New Organization to Support Chicago Comedians Launches
For Immediate Release
DATE: May 7, 2026CONTACT: Elizabeth Grossman, elizabeth@chicagohacc.orgCHICAGO, IL – Comedy Gives Back, a national nonprofit supporting comedians in need with financial crisis support, mental health therapy, and chemical dependency treatment, is proud to announce their sponsorship of Health Alliance for Chicago Comedians (HACC), a local organization dedicated to providing comedians working in Chicago with access to affordable health care. HACC will create a fund for these comics to help them meet the rising costs of health insurance and care.
“Chicago isn’t Chicago without its thriving comedy scene,” said Elizabeth Grossman, co-founder of HACC. “We need to create the infrastructure to support comedians, particularly now with health care costs rising and the need for a comic voice to speak truth to power more important now than ever.”
Grossman, who previously led Common Cause Illinois, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing democracy in the state, formed the Health Alliance for Chicago Comedians with Nick Mayer, a Chicago standup. Grossman and Mayer met at the Lincoln Lodge, the only nonprofit comedy venue in the city, where Mayer teaches standup classes.
“So many great comics – John Mulaney, Josh Johnson, Kumail Nanjiani – got their start in Chicago. Sarah Sherman used to host a weekly open mic at Cole’s and now she’s on SNL. The next generation of comic superstars is out there hustling at the mics day in and day out. We don’t want to lose that talent because they can’t afford healthcare,” said Nick Mayer, HACC co-founder.
Grossman and Mayer connected with Comedy Gives Back on a suggestion from another Chicago comic, and they quickly realized that their goals were aligned.
“Musicians have Musicares and actors have the Entertainment Community Fund. We saw the need to create support services for comedians, which is why we created Comedy Gives Back. We have provided grants to over 1000 comedians since we started. We are excited to expand our reach and serve more comics through HACC. We hope it can inspire similar models in other cities as well,” said Zoe Friedman, co-founder and Executive Director of Comedy Gives Back.
HACC is launching with the support of a star-studded comic advisory board, including Gary Gulman, Sam Tallent, Ariel Elias, Beth Stelling, Victoria Vincent, Maggie Winters, Alex Kumin, and Adam Gilbert.
“In addition to being a comedian, I worked as an ACA navigator for a year, and used what I learned to continue helping comics enroll on the exchange for several years after. It was an intentionally confusing process then, and it's only gotten worse,” said Ariel Elias, HACC Advisory Board Member. “Comedians by our very nature are great at pointing out the absurdity of the world while doing anything we can to change it. Health care feels like a great place to start.”
HACC will release funds to working Chicago comedians who purchase their health insurance on the Illinois ACA Exchange. A kickoff comedy show fundraiser will be held on May 17th at 6 PM at the Lincoln Lodge. Tickets can be purchased here.
For more information about HACC, visit www.chicagohacc.org.