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
Emma Harper Turner (EHT) Fund - Alumna Grants Pi Beta Phi Fraternity California Theta · Foundation Rolling · Varies Awards are granted in the hope of helping members through financial crisis created by job loss, illness, natural disaster or other unexpected life circumstances.	Rolling	Varies
Financial Support Program Limb Preservation Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Part of the Limb Preservation Foundation's Patient Assistance Program offerings. Related Programs Under Patient Assistance:	Not published	Varies
Hurricane Helene Relief Funding United Way of Gaston County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in response to Hurricane Helene's devastating impact on Western North Carolina. More than 8,000 households in Gaston County received D-SNAP (Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance).	Not published	Varies
Achieve Atlanta Emergency Grant Program Achieve Atlanta Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Helps scholars remain enrolled in college when facing unexpected financial hardships.	Rolling	Varies
Bridge Fund Emergency Grant Programs Public Media Company · Foundation Not published · Varies Emergency funding for public media organizations	Not published	Varies
Pay-it-Forward/Sunshine Grant The Community's Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides funding to individuals who have un-funded health-related expenses as a result of a catastrophic injury or event (e.g., house fire).	Not published	Varies
Emergency Grants (January 2026 Response) Philanthrofund Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $10K	Not published	$10K
Riverview Jazz COVID-Relief Grant for Jazz Musicians Jersey City Arts Council Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K Created to support professional jazz musicians in Hudson County who were financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Riverview Jazz is the New Jersey-based non-profit that produces the Jersey City Jazz Festival.	Not published	$2K
Delta Gamma Foundation: Crisis Grants Delta Gamma Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Delta Gamma Foundation fosters lifetime enrichment for members, promotes Service for Sight and partners with the Fraternity to ensure the future of our sisterhood.	Not published	Varies
Wilhelmina Holder Student Assistance Emergency Fund Grant Community Foundation of New Jersey · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K Over our 46-year history, the Community Foundation of New Jersey has collaborated with individuals, families, organizations, and businesses to design charitable funds and implement the philanthropic solutions they want to see in their…	Not published	Up to $5K
Special and Urgent Needs Grants San Antonio Area Foundation Group Return · Foundation Rolling · Varies Grant program designed to address urgent and emergency funding needs in the San Antonio community.	Rolling	Varies
Emergency Aid for Columbus REALTORS® Columbus Association of Realtors · Foundation Not published · Varies Provide emergency financial assistance to Columbus REALTOR® members	Not published	Varies
Associate Assistance Fund Program Christus Foundation Shreveport-Bossier · Foundation Not published · $250 – $500 In keeping with the CHRISTUS Health mission "To extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ" and to demonstrate CHRISTUS Core Values, the Foundation provides financial assistance to CHRISTUS associates experiencing financial hardship.	Not published	$250 – $500
Care Packages Program Northwest Sarcoma Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Support In a Box - Provide love and support to sarcoma patients and survivors	Not published	Varies
Edwin Phillips Foundation Grant - Institution + Individual Edwin Phillips Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies The Edwin Phillips Foundation Grant supports children up to 21 years old with physical, health, or developmental challenges, particularly in Marshfield and Plymouth County, Massachusetts.	Not published	Varies
Essential Needs Grants Watertown Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
HSMAI Foundation Covid Relief Grant (Asia Pacific) Foundation of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International · Foundation Not published · Varies To provide HSMAI membership and educational grants for HSMAI programs to members and expired members in need due to challenging circumstances related to the global pandemic.	Not published	Varies
Patient Assistance Grant Application Enhabit Cares FKA Encompass Cares · Foundation Not published · Varies A grant program for patient assistance. Limited details available on the website.	Not published	Varies
United Way Community Response Grant United Way of Bemidji Area · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The United Way Community Response Grant aims to support non-profit organizations in Beltrami, Hubbard, and Clearwater Counties addressing urgent community needs.	Not published	Up to $3K
Bridge Grant Program The Forgotten International · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Bridge Grant Program serves people in American communities who are experiencing an unexpected financial emergency that could be resolved with a small grant serving as a "bridge" to a more stable economic future.	Not published	Up to $3K
Iredell County COVID-19 Response Fund United Way of Iredell County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this fund supported Iredell County nonprofits serving residents impacted by the pandemic, particularly those most vulnerable.	Not published	Varies
Principal Reduction and Lien Extinguishment (PR/LE) Program Community in Action · Foundation Not published · Up to $50K The Principal Reduction and Lien Extinguishment (PR/LE) program is designed for homeowners who are on a fixed income and struggling to make their mortgage payment.	Not published	Up to $50K
Acts Employee Catastrophic Fund Acts Legacy Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides financial assistance to employees facing catastrophic life events or regional natural disasters.	Not published	Varies
Empowerment Scholarships Bridge to Turkiye · Foundation Not published · Varies Need-based scholarship program dedicated to unlocking opportunities for underprivileged students in Türkiye. Supports high school and university students to help them stay in school and excel.	Not published	Varies

Showing 601–624 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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