Hardship Grants
Last updated October 25, 2026
Grantable tracks 1,192 active hardship grants in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 41 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 467 list an award amount, with a median of $2,500.
- Grants tracked
- 1,192
- from 900 funders
- Median award
- $2,500
- middle half $1,000–$10K
- Total listed funding
- $27.8M
- across 467 grants that list an amount
- Rolling deadlines
- 286
- 24 with a published date
On this page: Foundation · Updated daily
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| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| 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. | |
| Madeleine B. Wildes Fund Grant Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Feb 15, 2027 · $1K – $3K The Madeleine B. Wildes Fund Grant offers financial assistance to residents of Salisbury facing hardships due to illness or misfortune. | |
| 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. | |
| Butler County St. Vincent de Paul Council Grant Hamilton Community Foundation · Foundation ~July · Up to $10K The Butler County St. Vincent de Paul Council Grant, funded by an anonymous donor, provides vital support to local communities by addressing urgent needs such as rent, utilities, food, and furniture. | |
| 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 | |
| Albert N. Solomon Memorial Trust Fund (Solomon Award) Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Islandinc · Foundation Not published · Up to $300 |
Showing 1–24 of 1,188
Hardship grants by the numbers
How deadlines work
- Rolling or ongoing
- 286 24%
- Upcoming date published
- 24 2%
- Stated cycle, no date yet
- 323 27%
- No deadline published
- 559 47%
When dated deadlines fall
Share of the 24 grants with a published date, by quarter.
Funders with the most active hardship grants
- Healthwell Foundation 17 active
- Entertainment Community Fund 13 active
- Community in Action 8 active
- Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc 7 active
- Begin Again Foundation 6 active
- Berks County Community Foundation Inc 6 active
900 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 1,192 active hardship grants (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of October 25, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 7 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 31 states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do hardship grants award?
Of the 1,192 hardship grants Grantable lists as of October 25, 2026, 467 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), Community in Action (8), Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc (7), and Begin Again Foundation (6). In all, 900 funders have at least one active grant in this category.
When are hardship grants due?
Of 1,192 grants listed, 286 accept applications on a rolling basis, 24 have a published upcoming deadline, 323 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 559 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 63% 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.
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