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
Up to $1,000 per category
TULSA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

GKFF®/TCF Employee Relief Fund Purpose: Designed to provide short-term assistance to employees experiencing severe financial need due to unexpected and unavoidable emergencies. Administrator: Tulsa…

ROCHESTER AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

Overview Rochester Area Community Foundation Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people…

GLENN GARCELON FOUNDATION · June 1, 2026 · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

Glenn Garcelon Foundation Financial Assistance Grant Mission: Empowering and supporting brain tumor patients and their families. Geographic Scope: All 50 states and Puerto Rico Focus Areas: Financial…

19 FOR LIFE FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open · Annual Foundation

Going the Distance and Never Giving Up Scholarship Overview: 19 for Life recognizes students who have been through financial hardship and maintained a high level of integrity while embodying the…

BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE · Rolling / Open · Annual Foundation

Golden Leaf Scholarships Funder: Golden Leaf Foundation / Blue Ridge Community College NCWorks Geographic Scope: Transylvania County, North Carolina only Grant Term: July 1 to June 30 Eligibility: -…

Up to $3,000
UPPER ARLINGTON COMMUNITY · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

Good Neighbor Fund Overview: The Good Neighbor Fund offers emergency assistance to Upper Arlington residents facing unexpected hardships. It helps cover essentials like living expenses, medical…

Foundation matches gifts up to $2,000 per ministerial association
LAGRANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY · April 30, 2026 · Annual Foundation

Good Samaritan Fund Ministerial Association Matching Grant Program Overview: A matching grant program created to celebrate and support the charitable efforts of the LaGrange and Shipshewana…

AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY · Rolling / Open Foundation

GPER Mini-Grants: Emergency Support Status: ACTIVE Funder: American Physical Society (APS) Amount: Up to US $500 Last Updated: March 31, 2026 Summary The GPER Mini-Grants: Emergency Support program,…

SELF REGIONAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

GRACE Fund - Giving Relief And Care for Employees Overview: A crisis-based emergency financial assistance program established to help Self Regional Healthcare team members who suffer a catastrophic…

Columbine Community Foundation · Rolling / Open · Rolling (Quarterly) Foundation

Grand Foundation Emergency Grants Overview: Emergency grant requests are available for an unusual circumstance or need. Geographic Scope: Grand County, Colorado Eligibility: Organizations in Grand…

KTA FUNDING HOPE FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

Grant Applications Funder: KTA Funding Hope Foundation Mission: Founded in 2016, KTA Funding Hope Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance for both individuals and animals who are…

Up to $1,000 per academic year
EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION OF · Rolling / Open · Annual Foundation

Grant-in-Aid Overview: The SUNY Orange Foundation offers Grant-in-Aid Financial Assistance to students who need help with tuition, books, or child care costs, are ineligible for Federal or State Aid,…

Varies by item; examples: $1,400 - $10,000
TRAVIS ROY FOUNDATION INC · Rolling / Open · Quarterly Foundation

Grants to Spinal Cord Injury Survivors Funder: Travis Roy Foundation Inc (Boston, MA) Mission: Aid spinal cord injury survivors in financial need and fund research into a cure for spinal cord…

TRAVIS ROY FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open · Quarterly Foundation

Grants to Survivors (Individual Grants) Funder: Travis Roy Foundation Geographic Scope: North America (US and Canada) Focus Areas: Adaptive equipment and financial assistance for spinal cord injury…

UNITED WAY OF THE BAY AREA · Rolling / Open · One-time Foundation

Greater Bay Area Central Coast Wildfire Relief Fund Status: Launched August 2020 for immediate and long-term recovery assistance Geographic Scope: 15 counties including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin,…

Entertainment Community Fund · Rolling / Open Foundation

Greater Orlando Performing Arts Relief (GOPAR) Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Entertainment Community Fund Last Updated: November 10, 2025 Summary The Greater Orlando Performing Arts Relief (GOPAR)…

OSHKOSH AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

Green Lake Basic Needs Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Amount: Up to US $5,000 Last Updated: January 20, 2026 Summary The Green Lake Basic Needs Grant, funded by the…

Greater Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation · Rolling / Open Foundation

Greenbrier Valley Emergency Food Fund Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Greater Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation Amount: Up to US $2,000 Last Updated: February 09, 2026 Summary The Greenbrier Valley…

Community Foundation of Greene County · Rolling / Open Foundation

Greene County Emergency Response Fund Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Community Foundation of Greene County Last Updated: September 10, 2025 Summary The Greene County Emergency Response Fund aims to…

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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