Thanks to the generosity of a private donor, the Jeff Impact Fellowship was established in 2023 as a grant award program to help inspire early to mid-career artists of color in the Greater Chicagoland area.
The Fellowship is intended for the professional, academic, and/or personal development of candidates in the theater community. Eligible recipients are early to mid-career artists of color who reside in or are based in Chicago or a Chicago suburb and are at least 18 years of age. They must have been involved in Chicago theater for at least one year as actors, directors, stage managers, designers, theater technicians, cabaret artists, playwrights, music directors, theater composers, theater musicians, and improvisational performers.
“Supporting a vibrant Chicago theater community is part of our mission, so we understand how vital it is to provide this type of opportunity for emerging artists in our hometown,” said John Glover, Chair of The Jeff Awards. “Our hope is that applicants will use the Jeff Impact Fellowship to step away from conventional ideas for how to approach their work and commit to applying the grant funds towards developing and growing their work as a Chicagoland theater artist.”
The application window for the 2025 Fellowship opens August 1, 2025; applications are due November 1, 2025 at 5:00 pm (CDT).
All applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation (only two letters will be considered in the selection process). One of the recommendations must come from an Artistic Director of a Chicagoland Jeff-eligible theater company that has produced in the area for at least two years, and be submitted by the recommender via email to fellowship@jeffawards.org.
Fellowship recipients and all applicants will be notified in January 2026.
Applicants with questions are encouraged to email John Glover, Chair of the Jeff Awards, at chair@jeffawards.org. A phone conversation with an applicant may be arranged upon request.
All applicants will be notified within 48 hours to confirm submission including two required letters of recommendation.
Apply here.