Hardship Grants

Last updated October 25, 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

Find the hardship grants matched to your org

Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 1,188 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.

Start finding grants

Sort

Type

State

Amount

Eligibility

Include closed grants

Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Sudden & Urgent Need (SUN) Grant Nextfifty Initiative · Foundation Not published · Varies Next50 is a private, national foundation based in Denver, Colorado. Since 2016, Next50 has been working toward creating a world that values aging.	Not published	Varies
Student Emergency Fund Educational Foundation of Orange County Community College Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Student Emergency Fund provides immediate financial assistance to help SUNY Orange students stay enrolled when unexpected expenses threaten their education.	Rolling	Varies
Making Cents Fund Northwest CT Community Foundation Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
EWVCF Human Welfare Grant Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K – $2K The EWVCF Human Welfare Grant supports nonprofit organizations in Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan counties, West Virginia, providing essential assistance to vulnerable populations.	Not published	$1K – $2K
Kyle Broussard Memorial Fund Grant (Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana) Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana · Foundation Rolling · Up to $5K 'The fund assists families from Southwest Louisiana with children receiving treatment for cancer.' 'The Kyle Broussard Memorial Fund was established as a living legacy for Kyle, who died of cancer in 2007 at the age of 21.' Eligibility…	Rolling	Up to $5K
Utility Assistance Program — Phase 3 (CAO of WNY) Community Action Organization of Western New York Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $300 CAO of WNY's Utility Assistance Program provides emergency support to households at risk of utility shutoff.	Not published	Up to $300
Assistance 1st Program Employee Assistance Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A specialized grant program that partners with eligible organizations (beyond traditional employers) to make cash grants to individuals facing unexpected emergencies requiring financial assistance.	Not published	Varies
Sophia Support Assistance Sophia's Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 Sophia Support provides financial assistance to families in New England who have a child with cancer.	Not published	$500
Kathi Joy Wiley Scholarship Grant Community Foundation for SW Washington · Foundation Not published · $3K Community Foundation for Southwest Washington The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington is a public charitable organization dedicated to strengthening communities across Southwest Washington by connecting people, resources, and…	Not published	$3K
FCH: Responsive Grant Program: Rapid Response Grant Foundation for Community Health Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $1K The FCH Rapid Response Grant Program offers support for emergency and time-sensitive needs of 501(c)(3) organizations within its 17-town community in northwest Connecticut.	Not published	Up to $1K
MERF (Montrose Emergency Relief Fund) Montrose Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies MERF was created in 2020 in response to local community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund provides flexible resources through grants to local nonprofit organizations.	Not published	Varies
UW Credit Union Fund for Racial Equity University of Wisconsin Credit Union · Foundation Not published · From $250K Address barriers to economic mobility for people of color through transformational programming solutions, extending the credit union's brand mission "Here for Every You." Applications began March 17, 2020.	Not published	From $250K
S.O.S. - Emergency Funds (Support Our Students) Children's Well-Being League F/K/a Children's Welfare League · Foundation Not published · $30K A crisis intervention program providing emergency financial assistance to high school students facing sudden emergencies and great challenges. The program distributes funds for special needs through student counselors and social workers.	Not published	$30K
Clayton Dabney for Kids with Cancer - Family Assistance Program Clayton Dabney for Kids with Cancer · Foundation Rolling · Up to $3K Families must meet ALL of the following criteria: Clayton Dabney for Kids with Cancer serves needy families, including those in lower to middle income brackets where both parents work but are unable to take time off due to covering family…	Rolling	Up to $3K
Rapid Response Grant Program Foundation for Community Health Inc · Foundation Rolling · $1K – $5K Supporting emergency and time-sensitive opportunities Grants support work that aligns with the Foundation for Community Health's mission and funding priorities, defined as:	Rolling	$1K – $5K
Dean Farmer Student Emergency Fund New Mexico Highlands University Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Assists Highlands students who have experienced significant and unexpected emergencies.	Not published	Varies
ECF Resilience Grant Evanston Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Designed with community-need in mind, these special grants allow the Foundation to remain responsive and supportive of our local organizations, and the communities they serve in an ever-changing landscape.	Not published	Varies
Elmo M. Royce Camperships Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Support camperships for children from Schuyler County	Not published	Varies
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - Block Grant Department of Health and Human Services · State Not published · Varies This program is to assist households with low incomes, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs.	Not published	Varies
William C. Becker Lawyers' Fund Akron Bar Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The William C. Becker Lawyers Fund of the Akron Bar Foundation provides financial assistance to lawyers and members of their immediate families who, because of age, illness or other circumstances find themselves in financial distress.	Not published	Varies
Victim's Services (SLFRF) Governor's Office of Planning and Budget · State Not published · Varies This program supports nonprofit organizations that are 501c3 or 501c19 tax exempt who experienced economic harms incurred as a result of COVID-19.	Not published	Varies
United Response Fund Heart of West Michigan United Way · Foundation Not published · $65K An emergency response fund activated by Heart of West Michigan United Way to provide rapid support to organizations facing immediate strain during community crises. Created in response to the November 2025 federal SNAP benefits delay.	Not published	$65K
Hand-Up Application Julie Weintraub's Hands Across the Bay Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Individuals seeking assistance who do not have law enforcement or State Attorney referrals At Hands Across the Bay, the focus is on providing "hand-ups, not hand-outs," with the goal of supporting stability and self-sufficiency.	Not published	Varies
Summit County: Building Hope Mental Health Scholarship Grant Vail Health Behavioral Health · Foundation Not published · Varies The Summit County: Building Hope Mental Health Scholarship offers crucial support by providing up to 12 free mental health sessions for residents and employees in Summit County, Colorado.	Not published	Varies

Showing 169–192 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.

Get a shortlist of hardship grants built for your organization

Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.

Find my grants — emailed to me

Your AI grants department