Seeking a new class of Jeff Awards Impact Fellows, the organization aligned with promoting and recognizing Chicago theater excellence opens the application process for the 2025 Fellowships. The Jeff Impact Fellowship Awards honor early career artists of color from the Greater Chicagoland area. Each year, two recipients are selected for awards of $10,000 each to to support their work to pursue artistic excellence in Chicago theater.
The Fellowship is designed for the professional, academic, and/or personal development of candidates in the theater community. Eligible recipients are early 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 to not more than five years as actors, directors, stage managers, designers, theater technicians, cabaret artists, playwrights, music directors, theater composers, theater musicians, dramaturgs and improvisational performers.
“We continue to be overwhelmed by the creativity and vision of emerging artists in our hometown,” said John Glover, Chair of The Jeff Awards. “So recognition and support like the Jeff Impact Fellowship Awards gives us another important opportunity to showcase and encourage the young talent in our backyard. Our intent with these Fellowships is to help them step out and explore their ideas for the theater and community with plans to apply the grant funds towards developing and growing their work as a Chicagoland theater artist.”
Applications can be submitted online here and 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.
Additional Information on the Application Process
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.
Past Jeff Impact Awards recipients include Satya Chavez, a Latine multi-disciplinary artist with a passion for social justice and writing music; Terry Guest, playwright, actor, director and teaching artist; Hershey Suri, a theatrical storyteller passionate about exploring the intersection between sociology and the law, and Jamaican-American comedy writer and performer Adisa Williams.
ABOUT THE JEFF AWARDS
The Jeff Awards is one of the most active and engaged theater awards organizations in the country evaluating hundreds of theatrical productions annually and holding two awards ceremonies highlighting work over the past Equity and Non-Equity seasons. Through our recommendations, awards, and honors we help foster the growth of companies, encourage artists, bring new appreciation for diverse storytelling, and cultivate civic pride in the achievements of the Chicago theater community. Originally chartered in 1968 to recognize Equity productions, the Jeff Awards Non-Equity Wing was established in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre. For more information, visit www.jeffawards.org.