Hardship Grants

Last updated October 25, 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
Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund Endowment for Equal Justice · Foundation Not published · $1K – $3K In 2020, LFW partnered with immigrant-led community organizations, the Governor's office, and the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to establish the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund.	Not published	$1K – $3K
BENI Business Covid Relief Grant Belair-Edison Neighborhoods Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K – $8K	Not published	$5K – $8K
Critical Need/Urgent Funding Request Last Call Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies LCF may consider urgent critical need funding requests that fall outside the regular application cycle.	Rolling	Varies
Crisis Intervention Fund National Kidney Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies To provide financial assistance to persons with kidney disease who are on dialysis or who have had a kidney transplant and reside in the state of Louisiana.	Rolling	Varies
Community Need Fund / Community Impact Grants The United Way of Greater Waterbury Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The United Way of Greater Waterbury aims to address the ongoing and emerging needs of the community by investing in programs aligned with adopted Impact Area strategies.	Not published	Varies
Kids' Chance NM Scholarship Renewal Application Grant Kids’ Chance of New Mexico · Foundation Not published · $500 – $5K The Kids' Chance NM Scholarship Renewal Application provides financial support to students whose parents have suffered work-related injuries or fatalities.	Not published	$500 – $5K
COVID-19 Relief Fund Northstar Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $250K Focus Areas - Emergency Services Provided:	Not published	$250K
IATSE Local 798 Fund Grant Entertainment Community Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies The IATSE Local 798 Fund offers emergency financial assistance to performing arts and entertainment professionals facing unexpected critical needs.	Not published	Varies
ETEPT Warrior Fund Program Events To End Pediatric Tumors Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Direct financial relief for brain tumor patients and their families facing immediate financial hardship.	Rolling	Varies
Community Response Fund The Fremont Area Elderly Needs Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Response Fund was established to rapidly deploy resources to nonprofit organizations during emergencies and crises.	Not published	Varies
Roberta’s House Grief Counseling Maryland Department of Human Services · State Not published · Varies Roberta’s House provides grief counseling to low-income children and their families whose lives have been impacted by violence.	Not published	Varies
Veterinary Student Emergency Grants Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides emergency financial assistance to veterinary students facing significant unforeseen financial hardship due to medical crises, illness, or other emergencies. Donate: https://www.tvmf.org/ways-to-give/donate/	Not published	Varies
Greater Rochester Health Foundation: Rapid Response Fund Grant Greater Rochester Health Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $75K The Greater Rochester Health Foundation's Rapid Response Fund offers urgent, short-term financial relief to nonprofits facing unprecedented funding challenges due to sudden cuts and contract cancellations.	Rolling	Up to $75K
The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $15K The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant provides financial assistance to painters, printmakers, and sculptors facing unforeseen emergencies, such as natural disasters or medical crises.	Not published	Up to $15K
Special Circumstances Scholarship - Students in Student Loan Default Status Kennebec Valley Community College Foundation · Foundation Not published · $100 – $1K	Not published	$100 – $1K
Emergency Relief & Hardship Assistance Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Community Foundation provides emergency relief and hardship assistance to individuals and organizations in need within communities surrounding Alterra's North American destinations and the Denver Metropolitan area corporate offices.	Rolling	Varies
Artist Relief Fund (COVID-19 Emergency) Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission · Foundation Not published · $500 – $1K Emergency relief fund established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide critical aid to St. Louis working artists whose creative practices and incomes were negatively impacted by the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout.	Not published	$500 – $1K
CCMA Scholarships Grant Cooperative Development Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The CCMA Scholarships, offered by the Cooperative Development Foundation, provide financial assistance for registration to attend the CCMA 2026 conference in Tacoma, Washington, from May 28-30, 2026.	Not published	Varies
Employee Assistance Fund The Foundation for The Thomas Memorial and Saint Francis Hospitals Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K Provides financial assistance to employees who have experienced a qualifying event or severe financial issues	Not published	Up to $1K
MD Cancer Fund Maryland Department of Health · State Not published · Varies Awards grants to low-income MD residents for cancer diagnosis/treatment. Administered through local health departments/other authorized vendors.	Not published	Varies
COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund United Way of the Bay Area · Foundation Not published · Varies Established by United Way Worldwide to support communities affected by COVID-19, this fund mobilizes United Way's network covering 94% of U.S. communities.	Not published	Varies
WNC Greatest Needs Fund WNC Bridge Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A philanthropic fund providing emergency equipment, support to individuals, and Community Outreach Grants to organizations providing essential services threatened by funding gaps.	Not published	Varies
The General Fund The Principle Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
HSLDA Curriculum Grant Home School Legal Defense Association · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Curriculum Grant is designed to help homeschool families continue homeschooling when money is tight and choices are limited. The grant provides financial assistance to help families access educational resources and services.	Rolling	Varies

Showing 49–72 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 25, 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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