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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Find Your David Holiday Gift Program

JB'S Keys to DMD Inc · Foundation

Not published · $250

A holiday gift program providing financial support to individuals and families living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in New England.

Employee Emergency Relief Fund

Enhabit Cares FKA Encompass Cares · Foundation

Not published · Varies

An emergency relief fund designed for employees. Guidelines are available.

Hospitality Workers LGBTQ+ Relief Fund

Another Round Another Rally · Foundation

Not published · Varies

A relief and support fund created to provide real-time support, emergency aid, and professional development assistance to LGBTQ+ bar and restaurant professionals facing discrimination and inequality.

Arts Recovery Fund

Artsbuild · Foundation

Not published · Varies

The Arts Recovery Fund is designed to help ease the financial burden of startup, grassroots, and small arts and culture non-profit organizations in Hamilton County. Help small arts and culture organizations to:

Neighbor-to-Neighbor Grant

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc · Foundation

Not published · Up to $1K

The Neighbor-to-Neighbor Grant provides crucial emergency funding to individuals and families facing economic hardships in the Berkshire Taconic region.

Survivors Fund

The 100 Club Inc · Foundation

Rolling · Up to $300K

The 100 Club's Survivors Fund provides immediate and ongoing financial assistance to families of local heroes killed in the line of duty.

Emergency Assistance

Delta Delta Delta Foundation · Foundation

Not published · Varies

Provide financial assistance to Tri Delta members facing emergency situations and devastating circumstances.

Pinetop Assistance League (PAL) Grant

Pinetop Perkins Foundation · Foundation

Not published · $500

The Pinetop Assistance League (PAL) Grant provides crucial financial support to elderly blues musicians, ensuring their well-being during emergencies.

Nurses House Inc. Grant Program

Nurses House Inc · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

Nurses House provides short-term grants to registered nurses (RNs) who are unable to work due to a medical crisis.

Newark Arts Renewal Grant

Newark Arts Council · Foundation

Not published · $2K

A need-based mini-grant program designed to provide financial support to individual artists whose livelihoods have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health & Human Services: Basic Human Needs

Farmington Bank Community · Foundation

Not published · Varies

Farmington Bank Community Foundation, which continues the 167 year legacy of the former Farmington Bank, provides financial support to non-profit organizations and community programs that help create opportunities for a better life by…

Shooting Star Scholarship - Fraser

The Shooting Star Foundation Inc · Foundation

Not published · Varies

Will County COVID-19 Response Fund

United Way of Will County · Foundation

Not published · $100K – $750K

The Will County COVID-19 Response Fund is an extension of the Will County Disaster & Community Crisis Fund (originally created after the devastating Plainfield Tornado).

WKCF: Urgent Needs Fund Grants

Western Kansas Community Foundation · Foundation

Not published · Up to $4K

The WKCF Urgent Needs Fund provides immediate financial support to nonprofit organizations facing urgent challenges, including lost revenue and increased programming due to crises like COVID-19.

Emergency Action Fund

United Way of North Central New Mexico · Foundation

Not published · $500 – $5K

Student and Employee Crisis Fund

Chandler Education Foundation Inc · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

Established in 2006, the Student/Employee Crisis Fund assists students, staff, and CUSD families facing life-altering circumstances. Since inception, CEF has provided over $225,000 in support to families in crisis.

COVID-19 Regional Response Fund

Aspen Community Foundation · Foundation

Not published · $4.5M

COVID-19 relief fund launched directly by ACF to support the Aspen to Parachute community. Funded through contributions from individual donors and government partners who wanted to support pandemic response.

COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts · Foundation

Not published · $90K – $725K

Emergency response fund established during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide flexible resources to nonprofit organizations serving the most vulnerable populations in Western Massachusetts.

Ewi Bobbi Sims Scholarship Grant

Coastal Bend Community Foundation · Foundation

Not published · Varies

The Ewi Bobbi Sims Scholarship supports women in the Coastal Bend area who are in transition due to various life challenges such as loss of a spouse or job, health issues, or divorce, and who wish to pursue higher education.

AAPL Disaster Relief Grants

American Association of Professional Landmen Inc · Foundation

Not published · $600K

The AAPL Educational Foundation provides financial support through grants to AAPL members who have suffered financial loss due to natural disasters. Grants are awarded on an as-needed basis following qualifying disasters.

Cape Cod Resilience Fund

Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District Inc · Foundation

Not published · $500 – $2K

Community Impact Grants

United Way of Central Shenandoah Valley Inc · Foundation

Not published · $90K

Non-profit organizations serving ALICE Households whose work aligns with United Way's Strategic Plan 2023-2026 Organizations are carefully chosen by a Community Impact Committee for advancing key initiatives in United Way's focus areas

Zakat Fund

Islamic Society of Central Virginia · Foundation

Rolling · $1K

To collect and distribute Zakat (one of the five pillars of Islam) in accordance with the Qu'ran and Sunnah on behalf of individuals who choose to give their Zakat through the ISCV.

Grants to Survivors (Individual Grants)

Travis Roy Foundation · Foundation

Not published · $1K – $10K

Founded in 1997, the Travis Roy Foundation was established to aid spinal cord injury survivors in financial need and to fund research into a cure.

Showing 745–768 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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