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
Embrace Iowa Fund Iowa Association of Community Action Directors · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 The Embrace Iowa fund is an annual campaign by The Des Moines Register that provides grants to help Iowans with emergency expenses and basic needs.	Not published	Up to $500
Jordana Ybarra-Telias Emergency Grant Ventura College Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $20K	Not published	Up to $20K
Ogden Codman Trust Grant Ogden Codman Tr UWO Dorothy SFM Codman · Foundation Not published · Varies The Ogden Codman Trust Grant provides crucial financial support to organizations serving residents of Lincoln, Massachusetts. It focuses on assisting individuals in need with food, shelter, medical assistance, and educational grants.	Not published	Varies
Sharon Thralls Scholarship Christ Child Society of Pasadena Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in honor of Sharon Thralls, a beloved member of the Christ Child Society of Pasadena from 1993 to 2017.	Not published	Varies
Sterbenz-Ryan Scholarship Grant St Croix Valley Foundation · Foundation Not published · $3K The Sterbenz-Ryan Scholarship, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, supports graduating seniors and non-traditional students facing financial hardship.	Not published	$3K
Emergency Fund Grants Women's Fund of Hawai'i · Foundation Not published · Varies While mentioned in navigation menus and grant listings, limited specific details are provided in the available content. This appears to be an emergency funding program for women and girls in Hawaii.	Not published	Varies
Scelfo LaunchNW Opportunity Scholarship Grant Innovia Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies This program provides assistance to individuals in Spokane County who, through uncertain circumstances, have struggled and want a better life, but lack the resources to get started.	Not published	Varies
Yéego Action Grant First Peoples Fund · Foundation Rolling · Varies This program offers grants for individual Native artists and culture bearers who are in need of quick financial assistance for an artistic opportunity, emergency situation and/or sudden unanticipated expense related to their art practice…	Rolling	Varies
Iowa 4-H Financial Assistance Iowa 4-H Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provides financial assistance to cover 4-H program membership fees	Rolling	Varies
IPCF Emergency Grants Orlean & Ralph W Beeson Fund · Foundation Rolling · Varies IPCF Emergency Grants are available upon request by email for organizations facing urgent funding needs.	Rolling	Varies
Rental Assistance for Tenants (RAFT / Emergency Rental Assistance Program - ERAP) Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Emergency housing payment assistance program for tenants and renters facing eviction or housing instability due to financial hardship.	Not published	Varies
VCF - VT COVID-19 Response Fund The Vermont Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Foundation established its VT COVID-19 Response Fund in March 2020 to encourage collective, coordinated grantmaking efforts that can quickly adapt to changing circumstances.	Not published	Varies
CalCPA Monica Thompson Memorial Benevolent Fund California Certified Public Accountants Edu Fdn · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Monica Thompson Memorial Benevolent Fund provides need-based financial assistance to CalCPA members, staff, and friends through temporary crisis or hardship (natural disaster, health/medical).	Rolling	Varies
Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County · Foundation Not published · Varies The EFSP provides Sonoma County residents with one month of assistance in rent, mortgage, or a utility bill if they have verifiable COVID-19 related impact as of January 2023. This is a one-time, non-recurring program.	Not published	Varies
Zach Gordon Youth Scholarship Program Grant Juneau Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $300 The Zach Gordon Youth Scholarship Program provides financial assistance of up to $300 per child per fiscal year to help youth participate in activities they might otherwise miss.	Not published	Up to $300
ASSP Foundation Family Scholarship Fund Grant American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The ASSP Foundation Family Scholarship Fund, established in 2013, offers educational support to spouses and children of individuals who have lost their lives in workplace incidents.	Not published	Varies
HSMAI Foundation Covid Relief Grant (Middle East) Foundation of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International · Foundation Not published · Varies To provide HSMAI membership and educational grants for HSMAI programs to members and expired members in need due to challenging circumstances related to the global pandemic.	Not published	Varies
The Mission Fund Elmhurst District 205 Foundation for Educational Excellence · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides financial aid to students who face economic challenges. Ensures that financial barriers never prevent District 205 students from accessing opportunities for academic, social, and personal success.	Not published	Varies
Family Supportive Services (FSS) - Emergency Utility Assistance Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County · Foundation Rolling · Varies FSS provides case management and referral services to stabilize individuals and families in crisis. The emergency utility assistance program helps with immediate utility needs.	Rolling	Varies
H&P Way Fund Tulsa Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Designed to provide short-term assistance to employees experiencing severe financial need due to unexpected and unavoidable emergencies.	Rolling	Varies
Nebraska Victim Advocacy Program (N.V.A.P) & Direct Victim Assistance Crime Commission Grants · State Not published · Varies Ensures victims of crime, regardless of location or victimization type, have access to advocacy and direct client assistance. Serves those affected by various types of victimization.	Not published	Varies
Homer Glen Disaster Relief Fund United Way of Will County · Foundation Not published · Varies United Way of Will County established the Homer Glen Disaster Relief Fund to help a Homer Glen father and daughter who: Provide emergency financial assistance to disaster survivors in immediate need.	Not published	Varies
MyGOAL Autism Grant Program MyGOAL · Foundation Not published · Varies The MyGOAL Autism Grant Program provides essential financial support for families caring for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.	Not published	Varies
Nominated Scholarship Weehawken Creative Arts · Foundation Not published · Varies To support individuals who demonstrate interest in visual, performing, or literary arts and, due to economic circumstances, are unable to pay program tuition or fees (including basic materials such as leotards and shoes).	Not published	Varies

Showing 1081–1104 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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