Individuals
The impact of this crisis on individuals and families cannot be overstated. For assistance with food, housing, childcare, or other essential services, you can dial 211 to speak with someone from the UNITED WAY (financial assistance is not available through every 211 network). 211.org is also an excellent source for information on health insurance, medical expenses, internet access, unemployment benefits, family and medical leave, mortgage/rent/utilities payment assistance, SNAP (food stamps) as well as other food assistance, relief for the self-employed, and mental health resources.
The following links are provided to assist individuals and their families in finding food, assistance with monthly expenses, legal advice, childcare, health and welfare:
- 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.
- One Sioux Falls Fund (Sioux Falls, SD) - to help residents in the Sioux Falls MSA (Minnehaha, Lincoln, McCook and Turner counties) avoid evictions and financial hardships if they are unable to work due to COVID-19 and if they are unable to qualify for federal or state assistance.
- 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.
- Neighbor-to-Neighbor Grants (Berkshire Taconic area, NY) - Small grants (generally around $500) to help those with overdue utilities, medical bills, short-term housing costs and transportation problems.
- It Takes a Village Emergency Funds (Parenting Journey) - Stipend to ease financial burdens for Parenting Journey families.
- One Family, Los Angeles - A fund in development that will distribute grants directly to families in need in Los Angeles, CA; refer to the FAQ page for information about how to access these funds.
- 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.
- New Mexico Caregiver Emergency Child Care Grants - Immediate grants to New Mexico’s caregivers and home care workers who have a young child/children (aged 0-12) in child care settings.
- United Way of Western Connecticut ALICE Emergency Fund - Provides fresh produce for individuals & families living in the 15 cities/towns this United Way serves in Western Connecticut.
- Napa Valley Emergency Financial Assistance Program - Financial help for workers who live in Napa County, CA.
- One Louisville (KY) COVID-19 Response Fund - Household assistance for Jefferson County (KY) residents experiencing a loss of income due to COVID-19.
- Humboldt Health Foundation Angel Fund - Small grants to meet immediate medical or health-related needs of individuals who are residents of Humboldt County, California.
- One Family LA - Direct financial support for Los Angeles, CA, families most economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Sacred Heart Community Service Financial Assistance for Low-Income Residents of Santa Clara County (CA) - Fund is no longer accepting applications but you can add your name to an "interest list" if you meet the eligibility requirements.
- Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning & the Finger Lakes (NY) COVID-19 Micro Grants for Individuals - Up to $250 per individual for creative community service projects in Elmira-Corning & the Finger Lakes region of New York state.
- Hebrew Free Loan Society Coronavirus Financial Impact Loan (for NYC five boroughs) - Loans to support individuals with financial challenges caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
- Northern Virginia Family Services COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Program - Funds for eligible residents of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Fairfax/Falls Church, Loudoun County, Manassas, Manassas Park, or Prince William County, Virginia.
- Cambridge Community Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Fund - Funds for those that live or work in Cambridge, MA, and have been impacted by COVID-19.
- Together Las Cruces (New Mexico) - Grants to qualifying residents of Dona Ana county, New Mexico, that have been laid off or furloughed, or have experienced a significant loss of income.
- Massachusetts Workers Emergency Relief Funds - A list of relief funds for workers in Massachusetts.
Non-Profits
Non-profits can be particularly vulnerable during public health emergencies such as this. Here are some helpful links for you during this time:
- Funding for coronavirus (COVID-19) - Candid's pop-up webpage shares information about philanthropy's response to the pandemic.
- Find Your State Association of Nonprofits map – This map will help you located your state and find your nonprofit state association's website. This is a great place to find local COVID-19 resources and updates.
- CARES Act: How to Apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds – An independent guide on where to seek assistance.
- Loans Available for Nonprofits in the CARES Act – This helpful chart from National Council of Nonprofits provides many useful details.
- State Public Policy Resources on COVID-19 - Nonprofit-specific materials from state officials and useful resources on what states are doing in response to COVID-19.
- Esri (GIS) Disaster Response Program – This ESRI 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 – A nationwide, comprehensive list by The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative. This useful link provides an extensive variety of helpful resources, alphabetically, state by state.
- Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants & Refugees COVID-19 Resources – Immigrants and Refugees comprise some of the most at risk individuals during a pandemic. This link provides options available to assist this at risk group
- Young Nonprofit Professionals Network San Francisco Bay Area COVID-19 Relief Fund - Stipends for young nonprofit professionals in the Bay Area impacted by COVID-19.
Hospitality
The hospitality industry has been profoundly affected by the Covid 19 emergency. Here are some specific resources for these individuals:
- 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.
- Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
- Apron Inc. Emergency Fund for Restaurant Workers - Grants of up to $500 each for restaurant workers for all currently employed persons (at least 6 months) who work in locally owned independent food service businesses.
- Another Round, Another Rally Emergency Assistance - $500 relief grants for workers who work within the hospitality industry.
- Memphis (TN) Food Industry Worker Assistance - For service industry workers in Memphis, TN, impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
- Samuel Adams & the Greg Hill Foundation Restaurant Strong Fund - Grants for full-time (30 hours/week minimum) restaurant, bar, cafe, or nightclub workers located in AZ, CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, ME, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT.
- Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Associations AL Hospitality Workers Relief Fund - (Due to overwhelming response, the application has been closed. If and when additional assistance becomes available, the application process will reopen)
- National Restaurant Association Restaurant Employee Relief Fund - $500 grants to restaurant industry employees who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 financially
- Hospitality Cares Pandemic Response Fund (Louisiana) - Grants for Louisiana-based restaurant, bar or hotel workers residing in United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s seven-parish service area, including Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Plaquemines, Tangipahoa, or Washington parishes
Gig/Self-Employed
The gig economy has grown exponentially over the last decade, and as such, many of these self employed workers do not qualify for unemployment, sick leave, or vacation pay. These organizations specialize in assisting this demographic:
- Freelancers Relief Fund - Assistance of up to $1,000 per household for any independent worker in the U.S. who has primarily earned income through freelance work for at least one year and has been financially impacted a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Moonlighting.com - A leading freelance & work-from-home job site is offering free job searching and access to its business tools to help independent workers better manage jobs and gigs.
- The Workers Fund - Help for gig and low-earning contract workers.
- New Orleans Business Alliance COVID-19 Relief Grants - Grants for "gig workers" residing in Orleans Parish.
Immigrants/Refugees
Government stipends and benefits are unavailable to most immigrants and refugees. These helpful programs are available to assist these individuals and their families:
- Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) Emergency Community Stabilization Fund - Will distribute mutual aid directly to Asian immigrants and refugees in the Oakland & Richmond, California area.
- San Diego County Refugee Families Emergency Fund - Small, one-time grants to help refugee workers in the San Diego, CA, area.
- 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
- 805 UndocuFund - Fund to assist immigrant families in Ventura & Santa Barbara County, California.
- Betancourt Macias Family Scholarship Foundation for Undocumented Families - Funds to support undocumented families and individuals impacted by coronavirus.
- Oakland (CA) Undocumented Relief Fund - A relief fund set up for undocumented workers who live or work in Oakland, California, and have lost their jobs or had their hours cut.
- San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium Immigrant Relief Fund - Grants of up to $500 to immigrants in San Diego County, California, who have lost all or part of their income.
COVID-19 Diagnosed
If you have been diagnosed as Covid 19 positive, these programs are available:
- 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.
- HealthWell Foundation COVID-19 Ancillary Costs - Assistance for households that have a positive diagnosis for COVID-19 and have costs associated with delivered food, medication, diagnostics, transportation.
Miscellaneous
Here is a list of other helpful links for a variety of specific circumstances:
- Real Change Vendor Relief Fund - Cash cards and gift cards to supplement reduced income for Real Change vendors.
- One Fair Wage - Emergency Coronavirus Tipped & Service Worker Support Fund - Cash assistance to restaurant workers, care service drivers, deliver workers, personal service workers
- 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 Domestic Workers Alliance Coronavirus Care Fund - $400 in emergency assistance for home care workers, nannies, and house cleaners who have participated in activities of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), NDWA chapters, affiliate organizations, circles and current Alia users.
- American Kidney Foundation Coronavirus Emergency Fund - Small grants for kidney patients affected by coronavirus (NOTE: funds have been depleted & there is a waiting list).
- Free Speech Coalition Emergency Fund - Provides grants for eligible talent and crew of working in the adult film industry.
- SAG-AFTRA Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund - Emergency financial relief for SAG-AFTRA members.
- HALO (Help A Library Worker Out) Fund - The EveryLibrary Institute is providing grants of up to $250 for library workers who are out of work or affected by the crisis.
- Seed Commons: Worker Response Fund - Fund will provide direct support to worker-owners at cooperative businesses most affected by closures and downturn associated with the COVID-19 outbreak, such as food service businesses, custom manufacturing, and child care cooperatives.