Emergency Grants

Discretionary, Foundation-initiated grants allocated since June 2004. The Mockingbird Foundation allocates 3% of net proceeds as an Emergency Grant Fund.

Eligible Emergency Types:

• Acts of nature: flood, fire, earthquake, tornado, etc.
• Moral indignation: theft, vandalism, despotism, terrorism, or war

Selection Criteria:

• Greater attention given to emergencies with existing press coverage (confirms need and adds to existing momentum)
• Demonstrable total need must far exceed the maximum competitive grant size ($10,000)
• Intended to help bring attention to immediate, dire needs
• Encourage donations from the Phish fan community
• Not intended to resolve issues completely due to scope of need

Application Process:

• Made on basis of nomination rather than application
• Nominations neither solicited nor accepted on regular basis
• Made at discretion of Foundation's Board of Directors
• Outside of Foundation's regular competitive process

Geographic Scope: U.S. only

Grant History:

• 55 Emergency Grants totaling $81,898.33 (2.9% of all grants)
• Recent examples: Hurricane Helene response (2025), Storm Recovery Grants (2023), Terrebonne Parish, LA (2022), DYF Ohio (2021), COVID Relief (multiple rounds in 2020 totaling $105,000 across 25 grants)