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
National Emergency Grants for Dancers (Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grant) The Arts Council Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $3K One-time emergency grants for dancers anywhere in the US in dire financial emergency.	Rolling	Up to $3K
THRIVE Fund Palmetto Goodwill · Foundation Not published · Varies Palmetto Goodwill created the THRIVE Fund to provide financial assistance and paid time off to team members experiencing unforeseen hardships, unplanned difficulties, natural disasters, or unexpected medical bills.	Not published	Varies
CMCF Penny's Way, Food & Clothing Funds Grant Central Montcalm Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Penny's Way, Food & Clothing Funds (Central Montcalm Community Foundation, MI) provide financial assistance to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that distribute food and clothing to those in need within Montcalm County.	Not published	Varies
ECHO Emergency Assistance Grant Emergency Childrens Help Organization · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
Compassion Grant Program (Families/Individuals) Variety - the Childrens Charity of Southern California Tent 25 · Foundation Rolling · Varies For children in need of medical treatments, therapies, equipment, or supplies not fully covered by insurance or other resources. This may include: For children who require assistance to access quality learning opportunities.	Rolling	Varies
San Marcos COVID-19 Community Grants Program Rancho Santa Fe Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Awards grants to support San Marcos residents affected by COVID-19. This program was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.	Not published	Varies
COVID-19 Recovery Fund African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K Provide recovery grants to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular focus on African American-owned businesses facing systemic barriers to capital access.	Not published	Up to $2K
Bobby Edd Penson Fund Hope and a Future Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Designed as a safety net for youth who have aged out of foster care and have no family support system. Assists with emergency expenses to help young adults establish themselves independently.	Not published	Varies
Student Emergency Assistance Fund Santa Fe Community College Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Supporting students facing one-time financial crises through no fault of their own	Rolling	Varies
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund Grant Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund offers crucial financial support and counseling for individuals in the theatrical exhibition and distribution sectors facing health-related challenges.	Not published	Varies
KCMT Extreme Hardship Grant Colorado Robotics Excelling at Science and Technology Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provides financial assistance to teams facing extreme hardship that may prevent them from competing. Assistance can support travel, registration, and other competition-related expenses.	Rolling	Varies
ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Grants American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The ADA Foundation Charitable Assistance Grants provide critical financial support to dentists and their families facing hardships due to medical conditions, accidents, or age.	Not published	Varies
PKD-Free Babies Funding Grant PKD FREE BABIES ALLIANCE LTD F/K/A PKD Outreach Foundation Ltd · Foundation Not published · $3K – $9K Cover uninsured costs of preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) and, for qualified individuals impacted by PKD, costs associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) that are not covered by insurance.	Not published	$3K – $9K
Employee Crisis Assistance Program Sanford Health Foundation West · Foundation Not published · Varies A financial assistance program providing critical support to Sanford employees facing extraordinary and unexpected financial hardships, including assistance with rent, groceries, gas, and other basic needs.	Not published	Varies
Craft Artists Emergency Relief Grant Craft Emergency Relief Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K The Craft Artists Emergency Relief Grant provides $3,000 to U.S.-based individual craft artists aged 18 and older who are facing recent, unforeseen emergencies.	Not published	$3K
Annual Zdeno Chara Paralysis Grant The Thomas E Smith Fight to Cure · Foundation Not published · $25K	Not published	$25K
Penny Jar Fund Grant Berks County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Penny Jar Fund, established by Dorothy Lehman Hoerr, provides essential financial assistance to undergraduate students in Berks County, Pennsylvania, facing unexpected crises.	Not published	Varies
Woodard Fix-It Fund The Lyme Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Provides emergency financial assistance for: The Pearl Dimick Committee advises the Lyme Foundation with management of this fund. Contact committee chair Tara McGovern with inquiries regarding the Woodard Fix-It Fund.	Not published	Varies
Sunstate Equipment Foundation Grants Sunstate Equipment Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Sunstate Equipment Foundation Grants support local charities focused on disadvantaged individuals, medical aid, housing assistance, domestic violence awareness, military and veterans' assistance, and care for abused animals.	Not published	Varies
SVCREATES Arts Relief & Recovery Fund Silicon Valley Creates · Foundation Not published · Varies Provide immediate relief grants for artists and arts organizations in SV CREATES' grant portfolio who were particularly negatively impacted by COVID-19, and to help arts organizations maintain essential functions, pay artists, retain core…	Not published	Varies
Stella's Fund - Training Grants One Tail at a Time NFP · Foundation Rolling · Varies Stella's Fund provides grant funds to offset the costs of professional training for dogs adopted from One Tail at a Time that are behaviorally-complex or need extra help transitioning to their new home.	Rolling	Varies
Other Grants- Sgt. David J. Smith Veterans Relief Fund The Community Foundation of Frederick County Maryland Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 – $2K The Sgt. David J. Smith Veterans Relief Fund provides financial assistance to veterans and their families in Frederick County, Maryland, who are facing unexpected financial challenges.	Not published	$500 – $2K
COVID-19 Emergency Grants United Way of South Mississippi · Foundation Not published · $65K Partnership between United Way of South Mississippi and Gulf Coast Community Foundation to provide emergency grants to nonprofits addressing direct needs caused by COVID-19 disruptions.	Not published	$65K
Children's Outreach Masonic Home of Missouri · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provides financial assistance to the legal dependents of Missouri Master Masons or Missouri female members of the Order of the Eastern Star.	Rolling	Varies

Showing 145–168 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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