Knowledge base
Where can I find emergency financial resources to help with COVID-19 hardships?
With an increase in hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have started this list to point you to emergency financial resources. Please note:
- We do not give out grants/make donations; this list is an informational resource
- This list is not comprehensive; we are adding resources as we become aware of them.
- We are adding new funds every day so check back for updates
- An asterisk (*) before a grant indicates it is still in development (not giving out funds yet)
Jump to:
- Grants for Nonprofits
- Grants for Individuals
- Grants for Artists (all disciplines)
- Grants for Small Businesses
- International Aid
Have a fund for this list? Email it to [email protected]
- New! The American Rescue Plan Act: Read the full text from Congress and an excellent summary from National Council of Nonprofits
- New! 2021 Update for Nonprofits Applying to the Paycheck Protection Program
- New! SBA Lender Match - An online tool to match your organization with potential Paycheck Protection Program and other lenders offering SBA-backed funding.
- Funding for coronavirus (COVID-19) - Candid's pop-up webpage shares information about philanthropy's response to the pandemic.
- Raising Funds in the COVID-19 Era - Candid's free, online webinar to help your nonprofit navigate fundraising during the pandemic
- Storytelling in the Age of COVID-19: Networking & Fundraising - Candid's free online webinar in partnership with Westlake-Porter Public Library will explore creative approaches to help nonprofit organizations make connections and raise funds in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Find Your State Association of Nonprofits map - Click on your state to find your nonprofit state association's website on the National Council of Nonprofits' map. Your state association is a great place to find local resources and the latest COVID-19 news affecting nonprofits in your area.
- CARES Act: How to Apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds - A guide created by Independent Sector
- Loans Available for Nonprofits in the CARES Act - chart from National Council of Nonprofits providing details on loan options, eligibility criteria, terms, and application information.
- State Public Policy Resources on COVID-19 - National Council of Nonprofits' page for nonprofit-specific materials from state officials and useful resources on what states are doing in response to COVID-19.
- Esri (GIS) Disaster Response Program - Esri is providing the ArcGIS Hub Coronavirus Response template at no cost through a complimentary six-month subscription of ArcGIS Online with ArcGIS Hub Basic. The template includes examples, materials, and configurations to rapidly deploy an ArcGIS Hub environment. ArcGIS Hub is a framework to build your own website to visualize and analyze the COVID-19 crisis in the context of your organization's or community's population and assets.
- Nationwide list of community foundation relief efforts - An aggregated list by The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative.
- New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. - No-cost consulting services for all New York State nonprofits, assistance with navigating the federal emergency loan landscape.
- Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants & Refugees COVID-19 Resources - An aggregated list of resources for nonprofits working with immigrants & refugees.
- The NDN Collective COVID-19 Response Project - Provides immediate relief to Tribal Nations, front line Indigenous-led organizations, and individuals who are providing essential services to Indigenous communities in North America during the current global health pandemic within the next 15-45 days to provide gap resources during this health crisis.
- GENYOUth For School's Sake - Providing grants of up to $3,000 per school to supply much-needed resources for meal distribution and delivery.
- Wild Apricot COVID-19 Relief - Free three-month sponsored plan for any organization that is 100% dedicated to COVID-19 relief efforts.
If you need assistance finding food, paying housing bills, accessing free childcare, or other essential services, dial 211 to speak to someone at the United Way who can help.
NOTE: Financial assistance is NOT available through every 211.
211.org also has a comprehensive list of available resources for the following needs:
- Health insurance & medical expenses
- Home Internet access
- Unemployment benefits
- Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Mortgage, rent, and utilities payment assistance
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps
- Food Assistance
- Relief for "gig economy" workers and contractors
- Mental health and crisis
EMERGENCY GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS
- Government Funeral Assistance - FEMA will be providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.
- NATIONAL - Frontline Families Scholarship Fund - Scholarship America will facilitate the delivery of scholarship funds to the families of frontline healthcare workers who have lost their lives to COVID-19. The scholarships will be available starting in the 2021 – 2022 academic year.
- NATIONAL - American Nurses Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses - A cash grant for RNs, LPNs, and LVNs who are infected with COVID-19, caring for a family member with COVID-19, or are under employer-mandated quarantine due to COVID-19.
- NATIONAL - Fit Pro Relief Fund - A relief fund from Inspire 360 for fitness professionals that have been most impacted by COVID-19.
- NATIONAL - RedRover Urgent Care Relief - Provides financial assistance to pet guardians struggling with economic hardship when pets are in life-threatening situations.
- NATIONAL - RedRover Emergency Boarding Grants - Provides financial assistance for pet boarding while pet owners are ill and unable to care for their pets due to the COVID-19 virus.
- NATIONAL - Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
- NATIONAL - DoorDash COVID-19 Financial Assistance Program - Financial assistance for eligible Dashers that are diagnosed with COVID-19 and have been active on the DoorDash platform for at least 60 days and have completed at least 30 deliveries in the last 30 days.
- NATIONAL - A Better Balance - A free helpline (call or email) that offers answers to questions about the law for workers facing issues at work related to sick, family, or medical leave.
- NATIONAL - One Fair Wage - Emergency Coronavirus Tipped & Service Worker Support Fund - Cash assistance to restaurant workers, care service drivers, deliver workers, personal service workers
- NATIONAL - Student Relief Fund - Resources for college students in need of support due to a COVID-19 campus shutdown (note: organization does not offer financial assistance)
- NATIONAL - Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund - Emergency funding for those employed by or own restaurants or bars that are facing unforeseen expenses not covered by insurance.
- NATIONAL - SAG-AFTRA Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund - Emergency financial relief for SAG-AFTRA members.
- NATIONAL - National and local COVID-19 resources for undocumented communities - A continuously updated crowd-sourced google doc available in English and Spanish. Recursos Nacionales y locales para comunidades indocumentadas disponible en inglés y español.
- ARIZONA - Maricopa County Funeral Assistance - Maricopa County Funeral Assistance provides help for grieving Maricopa County families who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and have recently lost a loved one. Through the program, you can qualify for up to $1,200 to be applied to burial or cremation services at a participating licensed funeral home.
- CALIFORNIA - United Way of Santa Barbara County Emergency Rental Assistance - Provides limited rental assistance funds to eligible County of Santa Barbara residents, living in unincorporated areas of the County, that have experienced a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and can demonstrate the need for rental support..
- CALIFORNIA - Napa Valley Emergency Financial Assistance Program - Financial help for workers who live in Napa County, CA.
- CALIFORNIA - Humboldt Health Foundation Angel Fund - Small grants to meet immediate medical or health-related needs of individuals who are residents of Humboldt County, California.
- CALIFORNIA - California Immigrant Resilience Fund - Directs eligible immigrants to local partners offering relief funds.
- CALIFORNIA - UndocuFund for Disaster Relief in Sonoma County, CA - Help for undocumented individuals & families residing in Sonoma County, CA, who have lost homes, wages, or employment.
- FLORIDA - Escambia County Emergency Rental Assistance Program - Assistance will be provided to income eligible residents and families who have been financially impacted by COVID-19, are at risk of experiencing homelessness of housing instability, and have not received any other rental assistance
- FLORIDA - Florida Immigrant Coalition Essential but Excluded Fund - Funds for immigrants living in Florida who are experiencing hardship due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible to file for unemployment or receive relief through the federal stimulus package.
- FLORIDA - * Season of Sharing Fund (Sarasota County, FL - Community Foundation of Sarasota County) - Funds go directly to nonprofits; to receive funds from Season of Sharing, individuals must be working with a case worker at a social service agency. United Way 2-1-1 assists potential clients in finding the appropriate agency.
- FLORIDA - Central Florida Foundation ALICE Recovery Fund - Residents of Central Florida should call 2-1-1 for more information about this fund set up to support Central Florida residents whose financial stability is impacted by the economic consequences of COVID-19.
- GEORGIA - Fulton County COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program - Eligible Fulton County residents living outside the City of Atlanta can apply for emergency assistance for rent and utilities (water, gas, power) resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ILLINOIS - Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago - Mortgage, rental, and utility bill assistance for eligible residents of Chicago.
- ILLINOIS - COVID HELP (Legal assistance) - Provides free, virtual legal assistance to people in Illinois who are facing housing and employment and other economic problems because of COVID-19. Help is available online, all day and every day, and it’s managed by a team of lawyers from nonprofit legal aid organizations across the state.
- MASSACHUSETTS - Boston Rental Relief Fund - This fund seeks to help tenants achieve housing stability by assisting with rental payments. The Fund is currently closed to applications but you can fill out the form to get notified when it reopens.
- NEVADA - Clark County CARES Housing Assistance Program - Assists residents of Clark County who have suffered substantial financial hardship and now lack sufficient income or resources to pay their rental housing costs and utilities because of the COVID-19 emergency or the response to that emergency.
- NEW JERSEY - Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey - Provides help to residents of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties.
- NEW YORK - Help Now NYC - Lists assistance for individuals in NYC.
- NEW YORK - Hebrew Free Loan Society Coronavirus Financial Impact Loan (for NYC five boroughs) - Loans to support individuals with financial challenges caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
- OHIO - Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission Rent, Mortgage and Utility Assistance - Assistance to eligible households impacted by COVID-19 with past due rent or mortgage payments and to prevent water and sewer disconnections. Gas, electric and bulk fuel (propane) assistance is also available through multiple programs.
- OHIO - Home Relief Grant - Starting November 2, 2020, the state of Ohio, working with local Community Action Agencies, will help eligible Ohioans who are behind on rent, mortgage, and water and/or sewer utility bills catch up on past payments back to April 1, 2020 and provide additional assistance through December 30, 2020.
- OREGON - Oregon Worker Relief Fund - Provides emergency financial relief for undocumented workers in any sector that lost wages due to COVID-19 or farmworkers who have COVID-19 and needs to Quarantine (for both documented, and undocumented) but needs financial help in order to take time from work.
- OREGON - Hillsboro Emergency Rent Assistance - Emergency rent assistance funds for people facing eviction. Requests can be made by calling Community Action at 503-615-0770 each business day starting at 9 am.
- OREGON - Oregon Lifeline - Oregon Lifeline is a government program that reduces the monthly cost of phone or broadband service for qualifying low-income Oregon households.
- PENNSYLVANIA - Luzerne County Community College Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds - A fund to help Luzerne County Community College students who have faced unexpected educational expenses or experienced financial hardship directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- PENNSYLVANIA - New Hope Ministries Emergency Response Fund - Helps with food, eviction prevention, emergency housing assistance and more for those that coronavirus has impacted within the communities served by New Hope Ministries (click here for a map of eligible communities).
- TENNESSEE - Nashville Emergency Cash Assistance - Up to two months of emergency aid for qualifying families in the Nashville area that lost a job as a result of the pandemic state of emergency.
- TEXAS - City of McAllen Texas Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program - McAllen homeowners may be eligible for up to six months in mortgage assistance.
- TEXAS - El Paso Food and Beverage Workers Fund (a fund of Paso Del Norte Community Foundation) - Grants to support food and beverage workers in El Paso, Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, New Mexico who have been laid off or working significantly reduced hours due to a temporary closure as a result of the pandemic.
- VIRGINIA - The Holli Fund - Offers grants of up to $750 each for individuals in the food service industry in the Richmond area who are experiencing an economic crisis
- WASHINGTON - Pierce County + Tacoma Housing Help - Provides emergency rent and utility assistance to renters throughout the Pierce County who have experienced a reduction in household income or an increase in expenses or other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes residents of all cities within Pierce County.
- WASHINGTON - United Way of King County Rent Help - Rent assistance for eligible residents of King County.
- WYOMING - ONE22 COVID-19 Financial Relief Awards (Teton, WY) - Need-based awards for anyone who lives or works in Teton County, WY, and has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
FOR ARTISTS (ALL DISCIPLINES):
LISTS
- Americans for the Arts Coronavirus Resource & Response Center - Includes a list of funding/grants resources.
- COVID-19 Freelance Artists Resources - an aggregated list of FREE resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines.
- Creative Capital Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak - an aggregated list of financial resources for artists working in all disciplines.
- New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Emergency Grants - for artists in multiple disciplines and geographic regions.
ALL DISCIPLINES - Artist Relief Project - grants for any artist in any discipline whose income has been impacted by COVID-19-related cancellations and closures.
- CALIFORNIA - Emergency Resources for Artists & Freelancers - A list of emergency resources in California and nationally, put together by the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI).
- COLORADO - Boulder COVID-19 Work Projects - Artist residents of Boulder who have lost work can apply for grants of $599 to complete a project. The application deadline has passed but you may submit an application to be placed on the waitlist.
ENTERTAINMENT & THEATER - The Actors Fund Emergency Financial Assistance - Emergency financial assistance is available for people who are unable to pay their basic living expenses (food/housing/health care) over the next two months.
- Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund - Temporary financial assistance for members of the entertainment industry that have needs created or complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- CALIFORNIA - Theatre Bay Area CA$H Grants - financial support to individual theatre artists and small, professionally-oriented companies with operating budgets under $100,000.
MUSIC - American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Relief Fund - Provides support and temporary financial assistance to members who are in need.
- Sweet Relief COVID-19 Fund - Limited number of funds for musicians and music industry workers affected by the Coronavirus.
- MASSACHUSETTS - Boston Singers Resource COVID-19 Emergency Relief - Grants for New England-based classical singers who are dealing with canceled performances.
VISUAL ARTS - Foundation for Contemporary Arts COVID-19 Relief Fund Application - A temporary fund to meet the needs of experimental artists who have been impacted by the economic fallout from postponed or canceled performances and exhibitions.
WRITING - PEN America Writers Emergency Fund - Grants for fiction and non-fiction authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, translators, and journalists.
- Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Loans
- NATIONAL - Restaurant Strong Fund + GrubHub All Day Campaign -Grants to support small business restaurants in the following cities: Boston, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Portland, and Denver.
- NATIONAL - DoorDash & Hello Alice Restaurant Relief Fund - Fund supports eligible restaurants impacted by natural disasters like fires, floods and hurricanes, and provides relief through $10,000 grants.
- NATIONAL - Lowe's-LISC Partnership Rural Relief Small Business Grants - Grants of $20,000 to help rural small businesses.
- NATIONAL - Grameen America Economic Relief and Recovery Fund - Microfinancing (loans) and essential capital to support Grameen's members who are low-income women entrepreneurs.
- NATIONAL - Kiva - Microloans for small businesses
- NATIONAL - Financial Assistance for Small Business - U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has compiled a list of programs providing financial assistance to small businesses. Includes Multi-State Programs and State-by-State Programs.
- ALABAMA - Etowah County Small Business Relief Grant - Provides reimbursement or funding for business improvements necessary and related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ALABAMA - Calhoun County Small Business Relief Fund Round 3 - Grant applicants must be authorized representatives of small businesses with 25 or fewer employees, with their principal place of business in Calhoun County. Grant applicants must have experienced severe revenue loss and business distress due to COVID-19.
- CALIFORNIA - City of Los Angeles Comeback Checks Program - Provides grants to eligible microenterprises and small businesses in need of economic support due to business interruptions or business closures suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- CALIFORNIA - San Diego County Small Business Stimulus Grant - Provides economic assistance to help businesses and nonprofit entities impacted by COVID-19.
- CALIFORNIA - Dublin, CA Outdoor Operations Grant Program - Grants to help eligible local eating establishments and retailers in Dublin that are looking to provide an outdoor area for dining or shopping.
- CALIFORNIA - Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation Restaurant Fund Grant Program - Grants of up to $10,000 for small, independently owned, dine-in restaurants located in either the City of Santa Barbara or the Santa Ynez Valley (including Los Alamos) that have been adversely affected by COVID-19.
- CALIFORNIA - San Diego Small Business Relief Grant - Provides grants to eligible small businesses located within the City of San Diego. (Application deadline has passed but additional funds may become available; check site for any updates).
- CALIFORNIA - San Francisco COVID-19 Small Business Resiliency Fund - Access of up to $10,000 for employee salaries & rent for eligible businesses in the San Francisco area.
- COLORADO - Colorado Enterprise Fund COVID Relief Loan - COVID Relief Loans with a maximum loan amount of $50,000 to businesses located in Larimer County that were existing and generating revenue pre COVID
- FLORIDA - Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan COVID-19 - Loans of up to $50,000 available to small businesses in Florida experiencing economic damage as a result of COVID-19.
- GEORGIA - Intuit Quickbooks & Georgia Restaurant Association - Atlanta-area restaurants with an annual net revenue of less than $250,000 can apply for a $5,000 grant to cover payroll and operating expenses to help employ and retain staff.
- GEORGIA - Glynn County Small Business Recovery Grant - Up to $10,000 in grants via the American Rescue Plan funds to assist eligible local small businesses from adverse impacts from the Coronavirus.
- ILLINOIS - Des Plaines Small Business Assistance Grant Program - Grants for small businesses with 20 or fewer Full-Time Employees, located within the Des Plaines corporate limits that have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
- ILLINOIS - Illinois Department of Commerce Back to Business Grant - Small businesses recovery grants for those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ILLINOIS - Tourism Attractions & Festivals Grant Program - Grants for tourism and festival businesses to establish and enhance tourism attractions or festivals planned for this year or next. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are depleted, with awards made quarterly.
- INDIANA - Indiana Small Business Restart Grants - Grants for registered Indiana businesses that meet eligibility requirements.
- KANSAS - City of Wellington, KS, Community Development Block Grant - Funding to help businesses in Wellington affected by COVID-19, assist in job retention for employers of low-to-moderate income employees and businesses who are struggling to reopen due to the pandemic.
- MASSACHUSETTS - Community Development Block Grant COVID-19 Microenterprise Assistance Program - Support qualifying microenterprises adversely impacted by COVID-19, giving priority to minority status owned business (Minority, Women, Veteran, Disability, LBGTQ+).
- MICHIGAN - City of Dearborn Small Business Grant Program - Grants to help owners of small businesses in Dearborn who have had financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
- MICHIGAN - Michigan Small Business Relief Program - Grants & loans to small businesses affected by the coronavirus.
- NEW JERSEY - Union City COVID-19 Small Business Grant - Grants for small businesses (less than 25 full-time equivalent employees) in Union City.
- NEW MEXICO - New Mexico Finance Authority Business Recovery Grant Program - Grant funding for eligible businesses that will help cover rent, lease, or mortgage payments.
- NEW YORK - New York State PCDC Behavioral Health Care Resiliency Fund - Grants for New York State-licensed Article 31 or 32 provider to cover expenses directly and indirectly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as investments to support organizations as they prepare to serve their communities going forward.
- NEW YORK - Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program - Open to New York State small businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations with 100 or fewer employees that can demonstrate COVID-related revenue losses.
- NEW YORK - New York Forward Loan Fund - A loan program aimed at supporting the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small residential landlords that have seen sharp reduction in rental income.
- NEW YORK - NYC Small Business Continuity Fund - Up to $75,000 in interest-free loans to NYC businesses that have experienced at least a 25% reduction in revenue due to coronavirus.
- NORTH CAROLINA - Chatham EDC Small Business Fund - Assists small businesses in Chatham County with their recovery from impacts of COVID-19 restrictions as well as to stimulate investment and business expansion in Chatham County.
- OHIO - Vandalia, OH, Small Business Relief Grant - Assists locally-owned businesses with a physical storefront in the City of Vandalia that experienced revenue loss or incurred unplanned costs substantially caused by COVID-19 and who are poised to make a strong recovery.
- OHIO - State of Ohio Business Grants - Eligible businesses can apply for the following grants: food and beverage establishment grants; entertainment venue grants; lodging grants; new small business grants.
- OHIO - Small Business Stabilization Fund (Cuyahoga County, Ohio) - Funds to assist small, neighborhood-based businesses throughout Cuyahoga County during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- OREGON - Hillsboro Small Business Emergency Relief Program - Grants of $5,000 for businesses in Hillsboro, Oregon, to offset losses associated with the coronavirus.
- PENNSYLVANIA - Bloomfield Development Corporation Grants for Outdoor Space Upgrades - Funds up to $300 available for businesses to improve and create outdoor infrastructure so they can safely operate during the pandemic.
- RHODE ISLAND - Providence COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program - Microgrants of $2,500 will be provided to qualified businesses that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- RHODE ISLAND - Providence Business Loan Fund - Emergency Loans of $10,000 to $100,000, payable over 5-7 years with zero interest and no payments for the remainder of 2020 to assist Providence Businesses affected by COVID-19. To be eligible, you must have been in business for three years and must have employees.
- TRIBAL NATIONS - The NDN Collective COVID-19 Response Project - Provides immediate relief to Tribal Nations, front line Indigenous-led organizations, and individuals who are providing essential services to Indigenous communities in North America during the current global health pandemic within the next 15-45 days to provide gap resources during this health crisis.
- VIRGINIA - COVID-19 Small Business Grant (York County) - Grants to assist eligible businesses in York County, Williamsburg, and Poquoson that have 20 or fewer full-time employees.
- WASHINGTON -Mason County Small Business COVID Relief Grant 4 - The purpose of these grants is to support businesses with a physical location in Mason County who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and mandates.
- WASHINGTON, DC - Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans (Washington, DC)
- WISCONSIN - Langlade County COVID-19 Microenterprise & Small Business Programs - Up to $10,000 grants to microenterprises (5 or fewer employees, including owner) and loans to small businesses.
- India - COVID Resources Across India - A curated list of organizations and resources to help those impacted by the COVID crisis.
- India - GiveIndia - This fund is aimed at alleviating pressure on those without any job security or savings, making them the most vulnerable. These unemployed individuals have been duly verified by GiveIndia.
- Worldwide - Kiva - Microloans for small businesses
- Canada - Canada AFC COVID-19 Fund - Short-term emergency financial assistance for entertainment industry professionals working in TV and film, music, theatre, and dance.
- Canada - Fondation Des Artistes (Canada) - Supports professional artists from all disciplines, whether they work in the performing arts, theater, television, cinema, circus, music, dance or visual arts.
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