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
Random Acts Support Network - Individual Acts Funding Random Acts Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $50 Random Acts provides funding to support individual acts of kindness. The organization can help fund specific kindness projects identified by supporters.	Rolling	Up to $50
The Jenna's Rainbow Moving Forward Grant Jenna's Rainbow Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K Jenna's Rainbow offers grants to help adult brain or spinal cord tumor survivors who are moving into a new chapter of their life.	Not published	$3K
Main Street Relief Fund 2.0 (MSRF 2.0) Capital Regional Development Council · Foundation Not published · Up to $350K Provides continued economic support to New Hampshire small businesses suffering from business interruptions as a result of COVID-19.	Not published	Up to $350K
Community Healing & Emergency Stipend Fund Families for Justice as Healing Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies This fund provides financial support to enable individuals to engage in self-care activities.	Not published	Varies
Finn's Funds Grant Program Finn's Fighters Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Artist Emergency Fund Artsbuild · Foundation Rolling · Varies ArtsBuild has established an ongoing Artist Emergency Fund to help self-employed artists of all disciplines in Hamilton County recover from lost income due to the cancellation of scheduled gigs or work opportunities.	Rolling	Varies
Becky Most Scholarship Fund Maggie's Place Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 – $1K A scholarship program named in honor of Becky Most, a beloved Maggie's Place staff member who was killed in an automobile accident. The fund is dedicated to encouraging moms to pursue their educational and employment dreams.	Not published	$500 – $1K
ASOR: Membership Scholarships Grant American Society of Overseas · Foundation Not published · Varies The American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) offers Membership Scholarships aimed at supporting current and lapsed members facing financial hardships, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.	Not published	Varies
GPER Mini-Grants: Emergency Support American Physical Society · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The GPER Mini-Grants: Emergency Support program, offered by the American Physical Society, provides financial assistance to individual GPER members facing unforeseen challenges.	Not published	Up to $500
Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program Pasadena Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $8K	Not published	$8K
Emma Harper Turner (EHT) Fund - Collegian Grants Pi Beta Phi Fraternity · Foundation Rolling · Varies Awards granted to help members through financial crisis created by job loss, illness, natural disaster or other unexpected life circumstances.	Rolling	Varies
CFMC: Save-the-Day Grant Program Community Foundation of Mendocino County · Foundation Not published · $500 – $5K The CFMC Save-the-Day Grant Program provides essential funding to nonprofits facing urgent needs that hinder their mission.	Not published	$500 – $5K
Emergency Grants OSI Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Professional Development Grant Wake Forest University · Foundation Not published · Up to $400 The Professional Development Grant at Wake Forest University supports undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need.	Not published	Up to $400
WCCF: Wayne County Emergency Response Fund Grant Wayne County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Wayne County Emergency Response Fund, established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, provides essential emergency grants to nonprofit organizations serving Wayne County, Ohio.	Not published	Varies
NHCHF Emergency Funding Grant New Hampshire Children's Health · Foundation Not published · Up to $50K The NHCHF Emergency Funding program supports New Hampshire 501(c)(3) organizations responding to urgent needs affecting families with children aged 0-5.	Not published	Up to $50K
United Charities Employee Emergency Assistance Program Hamot Health Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Financial assistance for UPMC Hamot employees experiencing emergencies and hardships.	Rolling	Varies
Beds Program Kiwanis Club of the Colorado River Community Welfare Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A charitable program providing beds to families in need.	Not published	Varies
ALGSAssistance Program - Financial Assistance Alagille Syndrome Alliance · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provide financial assistance for patients and families experiencing financial hardship related to Alagille Syndrome.	Rolling	Varies
Operation Round Up Community Grant Berkeley Electric Cooperative Trust · Foundation Rolling · Varies Berkeley Electric Trust administers Operation Round Up (ORU) - members round up their bills to fund worthy projects and people in need in the co-op's service area - with separate application forms for individuals and organizations (2026…	Rolling	Varies
Emma Harper Turner (EHT) Fund - Collegian 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
COVID-19 Emergency Tuition Assistance Fund Foundations in Education Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Emergency funding established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide tuition assistance for elementary school families in Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.	Not published	Varies
Individuals & Households Program (Other Needs Assistance) Maryland Department of Emergency Management · State Not published · Varies FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs, up to a maximum…	Not published	Varies
Katie Harper Youth Hope Grants Rochester Area Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Everyone can take action to make our world a more equitable and vital place.	Not published	Varies

Showing 505–528 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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