Hardship Grants
Last updated October 4, 2026
Grantable tracks 1,209 active hardship grants in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 42 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 486 list an award amount, with a median of $2,500.
- Grants tracked
- 1,209
- from 909 funders
- Median award
- $2,500
- middle half $1,000–$10K
- Total listed funding
- $29.3M
- across 486 grants that list an amount
- Rolling deadlines
- 287
- 22 with a published date
On this page: Foundation · Updated daily
Find the hardship grants matched to your org
Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 1,209 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.
| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - Summer Cooling Program Community Action Kentucky Inc · Foundation ~October · $50 – $600 Designed to help offset the cost of higher electric bills due to rising temperatures during summer months. The program is divided into two components: Subsidy and Crisis. | |
| Lorain County Rapid Response Fund (Community Foundation of Lorain County) Community Foundation of Lorain County · Foundation Nov 1, 2026 · Varies 'Nord Family Foundation, Nordson Corporation Foundation, Stocker Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Lorain County have established the Lorain County Rapid Response Fund to help ease financial pressures on local non-profit… | |
| PAME Meeting Travel Assistance Danny Did Foundation · Foundation ~November · Up to $2K The Danny Did Foundation offers travel reimbursement grants of up to $1,500 to people who want to attend the Partners Against Mortality in Epilepsy (PAME) meeting. | |
| FreeRent Atlanta Grant Freerent Foundation Inc · Foundation ~November · Up to 12 months of rental assistance An annual grant providing up to 12 months of rental assistance plus wraparound support services for hardworking families in Atlanta experiencing unexpected hardship. | |
| Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (CSFP) K-8 Scholarship Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia · Foundation ~November · Up to $3K CSFP provides need-based, four-year K-8th grade scholarships for under-resourced Philadelphia families to attend tuition-based schools, awarded by random lottery. | |
| Walton County Christmas Assistance Program Faith in Serving Humanity · Foundation ~December · Varies This community program provides Christmas assistance to families in need in Walton County. The program aims to bless children during the holiday season by connecting families in challenging circumstances with community support and gifts. | |
| Patient Assistance Grant Program The FAMILIESCN2A Foundation Inc · Foundation ~December · Varies The FamilieSCN2A Foundation sets aside a limited amount of funds each year to offer small grants to patients with SCN2A-related disorders for necessary medical equipment, therapy devices, and educational aids associated with these… | |
| Look. Foundation Grant (PANS/PANDAS Treatment Grant) Lookfoundationinc · Foundation ~December · Varies The Look. Foundation supports children and young adults impacted by infection-triggered neuroinflammatory disorders (PANS/PANDAS) through grants that cover out-of-pocket treatment expenses. | |
| Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - Subsidy Component Community Action Kentucky Inc · Foundation ~December · Varies The Subsidy Component is designed to help low-income Kentuckians offset home heating costs. Benefits are paid directly to the primary fuel vendor in the form of a voucher. | |
| Trailside Discovery Scholarship Program The Alaska Center Education Fund · Foundation ~December · Varies | |
| To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Grants Program To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation · Foundation ~December · Varies To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation awards annual grants to nonprofit organizations that provide direct and emergency services to people facing breast cancer throughout all phases of their breast cancer journey. | |
| Mrs. Santa Afro Charities Inc · Foundation ~December · Varies Since the 1950s, AFRO News and Afro Charities have served thousands of families in the Baltimore area, providing food, clothes, and toys for children during the holidays. | |
| Meeting the Moment (MTM) The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania · Foundation Rolling · Varies Rapid response grants that enable nonprofits to act quickly and effectively, helping them adapt to sudden disruptions and address urgent community needs. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with monthly review and award cycles. | |
| Paul Silver Enrichment Award Alport Syndrome Foundation Inc · Foundation ~December · Varies The Paul Silver Enrichment Award was created in memory of Paul Silver, an Alport syndrome patient and film and music editor. | |
| Jett Giving Fund - Accessible Vehicle Fund Jett Foundation Inc · Foundation ~February · Varies The Accessible Vehicle Fund is a branch of Jett Foundation's Jett Giving Fund (JGF), a financial support program for families in the Duchenne community. | |
| FFW Educational Grants - $500 Individual Grants Fund for Women of the Southern Tier Inc · Foundation ~March · $500 Established in 2009, FFW is the first funding stream dedicated solely to helping improve the lives of girls and women residing in the Southern Tier counties. | |
| Fill the Gap Scholarship Project Lemonade Inc · Foundation ~March · Up to $4K The Fill the Gap Scholarship provides flexible funding to help youth with foster care experience cover basic needs expenses for continuing education after high school. | |
| FFW Educational Grants - $2,500 Scholarship Grants Fund for Women of the Southern Tier Inc · Foundation ~March · $3K Established in 2009, FFW is the first funding stream dedicated solely to helping improve the lives of girls and women residing in the Southern Tier counties. | |
| Bridge to the Future Scholarship Tanager Place Endowment Foundation · Foundation ~March · $50K – $100K The Bridge to the Future Scholarship empowers students who have benefited from Tanager's services to pursue their educational dreams. | |
| Winter Crisis Program Miami Valley Community Action Partnership · Foundation ~March · Varies | |
| Kid's Chance Scholarship Alabama Law Foundation Inc · Foundation ~May · $500 – $3K Provides scholarships to students whose parent(s) have been permanently and totally disabled or killed as a result of a work-related injury. | |
| Good Neighbor Fund Upper Arlington Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $3K The Good Neighbor Fund offers emergency assistance to Upper Arlington residents facing unexpected hardships. | |
| Jenna Westerholm Pediatric Help$ Program Northwest Sarcoma Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Pediatric Patient Financial Assistance for sarcoma patients undergoing treatment Established by Chris and Michele Westerholm who lost their daughter, Jenna Westerholm, to Sarcoma in 2009. Patients can utilize the grant to assist with: | |
| Joe Sutton Scholarships (BHAAA Assist) Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association · Foundation Not published · Varies Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association |
Showing 1–24 of 1,205
Hardship grants by the numbers
How deadlines work
- Rolling or ongoing
- 287 24%
- Upcoming date published
- 22 2%
- Stated cycle, no date yet
- 333 28%
- No deadline published
- 567 47%
When dated deadlines fall
Share of the 22 grants with a published date, by quarter.
Funders with the most active hardship grants
- Healthwell Foundation 17 active
- Entertainment Community Fund 13 active
- Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc 8 active
- Community in Action 8 active
- Berks County Community Foundation Inc 7 active
- Begin Again Foundation 6 active
909 funders have at least one active grant in this category.
Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 1,209 active hardship grants (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of October 4, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 8 listed amounts over $10M are left out, since they're usually program-wide totals rather than single awards.
About hardship grants
Hardship and emergency grants provide immediate financial relief during crises — job loss, medical emergencies, natural disasters, and other unexpected setbacks. Government programs, community foundations, and organizations like the Salvation Army and Modest Needs offer grants to help individuals and families stabilize during difficult times.
Hardship Grants by state
Browse hardship grants available to organizations in 29 states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do hardship grants award?
Of the 1,209 hardship grants Grantable lists as of October 4, 2026, 486 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $2,500, and the middle half fall between $1,000 and $10K. The largest is $4.5M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.
Which funders offer the most hardship grants?
By number of active listings, the leading funders are Healthwell Foundation (17), Entertainment Community Fund (13), Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc (8), Community in Action (8), and Berks County Community Foundation Inc (7). In all, 909 funders have at least one active grant in this category.
When are hardship grants due?
Of 1,209 grants listed, 287 accept applications on a rolling basis, 22 have a published upcoming deadline, 333 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 567 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 68% fall in October–December.
How quickly can I get emergency grant funding?
Emergency assistance timelines vary. Government programs like TANF and LIHEAP may take 1-4 weeks. Organizations like the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities can sometimes provide same-week help. Modest Needs processes applications within 2-4 weeks. Employer emergency funds and GoFundMe-style platforms can be faster. Always apply to multiple sources simultaneously.
What types of emergencies qualify for hardship grants?
Common qualifying situations include job loss, medical emergencies, domestic violence, natural disasters, house fires, sudden disability, and death of a family breadwinner. Each program defines eligibility differently. FEMA covers declared disasters, while organizations like Modest Needs help with temporary financial crises that could become permanent without intervention.
Where should I start looking for emergency assistance?
Contact 211 (call or text) for your local area's emergency assistance programs. Your state's Department of Social Services handles TANF and emergency aid. Local community action agencies coordinate multiple assistance programs. Churches, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and St. Vincent de Paul societies offer direct emergency help.
Get a shortlist of hardship grants built for your organization
Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.
Find my grants — emailed to meHere's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 grants
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per grant profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Hardship Grants: let your agents sort the fits.