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.

1,168 grants
Foundation
Updated daily
LA PLAZA DE CULTURA Y ARTES · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

Eastside Arts Initiative Artist Relief Fund Type: Emergency relief and creative project grants for individual artists Geographic Scope: Eastern and South Eastern Los Angeles County Target Audience:…

ELGIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

ECC Foundation Emergency Student Relief Fund Overview: A flexible funding source established by the Elgin Community College Foundation to help students facing financial hardship, particularly those…

Evanston Community Foundation · Rolling / Open Foundation

Overview ECF Resilience Grant Designed with community-need in mind, these special grants allow the Foundation to remain responsive and supportive of our local organizations, and the communities they…

Up to US $15,000
ERIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

ECF Urgent Grants Status: ACTIVE Funder: Erie Community Foundation Amount: Up to US $15,000 Last Updated: September 01, 2025 Summary The Erie Community Foundation offers ECF Urgent Grants to support…

EMERGENCY CHILDRENS HELP ORGANIZATION · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

ECHO Emergency Assistance Grant Funder: Emergency Children's Help Organization (ECHO) Geographic Scope: - Staten Island, NY - Bergen County, NJ - Essex County, NJ - Hudson County, NJ - Middlesex…

THE HOPKINTON COUNTRY CLUB CHARITABLE · October 1, 2026 · Annual Foundation

Economic Assistance Grant Funder: Hopkinton Country Club Charitable Foundation Geographic Scope: Greater MetroWest Boston area Focus Areas: Programs providing economic assistance to families and…

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF SOUTH CENTRAL · Rolling / Open Foundation

Educational Assistance Program - Kalamazoo County Purpose: Provide support for books and tuition for qualified residents and help navigate financial aid to eliminate barriers to obtaining education.…

Pikes Peak United Way · Rolling / Open Foundation

El Pomar Emergency Fund Status: Ongoing application period Geographic Scope: Pikes Peak Region (Colorado Springs and surrounding areas) Overview: Emergency funding opportunity available through…

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ELMIRA-CORNING · Rolling / Open · Annual Foundation

Elmo M. Royce Camperships Geographic Scope: Schuyler County, New York Purpose: Support camperships for children from Schuyler County Background: Elmo Royce Benevolent Fund is an endowment fund at the…

DAVIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

Elsie and Pansy Allen Memorial Fund Purpose: Provide financial assistance to residents experiencing hardship due to illness or medical conditions Geographic Scope: Davie County and Southeast Yadkin…

IOWA ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION · Rolling / Open · Annual Foundation

Embrace Iowa Fund Overview: The Embrace Iowa fund is an annual campaign by The Des Moines Register that provides grants to help Iowans with emergency expenses and basic needs. Focus Areas: - Car…

IOWA COMMUNITY ACTION ASSOCIATION · Rolling / Open · Annual Foundation

Embrace Iowa Fund Overview: The Embrace Iowa Fund is an annual campaign by The Des Moines Register that provides grants to help Iowans with immediate financial needs. Geographic Scope: Iowa…

$500 - $5,000
UNITED WAY OF NORTH CENTRAL NEW · Rolling / Open · One-time Foundation

Emergency Action Fund Status: Established in partnership with Albuquerque Community Foundation during COVID-19 pandemic Geographic Scope: Greater Albuquerque Area (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and…

MOTHER'S GRACE · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

Emergency Aid Charitable Purpose: Providing individual assistance to mothers and children in immediate need of resources while experiencing devastating life events or crisis. Focus Areas: - Payment…

THE EPISCOPAL ACTORS' GUILD · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

Emergency Aid and Relief Program (EARP) Overview: The Episcopal Actors' Guild's primary assistance program providing emergency financial aid to professional performing artists experiencing financial…

COLUMBUS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS · Rolling / Open Foundation

Emergency Aid for Columbus REALTORS® Purpose: Provide emergency financial assistance to Columbus REALTOR® members Eligibility: Columbus REALTOR® members Offered By: Columbus REALTORS® Foundation…

DELTA DENTAL OF VIRGINIA · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

Emergency and Capacity Building Fund Funder: Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation Geographic Scope: Commonwealth of Virginia and organizations serving Virginia Eligible Applicants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit…

ARTS COUNCIL NAPA VALLEY · Rolling / Open · One-time Foundation

Emergency Artist Fund - COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Funder: Arts Council Napa Valley with support from the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Arts Education Alliance Fund, and Napa Valley Arts…

Frequently Asked Questions

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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