Hardship Grants

Last updated October 25, 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
Shooting Star Scholarship - Other Approved Therapy Providers The Shooting Star Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Professional Speakers Benefit Fund (PSBF) Grant National Speakers Association Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Professional Speakers Benefit Fund (PSBF) Grant, offered by the National Speakers Association Foundation, supports professional speakers in need due to various hardships such as disability or financial difficulties.	Not published	Varies
Bluegrass Bartenders Fund Lee Initiative Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies A hardship relief initiative designed to provide immediate, tangible assistance to spirit industry professionals employed at locally owned independent businesses in the Louisville Metro area. Coverage of essential living expenses including:	Rolling	Varies
Parachute Project The Parachute Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Parachute Project is a funding initiative supporting families in financial hardship at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital.	Not published	Varies
Loan Relief and Financial Counseling for Federal Employees (Federal Layoffs/Funding Cuts Program) Hawaii Community Lending · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Arthur O. and Clara M. Schlegel Memorial Fund Grant Berks County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Arthur O. and Clara M. Schlegel Memorial Fund of Berks County Community Foundation helps defray the costs of treating/correcting physical differences in children residing in Berks County, PA who are without parents or whose parents…	Rolling	Varies
Lions Individual Grant Application San Diego Lions Welfare Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Downtown San Diego Lions Club provides limited individual grant support through its Welfare Foundation for individuals with specific needs.	Not published	Varies
Roberta Lee August Fund Northwest CT Community Foundation Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Local Community Development Initiative (LCDI) Program The Amalfi Jets Charitable Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The LCDI Program is an Amalfi Foundation Initiative which takes a proactive and individualized approach to philanthropy focused on directly changing the lives of those experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty.	Rolling	Varies
Finish Line Grant College Foundation, Inc. · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The Finish Line Grant program, administered by College Foundation, Inc., aims to assist community college students in North Carolina who are facing unexpected financial hardships that could hinder their education.	Not published	Up to $1K
Appalshop Creators Fund Appalshop Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K Provide relief and support for individual creatives during crises (originally launched in response to COVID-19 pandemic and anti-Black racism). Fund aims to support artists best positioned to amplify the region's cultural diversity.	Not published	$3K
Emma Harper Turner (EHT) Fund - Alumna 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
Robert Fry Employee Assistance Fund Bellin Memorial Hospital Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
St. Louis Jewish Loan Association - General Needs Loan The Kranzberg Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $5K Originally established in 1912 to help Jewish community members unable to borrow from banks. Became part of Jewish Federation in 1942.	Rolling	Up to $5K
Going the Distance and Never Giving Up Scholarship 19 for Life Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies 19 for Life recognizes students who have been through financial hardship and maintained a high level of integrity while embodying the spirit of "Going the Distance and Never Giving Up."	Not published	Varies
ANCA-Assoc Vasculitis and Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Fund Grant Healthwell Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $6K The ANCA-Assoc Vasculitis and Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Fund, established by the HealthWell Foundation, aims to reduce financial barriers for underinsured patients suffering from this rare and serious condition.	Not published	Up to $6K
Pu'uhonua O Kauai Social Safety Net Fund Kauai United Way · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in 2004 to provide for the community rapidly when the need is greatest in the aftermath of an island-wide emergency. The fund serves to keep Kauai social service organizations operational during times of crisis.	Not published	Varies
Silver Lights Fuel Fund of Maryland Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Launched in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this program provides specialized utility assistance for older adults (60+) and those with critical medical needs.	Not published	Varies
Millage Home Heating Assistance (Community Action of South Central Michigan) Community Action Agency of South Central Michigan · Foundation Rolling · Varies Under its Senior Millage funded programs, Community Action of South Central Michigan 'assists with past due utilities including metered utilities, water, deliverable fuels and rent.' Millage Home Heating Assistance 'serves clients up to…	Rolling	Varies
Immigrant Family Emergency Response (IFER) Fund Ashrei Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A pooled fund providing direct financial assistance to immigrant families during times of crisis, including hardship due to immigration enforcement and anti-immigrant policies.	Not published	Varies
Blandin Employees for Life Fund Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Blandin Employees for Life Team has established a local cancer fund at the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation to provide short-term help with cancer expenses.	Rolling	Varies
Potter Charitable Trust Grant Delaware Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Potter Charitable Trust Grant supports nonprofit organizations aiding the economically underprivileged in Kent County, Delaware.	Not published	Varies
Wayne County Cares Fund Wayne County Indiana Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Wayne County Cares Fund was established by the Foundation in April 2020 as a means for human service providers to request targeted assistance for the most vulnerable members of the community.	Not published	Varies
Jewish Assistance Fund Financial Assistance Grants JEWISH FAMILY ASSISTANCE FUND dba JEWISH ASSISTANCE FUND · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Jewish Assistance Fund provides immediate financial assistance grants with no repayment requirement to Jewish individuals and families in Western Pennsylvania experiencing financial hardship.	Rolling	Varies

Showing 73–96 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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