares CDHF's Chicago footprint and arts-and-health intersection, and has a direct board-member connection (CDHF board member serves as Dir of Programs).

Others

• The Actors Fund: (Same organization as Entertainment Community Fund — listed under historical name. National human-services organization for entertainment-industry workers, providing health, housing, and career support analogous to CDHF's dance-industry grants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-dance-health-fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Dance Health Fund