Hardship Grants

Last updated October 27, 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
Southern Equality Fund - Trans Youth Emergency Project (TYEP) Campaign For Southern Equality · Foundation Not published · Varies Launched in response to cruel laws banning best-practice gender-affirming care that have passed in 25 states. Thousands of transgender youth and families are forced to travel extreme distances and incur significant expenses to access care.	Not published	Varies
Emergency Student Support (ARC - Advocacy and Resource Center) Lorain County Community College Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Lorain County Community College's Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) is a comprehensive one-stop resource providing immediate relief and support services that empower students to overcome life's most significant challenges.	Not published	Varies
Critical Needs Grants Scranton Area Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Critical Needs Grants by the Scranton Area Community Foundation provide essential funding for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations addressing urgent community needs in Lackawanna County.	Not published	Up to $5K
Clara Abbott Disaster Assistance Abbott Fund · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provides emergency financial assistance to eligible Abbott employees, retirees, and their families who have been impacted by natural disasters or other catastrophic events.	Rolling	Varies
Community Priority Participants Enhanced Funding Community Office for Resource Efficiency · Foundation Rolling · $10K – $50K	Rolling	$10K – $50K
Reverse Mortgage Benefit Community in Action · Foundation Not published · Up to $40K The Reverse Mortgage Benefit is for homeowners with a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) that is behind due to charges (including taxes, insurance and homeowner association fees) advanced by their lender.	Not published	Up to $40K
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance Small Business Administration · State Not published · Varies SBA provides loans to assist homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes with recovery from declared disasters.	Not published	Varies
Cash for Health Equity 4-CT Corp · Foundation Not published · $400 4-CT partners with healthcare providers to distribute cash assistance to promote positive health outcomes for individuals. Program addresses poverty and income volatility as social determinants of health.	Not published	$400
Wisconsin Burn Survivor Scholarship Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 Scholarships available exclusively for Wisconsin burn survivors who have participated in PFFWCF programming.	Not published	$500
Fishin' for a Cure Hope Fund Fishin for a Cure · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K In 2014, Fishin' for a Cure established a hope fund to provide financial assistance to individuals battling cancer during their cancer journey.	Not published	Up to $3K
Crisis Fund Grant Chase Hawks Memorial Association Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Chase Hawks Memorial Association (CHMA) provides financial assistance to individuals and families in crisis in south central Montana and Northern Wyoming.	Rolling	Varies
Youth Experience Support Fund (YES Fund) Bainbridge Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The YES Fund provides financial assistance to young people who may not have the resources to meet basic needs, achieve academic success, or pursue extracurricular activities.	Not published	Varies
Equine Safety Net Grant Program North Carolina Horse Council · Foundation Not published · Varies Provide financial assistance to horse owners experiencing temporary financial setbacks.	Not published	Varies
Emergency Grants Lakeshore Technical College Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Lakeshore College Foundation provides emergency grants to students facing immediate financial hardship. Funds raised support emergency grants for needs such as:	Not published	Varies
Negative Economic Impact (SLFRF) Governor's Office of Planning and Budget · State Not published · Varies This program funds projects that respond to economic harms to workers, families, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector.	Not published	Varies
Jones Family Scholarship Grant Columbus Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio.	Not published	$500
DCCF: Emergency Grants Dekalb County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $250 – $2K The DCCF Emergency Grants provide crucial support to nonprofit and governmental organizations in DeKalb County, IL, facing urgent funding needs due to unforeseen events.	Not published	$250 – $2K
Emergency Assistance Fund Illinois Spina Bifida Association · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides emergency financial assistance to Illinois residents with spina bifida facing unexpected financial hardship	Not published	Varies
Ohio Commodores Scholarship Fund Association of Ohio Commodores · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Central Kentucky Cares Fund Central Kentucky Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Disaster relief fund activated by Central Kentucky Community Foundation in response to community crises (COVID-19 pandemic). The fund provides opportunity for the community to come together to help those directly affected by crises.	Not published	Varies
Disaster Member Relief Fund - Wildfire Assistance Service Employees International Union · Foundation Not published · Up to $250 Emergency financial assistance program for SEIU 503 members experiencing hardship from qualifying wildfire events.	Not published	Up to $250
John Patrick Keck Fund for Essential Student Needs Millcreek Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies To provide financial support for students facing essential needs, ensuring access to education without financial barriers. Students attending schools in the Millcreek Township School District	Not published	Varies
Flexible Assistance for Survivors (FA) Pilot Grant Program (CA) California Governor's Office of Emergency Services · Foundation Not published · $1 – $700K The Flexible Assistance for Survivors (FA) Pilot Grant Program in California aims to enhance safety, healing, and financial stability for victims of crime and their families. It provides direct cash assistance ranging from $1 to $700,000.	Not published	$1 – $700K
Emergency Mental Health Grant Program Indiespace Inc · Foundation Not published · $500	Not published	$500

Showing 1033–1056 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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