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
Laurendeau Cancer Care Fund Grant Chuckanut Health Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Laurendeau Cancer Care Fund, established in 1980, offers financial support to residents of Whatcom County undergoing cancer treatment.	Not published	Varies
EADDL Travel Assistance (Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disney Land) Danny Did Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
COVID-19 Response Fund Pasadena Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Artist Emergency Fund Artsmemphis · Foundation Rolling · Varies A new emergency assistance fund created by ARTSmemphis and Music Export Memphis to support individual artists during unexpected and catastrophic emergencies. This is the first-ever Artist Emergency Fund of its kind in Memphis.	Rolling	Varies
Urgent Response Grants Haymarket People's Fund Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $5K All grantees must complete a follow-up report summarizing:	Rolling	Up to $5K
The Tomorrow Fund Senior Services for Northern California · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides confidential assistance to residents in Sequoia Living's continuing care retirement communities who have outlived their financial resources.	Not published	Varies
Wexford-Missaukee Counties Veterans’ Grants Cadillac Area Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Wexford-Missaukee Counties Veterans’ Grants, established by the Cadillac Area Community Foundation, aim to support veterans and their families with emergency needs.	Not published	Varies
Sister Juliana Fund Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Emergency financial assistance program supporting Ascension Saint Thomas associates experiencing financial hardship or crisis.	Not published	Varies
Ohio Green Beret Support Group Scholarship Grant Columbus Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K The Ohio Green Beret Support Group Scholarship, administered by The Columbus Foundation, aims to support Green Berets and their families in Ohio.	Not published	$3K
Community Emergency Fund - Reopening Grants Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor · Foundation Not published · Up to $15K Established in March 2020 and seeded with $75,000 in Federation reserves, the Community Emergency Fund is a proactive and ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.	Not published	Up to $15K
Emergency Grants Iowa Women's Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Emergency Grants are offered by the Iowa Women's Foundation to support women and girls in times of crisis.	Not published	Varies
Energy Share (CAPND) Community Action Partnership of North Dakota Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Energy Share is one of CAPND's statewide programs.	Rolling	Varies
Comeback Assistance Program Tedy's Team Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Assist and support stroke and heart disease survivors and caregivers on their personal comeback journeys by providing financial assistance for recovery-related costs.	Rolling	Varies
Youth Day Camp Scholarship Program (Bill Hughes Memorial Scholarships) The Chino Hills Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Chino Hills Community Foundation funds scholarships to help economically disadvantaged youth participate in the City of Chino Hills' Summer Day Camp Program.	Not published	Varies
Upper Arlington Community Foundation Good Neighbor Fund Grant Upper Arlington Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Upper Arlington Community Foundation's Good Neighbor Fund Grant provides emergency financial assistance of up to $3,000 for Upper Arlington residents facing unforeseen circumstances that threaten their stability.	Not published	Up to $3K
Disaster Relief Program Texas State Association of Fire Fighters · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The Disaster Relief Program provides financial assistance to TSAFF members who suffer financial hardship in declared disaster areas or following natural or man-made disasters. Catastrophic loss limited to damages to:	Not published	Up to $500
Student Needs Fund Putnam Education Partnership Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides emergency assistance funding to students and families experiencing hardships Families in need in the Putnam County School System For families in need of assistance, contact: The PEP Foundation is a recipient of United Way Grant…	Not published	Varies
Queer Texas Crisis Fund (QTCF) EQTX Equality Texas Foundation · Foundation Not published · $100K The pandemic and continued civil rights and racial justice movements created urgent need for emergency support to smaller organizations providing direct services to LGBTQ+ people experiencing economic hardship and systemic oppression.	Not published	$100K
Darryl and Susanne Shoff Fund Grant Berks County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Darryl and Susanne Shoff Fund, managed by the Berks County Community Foundation, offers vital veterinary care for animals in life-threatening situations.	Not published	Varies
WRCA Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund Working Ranch Cowboys Association · Foundation Not published · Varies The WRCA Foundation provides emergency financial assistance to working ranchers and cowboys suffering significant hardships from wildfire disasters. This fund was created to address immediate and ongoing needs arising from wildfire events.	Not published	Varies
Special and Urgent Needs Grants San Antonio Area Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K Emergency and urgent funding for nonprofit organizations addressing critical community needs.	Not published	Up to $10K
Porphyrias Fund Grant Healthwell Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $4K The Porphyrias Fund, managed by the HealthWell Foundation, aims to alleviate financial burdens for underinsured patients suffering from porphyrias, a group of eight disorders characterized by the accumulation of porphyrins in the body.	Not published	Up to $4K
AJ Muste Foundation Rapid Response Grants Aj Muste Foundation for Peace and Justice Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Grants for the immediate and/or emergency needs of groups involved in grassroots nonviolent activism.	Not published	Varies
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (Arizona DES) Trellis · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies

Showing 289–312 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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