Hardship Grants

Last updated October 27, 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
Framingham Emergency Relief Fund Grant Community Foundation for MetroWest Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Framingham Emergency Relief Fund Grant aims to provide vital financial support to nonprofit organizations in the MetroWest region during crises.	Not published	Varies
Urgent Needs Fund Cambridge Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Emergency grantmaking program designed to address urgent community needs. The foundation distributed $45,000 in grants to nine shelters helping the housing insecure in Cambridge in January 2021.	Not published	Varies
Yéigo Action Grant First Peoples Fund · Foundation Not published · $100 – $3K The Yéigo Action Grant, provided by the First Peoples Fund, offers financial support ranging from $100 to $2,500 for Native artists and culture bearers facing hardships that affect their creative practices.	Not published	$100 – $3K
Lexington Emergency Fund Omaha Church Center Inc · Foundation Not published · $500	Not published	$500
Energy Assistance Program (Direct Vendor Payment) Northwest Side Housing Center · Foundation Not published · Varies Direct vendor payment energy assistance program that has concluded but will resume in the fall.	Not published	Varies
James Freeborn Memorial Grant Montana State University · Foundation Not published · Varies The James Freeborn Memorial scholarship at Montana State University supports junior and senior students demonstrating financial need.	Not published	Varies
Laurendeau Cancer Care Fund Chuckanut Health Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Assists cancer patients in Whatcom County with medical expenses and provides emotional support.	Not published	Varies
DSC Foundation Global Care Fund DSC Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provide financial relief to individuals or their families when those individuals suffer serious injury or death during the course of, or related to, providing services that ensure conservation of wildlife and associated habitats	Rolling	Varies
Reno Rodeo Wish Program Reno Rodeo Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $40K The Reno Rodeo Wish program provides financial assistance to address medical needs for children in Northern Nevada. The program is designed to help children and families dealing with serious medical conditions.	Not published	Up to $40K
Stay Gold Fund Grants for Individuals Stonewall Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Stonewall Community Foundation strengthens the LGBTQ community and Movement by making strategic, values-driven investments in dynamic organizations, projects, and leaders.	Not published	Varies
Operation Round Up (ORU) - Individual Grants Berkeley Electric Cooperative Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies Operation Round Up is a voluntary program where members of Berkeley Electric Cooperative combine their money to help fund worthy projects and help those in need in the service area.	Not published	Varies
Monadnock Arts Alive Mini Grants Arts Alive Inc · Foundation Not published · $100 – $250 Arts Alive (Monadnock region, NH) runs a Mini Grants program to boost emerging artists — especially those experiencing financial hardship — funding projects that expand an artist's/business's professional abilities or extend arts…	Not published	$100 – $250
The Besch Fund - Student Life Funds The Lion Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K Provides funds to help meet needs of deserving students by covering costs of essential items and experiences.	Not published	$1K
Greater Bay Area Central Coast Wildfire Relief Fund United Way of the Bay Area · Foundation Not published · Varies Four United Way organizations joined forces to create this fund in response to wildfires spreading throughout the Bay Area and Central Coast in August 2020. The fund assists residents and community agencies affected by the wildfires.	Not published	Varies
HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant Home School Legal Defense Association · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Disaster Relief Grant is designed for homeschool families recovering from natural disasters. Funds can be used for emergency needs and replacement of goods lost or damaged in natural disasters.	Rolling	Varies
SCC Lifesaver Grant South Central College Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $1K The Lifesaver Grant helps South Central College students with unforeseen emergencies that would otherwise threaten their ability to succeed in school.	Rolling	Up to $1K
Special Circumstances Scholarship - Students with Cancelled Financial Aid Kennebec Valley Community College Foundation · Foundation Not published · $75 – $750	Not published	$75 – $750
Wayne County Cares Fund Vigran Family Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · 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.	Rolling	Varies
CSRA COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund The Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies A partnership between United Way of the CSRA and the Community Foundation for the CSRA created to provide swift and needed resources to nonprofit organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic serving the community's most…	Rolling	Varies
Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women Grant Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Women, established in 1835, is dedicated to supporting local women aged 60 and over facing financial difficulties.	Not published	Varies
PATCH Program (Providing Assistance To Community Homeowners) Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity · Foundation Not published · Up to $15K	Not published	Up to $15K
Birdies4Brains Grant Program Birdies 4 Brains MN Inc · Foundation Rolling · $1K – $10K Birdies4Brains raises money to award grants to brain injury survivors experiencing financial hardship.	Rolling	$1K – $10K
Helping Hands Fund Gateway Community College Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Emergency assistance fund for Gateway Community College students experiencing financial hardship. Support students facing unexpected financial emergencies or critical needs	Not published	Varies
Patient Assistance Programs Salem Health Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Salem Health Foundation provides various patient assistance programs to help individuals access healthcare services and essential items.	Not published	Varies

Showing 937–960 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 27, 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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