Hardship Grants

Last updated October 26, 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	Deadline ▲	Amount
Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville GRACE Fund Grant Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville's GRACE Fund provides critical financial support to local arts and culture workers facing emergencies.	Not published	Up to $2K
Widows and Orphans Fund Santa Ana Police Officers Widows & Orphans Fund · Foundation Rolling · Varies Support and relief fund for officers and their families of those killed or injured on duty, and to support community youth and non-profit organizations in Santa Ana. 1607 North Sycamore St.	Rolling	Varies
Dewey Henderson Benevolent Fund Trust United Professional Horsemen's Association Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $30K Provides emergency financial support due to death, disability, or natural disasters (fire, flood, storm, theft) that leave members unable to pay current living expenses or funeral costs.	Rolling	Up to $30K
Employee Emergency Fund Tacoma Community College Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $500 The TCC Foundation established an Employee Emergency Fund to assist TCC employees with emergency funds due to financial need. The fund provides grants of up to $500 to individual employees facing financial hardship.	Rolling	Up to $500
Therapy Scholarship Program Grant CB State of Mind · Foundation Not published · Varies The Therapy Scholarship Program, offered by CB State of Mind, aims to provide financial assistance for mental health care to Gunnison County residents facing financial hardship or lacking insurance.	Not published	Varies
PLAN of CT Charitable Trust Grants PLAN of Connecticut · Foundation Not published · Varies The PLAN of CT Charitable Trust Grants provide essential, one-time assistance for Connecticut residents with disabilities.	Not published	Varies
Greene County Emergency Response Fund Grant Community Foundation of Greene County · Foundation Not published · Varies The Greene County Emergency Response Fund aims to address urgent local needs arising from emergencies and disasters in Greene County.	Not published	Varies
Emergency Relief Stratton Mountain & Valley Community Benefit Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Funding for individuals or families facing immediate needs due to unforeseen circumstances.	Rolling	Varies
Immediate Response Action Fund Grant Womens Way · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K The Immediate Response Action Fund (IRAF) provides urgent financial support for organizations addressing critical needs of women and girls.	Not published	Up to $10K
College Scholarships American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Each year, AFP&CC awards hundreds of scholarships to surviving sons and daughters of police officers killed in the line of duty. This nationwide program helps offset tuition costs.	Not published	Varies
i-LIVE Scholarships for Adaptive Programs I Live to WPD · Foundation Not published · Varies Scholarships and financial assistance provided by i-LIVE to Work, Play & Dream to individuals and families in Central Arkansas facing physical, cognitive, emotional, or developmental challenges.	Not published	Varies
Industry Relief Fund (IRF) Delaware Restaurant Association · Foundation Rolling · $500 Provides immediate emergency financial assistance to restaurant and foodservice workers facing unanticipated hardships.	Rolling	$500
Taurus™ World Stunt Awards Grant Taurus World Stunt Awards (USA) Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Taurus World Stunt Awards Foundation was established by an endowment from Red Bull Energy Drink CEO, Dietrich Mateschitz.	Not published	Varies
Bob's Cares Grant Bobs Discount Furniture Charitable · Foundation Not published · Varies Bob's Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation supports non-profit organizations with resources rather than individual sponsorships. They require requests to be submitted on the letterhead of a qualified 501(c)(3) organization.	Not published	Varies
Sierra's Fund (Adoption Assistance) Whitley County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies An endowment fund established to provide adoption assistance to Whitley County residents navigating the adoption process to build their families. Established by Matt and Hallie Grant in honor of their adopted daughter Sierra.	Rolling	Varies
THRIVE Scholarship Grant Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The THRIVE Scholarship is an unrestricted fund supporting students facing emergency expenses at Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College, Lake Superior College, or Northwood Technical College.	Not published	Up to $500
Kiwanis Club of Rancho Murieta Turn Around Scholarship Grant Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K The Kiwanis Club of Rancho Murieta offers the Turn Around Scholarship to support local students in their educational pursuits.	Not published	$1K
Student Emergency Grants South Seattle College Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The South Seattle College Foundation, coupled with the Gates Endowed Emergency Grant, provides emergency fund grants to support student success, retention, and completion, enabling students to overcome temporary financial barriers.	Not published	Up to $1K
NiSource Charitable Foundation Fund for Merrimack Valley Essex County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: Applicants will be asked to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) ONLY. Fund Advisors will review LOI’s in the winter of 2022 – 2023 and expect to invite a narrowed field to participate in virtual site visits in February 2023.	Not published	Varies
Regenerative Farmer Assurance Fund (RFAF) Healing Soils Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $50K Launched in March 2024 in response to widespread federal funding delays and freezes affecting USDA conservation programs (EQIP, CSP, RFSI, VAPG).	Rolling	Up to $50K
Krause Family Pediatric Cancer Angel Fund MCHS Hospitals Inc · Foundation Not published · From $50K The fund was established to help families financially struggling due to their child's cancer diagnosis. It provides assistance for non-medical expenses including:	Not published	From $50K
Principal's Emergency Fund Renton Schools Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Addresses critical needs by allowing principals and educators to quickly assist low-income students with urgent basic necessities.	Rolling	Varies
Janisha R. Gabriel Movement Protection Fund Solidaire Network Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Janisha R. Gabriel Movement Protection Fund moves resources rapidly and securely to protect frontline organizers facing immediate security threats, while investing in longer-term safety infrastructure.	Rolling	Varies
COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund - Wave 4 Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $5B	Not published	$5K – $5B

Showing 217–240 of 1,188

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do hardship grants award?

Of the 1,192 hardship grants Grantable lists as of October 26, 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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