Hardship Grants

Last updated October 26, 2026

Grantable tracks 1,192 active hardship grants in its free grants database, drawn from state and 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: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Opportunity for Youth Fund Columbine Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies This fund helps provide financial assistance to young people whose families' financial means do not allow them to pay for activities for which the young person has earned the right to participate.	Not published	Varies
Employee Emergency Relief Fund Senior Services for Northern California · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides confidential, temporary support to Sequoia Living employees facing financial hardship in an emergency or disaster.	Not published	Varies
Becky Love Foundation Education Grant Becky Love Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
Hurricane Helene Relief Fund Burke County United Way · Foundation Not published · Varies Provide emergency assistance to Burke County residents affected by Hurricane Helene (October 2024) for unmet needs related to recovery	Not published	Varies
Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) United Way of Tulare County · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Denise Kaley Fund for Berkshire County Women with Cancer Grant Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 – $1K The Denise Kaley Fund for Berkshire County Women with Cancer provides essential financial support for women battling cancer in Berkshire County.	Not published	$500 – $1K
Emergency Food & Shelter Program United Way of Matanuska-Susitna · Foundation Not published · $88K – $500M Federal funding from the Department of Homeland Security distributed through a Local Board to address hunger and homelessness.	Not published	$88K – $500M
Lizzy Devlin Scholarship Fund Amber Reineck House · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
William C. Becker Lawyers Fund Akron Bar Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The William C. Becker Lawyers Fund of the Akron Bar Foundation provides financial assistance to lawyers and members of their immediate families who, because of age, illness or other circumstances find themselves in financial distress.	Not published	Varies
Team Member Assistance Program Wingstop Charities · Foundation Not published · Varies A charitable program offered by Wingstop Charities to provide assistance to team members.	Not published	Varies
Rusk Veterinary Assistance Grants Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides supplemental financial assistance to veterinarians' charitable care for animals of low-income families or families experiencing undue financial burden due to extenuating circumstances.	Not published	Varies
Home Rescue Program Community in Action · Foundation Not published · $15K – $20K The Home Rescue program is designed to help homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgage.	Not published	$15K – $20K
New World Fund of the Berkshires Grant Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The New World Fund of the Berkshires supports recent immigrants through small grants ranging from $100 to $500.	Not published	Up to $500
COVID-19 Relief Fund CMS Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3.6M	Not published	$3.6M
Camas Parks & Recreation: Youth & Senior Scholarships + Free Summer Pop-Up Classes The Parks and Recreation Foundation of Vancouver and Clark County · Foundation Not published · Varies A program providing financial assistance and free recreational opportunities to low- and moderate-income families in Camas who cannot afford to participate in sports, fitness, art, or day camps.	Not published	Varies
Blepharitis Fund Grant Healthwell Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $4K The Blepharitis Fund, managed by the HealthWell Foundation, aims to alleviate financial barriers for underinsured patients suffering from blepharitis, an inflammatory condition of the eyelids.	Not published	Up to $4K
Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund MD Dept of Commerce · State Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
REF Essential Needs Fund Rockford Education Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies A rapid-response fund established to support Rockford Public Schools students and families facing unmet basic needs through requests submitted by RPS staff members.	Rolling	Varies
EMF SAMFund Financial Assistance Grants Expect Miracles Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $19K The EMF SAMFund Financial Assistance Grants support young adult cancer survivors facing financial hardships due to their diagnosis.	Not published	Up to $19K
Smoky Valley Cares Fund - Beyond the Diagnosis Lindsborg Community Health Care Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 – $3K Provides financial assistance for individuals with cancer who may be in financial need and are actively undergoing cancer treatment.	Not published	$500 – $3K
Activities Access Grants Phoenixville Community Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $300 This program is designed to assist PASD (Phoenixville Area School District) students with financial need who want to participate in school-sponsored programs.	Not published	Up to $300
Anson and Caroline Catlin Hungerford Trust Northwest CT Community Foundation Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Embrace Iowa Fund Iowa Community Action Association · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The Embrace Iowa Fund is an annual campaign by The Des Moines Register that provides grants to help Iowans with immediate financial needs.	Not published	Up to $500
Warren Lupel Lawyers Care Fund Illinois Bar Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provides financial aid and subsistence grants to attorneys and their families facing personal or professional difficulties.	Rolling	Varies

Showing 241–264 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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