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
IDHS Employment Barrier Reduction Fund Grant Illinois Department of Human Services: Division of Family & Community Services · Foundation Not published · $3M The IDHS Employment Barrier Reduction Fund Grant aims to alleviate financial and logistical challenges faced by low-income individuals in Illinois.	Not published	$3M
Hardship Assistance Program Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Financial assistance for KFC employees facing unexpected hardship, crisis, or natural disaster.	Rolling	Varies
Essential Needs Fund Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in 2016 as a permanent endowed fund to provide sustainable support for health and human service organizations serving individuals and families facing financial hardship in Emmet County.	Not published	Varies
BFOA Monthly Grant Broadcasters Foundation of America · Foundation Not published · Varies The Broadcasters Foundation of America Monthly Grant provides essential financial assistance to broadcasters facing acute hardships due to serious illnesses or accidents.	Not published	Varies
Cash for Violence Reduction 4-CT Corp · Foundation Ongoing · $500 4-CT partners with hospital-based violence intervention programs and community-based organizations to provide direct cash assistance to individuals and families impacted by or at risk of violence.	Ongoing	$500
Community Response Fund Fremont Area Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Rapidly deploy resources to nonprofit organizations in response to urgent community crises (established in response to COVID-19).	Rolling	Varies
Thrive Victoria Fund United Way of the Crossroads · Foundation Not published · $75 – $225 The Thrive Victoria Fund makes small grants to individuals and families to cover short-term cash crunches so they don't snowball into larger problems.	Not published	$75 – $225
Makah Tribe COVID-19 Emergency Grant Wounded Warriors Family Support Inc · Foundation Not published · $17K In response to the Makah Tribal Council's "Stay Home Stay Healthy Order" enacted March 20, 2020, WWFS provided immediate emergency funding to support 58 tribal veterans and their families facing severe economic hardship from:	Not published	$17K
Emergency Grants The Dramatists Guild Fund Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Financial assistance programs for writers in crisis situations, helping them get back on track. To support writers facing emergency financial hardship	Rolling	Varies
What’s Your Gap Grant Breathestrong CF Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The What’s Your Gap Grant, provided by BreatheStrong CF in partnership with the Closing the Gap Foundation, supports teens and adults living with cystic fibrosis.	Not published	Varies
Emergency Assistance Program Serenity Fair Way Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The SFWF Emergency Assistance program provides partial or entire payments to assist individuals who are employed but have difficulty with employment for a variety of reasons.	Not published	Varies
Junior Force Dance Program Scholarship The Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation offers scholarships to ensure equal inclusion in the Junior Force Dance Program for participants who may not have the financial means to register.	Not published	Varies
CFTV: Community Emergency Response Fund Grant Community Foundation of Jackson Hole · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Emergency Response Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Teton Valley, provides financial assistance to community members affected by emergencies.	Not published	Varies
WCFA COVID Emergency Relief Fund Enlisted Association of the National · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 Provide monetary grants to National Guard members (Enlisted, Officer, or Warrant Officer) experiencing financial hardship specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic.	Not published	Up to $500
Childcare Grant (Kaiser) Service Employees International Union Local 105 · Foundation Not published · $200	Not published	$200
Northeast BIPOC Farmer Relief Fund Rural Education Action Project · Foundation Not published · $500 Emergency relief funding for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) agricultural workers in the Northeast impacted by COVID-19 economic hardship.	Not published	$500
El Pomar Emergency Fund Pikes Peak United Way · Foundation Not published · Varies Emergency funding opportunity available through ongoing application process.	Not published	Varies
Summer Camp Scholarships Freeport Community Services · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services · State Not published · Varies The program provides financial assistance to innocent victims who suffer physical injury as a result of crime; to dependents of homicide victims; or to persons responsible for funeral expenses of homicide victims.	Not published	Varies
Wellbeing Fund Social Justice Partners Los Angeles · Foundation Not published · $570K – $1M A direct financial support fund providing cash stipends to Los Angeles homeless response sector workers to alleviate immediate financial needs and move toward living wage throughout the sector.	Not published	$570K – $1M
Warm Homes, Warm Hearts (Utility Assistance Program) Brunswick Electric Membership · Foundation Not published · Varies Warm Homes, Warm Hearts is a utility assistance program designed to help low-income individuals and families afford their electricity bills and avoid service disconnection.	Not published	Varies
Advocacy Program Jessica June Children's Cancer Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A last resort program which generates financial support from the community to further assist children/families with extreme needs.	Not published	Varies
Student Emergency Fund University Academy Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $300 Provides up to $300 of financial support to UA alumni currently enrolled in college who are unable to meet essential expenses due to temporary or unexpected hardship that jeopardizes their ability to continue their education.	Not published	Up to $300
Aim Higher Reserve Fund Scholarship Aim Higher Foundation · Foundation Rolling · $1K A $1,000 scholarship for K–8 Catholic-school students whose families experience sudden, unexpected financial hardship outside the Foundation's normal awarding timelines, to keep the student enrolled through 8th grade.	Rolling	$1K

Showing 313–336 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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