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
Queer Texas Crisis Fund (QTCF) EQTX Equality Texas dba Equality Texas · Foundation Not published · $100K	Not published	$100K
LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund Center for Cultural Innovation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) was founded in 2001 as a California 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation.	Not published	Varies
The Compassion Fund Grants Womens Foundation of New Jersey a NJ Nonprofit Corporation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Compassion Fund Grants, provided by the Womens Foundation of New Jersey, support agencies responding to natural disasters and community crises, such as floods, fires, and health emergencies.	Not published	Varies
Amyloidosis Fund Grant Healthwell Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $8K The Amyloidosis Fund, managed by the HealthWell Foundation, provides essential financial assistance to underinsured patients facing treatment costs for Amyloidosis.	Not published	Up to $8K
Urgent Needs Grants Program United Midcoast Charities Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Emergency funding for agencies facing urgent/emergency situations.	Rolling	Varies
Salvation Army Christmas Program The Thielen Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies An annual tradition since 2018 providing comprehensive holiday support and year-round assistance to families in need, combining gift-giving with personal mentorship and encouragement.	Not published	Varies
The SEED Foundation Scholarship The Seed Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K – $12K Bridge the gap between financial aid and the full cost of college, including room and board expenses	Not published	$3K – $12K
Reserve Fund Scholarship Aim Higher Foundation · Foundation Rolling · $1K The Reserve Fund Scholarship is a $1,000 Aim Higher Scholarship awarded to K-8 students from families who experience sudden and unexpected financial hardship outside of the Foundation's normal application and awarding timelines.	Rolling	$1K
Madison Rotary Foundation: Student Veterans Assistance Fund Grant Madison Rotary Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Madison Rotary Foundation's Student Veterans Assistance Fund supports veterans in need of financial aid for urgent living expenses.	Not published	Varies
Immediate Needs Grant The United Way Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
PLK Fund Northwest CT Community Foundation Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Emergency Housing Assistance Program Great Northern Development Corporation · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K This program provides rent, security deposit, mortgage payment assistance, and/or hazard insurance for those who have lost their job or substantial income due to COVID-19.	Not published	Up to $2K
Water Assistance and Plumbing Repair Program Community Action Agency of South Central Michigan · Foundation Not published · Varies Provide water repairs to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring low-income households have access to water for washing and disinfecting surfaces.	Not published	Varies
Individual Plot Grant Hoop House Project One Town Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provide assistance to low-income individuals and families and provide a hoop house for growing food	Rolling	Varies
Financial Assistance Program (Rent & Utility Assistance) Our Spot KC · Foundation Rolling · Varies Our Spot KC has limited funding to assist Missouri residents who are unhoused or facing eviction with rent and/or utility payments.	Rolling	Varies
HPBA Employee Disaster Relief Fund The National HBPA Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provides financial assistance to employees and teams affected by natural disasters.	Rolling	Varies
Giving Branch Donations Grant The Giving Branch Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Giving Branch Foundation, fully funded by Flat Branch Mortgage, Inc. employees, aims to support local communities through donations.	Not published	Up to $5K
Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program Sisters Health Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 – $5K The Basic Needs/Direct Service Grants Program by Sisters Health Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in providing essential aid to under-resourced communities.	Not published	$500 – $5K
Sara Long Trust Grant Long Sara Dedc Char FD TW · Foundation Not published · $3K The Sara Long Trust Grant aims to assist individuals who are unable to support themselves due to accident, disease, or old age.	Not published	$3K
CFGFW: Emergency Grant Program Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The CFGFW Emergency Grant Program provides crucial funding to Allen County nonprofits facing unexpected expenses that hinder their mission.	Not published	Up to $25K
Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) United Way of South Hampton Roads · Foundation Not published · Varies The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) is a federal grant created to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies to help people with economic emergencies.	Not published	Varies
NJ Strong-Emergency Fund Community Foundation of New Jersey · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) was founded in 1979. More than thirty-five years and 1,100 funds later, we have made enormous progress in solving problems in communities across our state.	Not published	Varies
Garcia Perseverance Scholarship Grant Coral Gables Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $4K The Garcia Perseverance Scholarship, administered by the Coral Gables Community Foundation, supports students who have overcome significant hardships to achieve higher education.	Not published	$4K
Energy Subsidy Program Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation · Foundation Not published · $500 – $575 NSEDC's Energy Subsidy Program provides direct financial assistance to households in member communities to offset energy and heating fuel costs.	Not published	$500 – $575

Showing 361–384 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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