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
Presidential Award (Full-Ride Scholarship) The Ahla Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies First-ever full-ride scholarship providing comprehensive support for displaced/furloughed hospitality workers to pursue associate's degrees.	Not published	Varies
NOC CARES Emergency Relief Fund Northern Oklahoma College Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Family Assistance Fund Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Family Assistance Fund provides direct financial assistance to families of children with cancer in northern Nevada to alleviate the financial and emotional burden of cancer treatment.	Rolling	Varies
COVID-19 Donation Relief Fund Burke County United Way · Foundation Not published · Varies Provide emergency relief funds to nonprofits and charitable organizations to address short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 pandemic	Not published	Varies
KCF Emergency Scholarship Fund Grant Kalamazoo Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The KCF Emergency Scholarship Fund provides financial support to Kalamazoo County residents pursuing post-secondary education.	Not published	Up to $5K
Coastal CARES Student Emergency Fund College Of Coastal Georgia Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $500 Provide emergency grants to assist qualifying students who have experienced hardships as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.	Rolling	Up to $500
Smyrna Cares Financial Assistance Program Smyrna Cares Corporation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Applicants must meet ONE of the following: Applicants complete an online form and provide supporting documentation via email link or in-person submission.	Rolling	Varies
Emma Harper Turner (EHT) Fund - Disaster Relief Grants Pi Beta Phi Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies EHT Fund grants are awarded in the hope of helping members through financial crisis created by job loss, illness, natural disaster or other unexpected life circumstances.	Rolling	Varies
Shelby County Commissioners Tindall Farm Fund Grant Blue River Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $8K The Shelby County Commissioners Tindall Farm Fund Grant aims to provide essential support for organizations meeting the basic needs of residents in Shelby County, including food, shelter, and clothing.	Not published	Up to $8K
Christopher Gargiulo Employee Emergency Fund Salem Health Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in honor of Christopher Gargiulo, a former cancer patient, this fund provides emergency financial assistance to Salem Health staff members facing unexpected financial crises.	Not published	Varies
Better Together Crisis Assistance Program Delta Health Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies A financial assistance program designed to support Delta County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) employees experiencing unexpected financial crises or hardships.	Rolling	Varies
ASF Family Fund Grant Angelman Syndrome Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The ASF Family Fund Grant, offered by the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, provides crucial financial assistance to families of individuals with Angelman syndrome. This rare neuro-genetic disorder affects approximately 500,000 people globally.	Not published	Up to $5K
Energy Assistance Program (EAP) Lake Country Power · Foundation Not published · $200 – $1K The Energy Assistance Program is a federally-funded grant program that helps low-income households pay utility bills. Grants are paid directly to energy providers/utility companies on behalf of eligible households.	Not published	$200 – $1K
Community Belonging Fund Park City Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Belonging Fund was launched on January 24, 2025 and provides direct financial support to organizations that deliver critical services to community members facing immigration-related disruptions.	Not published	Varies
Womens Assistance- Women Helping Women Grant Greater Salina Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Women Helping Women Fund, supported by the Greater Salina Community Foundation, empowers women in Saline County facing crises by providing one-time assistance.	Not published	Varies
COVID-19 Rental Assistance Community in Action · Foundation Not published · Varies Program to assist renters who have experienced COVID-19 related hardships including job loss or income reduction.	Not published	Varies
Transinclusive Emergency Crisis Fund (TECF) Trans Women in Need of Services Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provide mutual aid financial assistance to transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse individuals with limited financial resources and resource linkage.	Rolling	Varies
Homeowner Assistance Fund (MA HAF) Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Emergency housing payment assistance program for homeowners in need of mortgage assistance or other housing assistance. To learn more about HAF and to determine if you may be eligible, visit the Mass HAF program page.	Not published	Varies
The Creative Economy Fund Grant Entertainment Community Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies The Creative Economy Fund offers vital support to digital creators and entertainment professionals affected by the LA Wildfires.	Not published	Varies
Disrupt Gives Rental Relief Program Disrupt Gives · Foundation Rolling · Varies Disrupt Gives provides rental relief to tenants across Texas who desperately need it, allowing individuals and families to stay in their homes. The organization believes that true long-term financial success is derived from education.	Rolling	Varies
Critical Needs Fund Valley of the Moon Children's Home Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Critical Needs Funding covers three categories: Unexpected expenses for classes, additional fees, technology, admission fees, etc. Expenses related to housing, unexpected costs, therapy fees, medication costs, etc. Medical/dental needs and…	Rolling	Varies
Bridge Program The Veraison Project · Foundation Not published · $500 – $5K Support individuals starting their careers in the wine industry who face financial challenges during the early stages of their careers	Not published	$500 – $5K
Family Fund Central Electric Cooperative Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $700 Assists families or individuals in need who have their permanent residence on CEC lines with help paying electric bills during financial hardship.	Not published	Up to $700
Office of People's Counsel Consumer Assistance Unit Maryland Office of People's Counsel · State Not published · Varies The Consumer Assistant Unit provides information and referrals on utility and services, and discretionary targeted assistance to vulnerable and low-income households with utility bill issues.	Not published	Varies

Showing 457–480 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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