GIVING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, VULNERABLE, SICK OR FACING AN IMMEDIATE THREAT
Grants are awarded to eligible organizations that demonstrate their potential to remove barriers, provide a breathing space or open doors of opportunity for people who are economically disadvantaged, vulnerable, sick or facing an immediate threat.
The more compelling the connection between what an Applicant expects to achieve through its request and our Donors’ priorities as described here, the stronger the case for support.
ACCESS TO CARE
Health impacts almost every other aspect of life. Immediate access to care (dental, mental, physical), assessment, diagnostic evaluation and referral as well as limited treatments designed to manage chronic disease are all critical to improving health. Emergency responses to suicide and critical mental health issues save lives. Detox and street-level responses are vital to the safety of those struggling with addictions. Our Donors believe removing barriers and increasing access to care are first steps to improving health and good health leads to other positive outcomes.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
Essential Skills (inclusive of basic literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environments) are fundamental to full participation in society. It is at the heart of education, health and economic self-sufficiency. Basic literacy skills allow parents to read a child’s medicine bottle, employees to read a procedures manual or adults to use an automated teller machine (ATM) for their personal banking. Our Donors believe in the vital importance of literacy and other essential skills and the doors they can open for vulnerable people.
FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES
A brighter future can seem impossible when basic human needs are unmet. People need food, clothing and safe shelter. Short-term financial assistance can mean the difference between eviction and stability. Access to legal services can resolve conflicts and increase safety. Medications and medical equipment can increase health and improve quality of life. Transportation and necessary tools can be critical to obtaining or keeping a job. Personal identification, safe banking and filing taxes are the first steps to economic security. Our Donors believe in providing for the safety and survival of those most in need.
Eligible Target Populations
- Our Donors define economic self-sufficiency as the point at which a youth or parent can consistently cover his or her basic costs of living without government subsidy or financial aid. Within the US, the benchmark for economic self-sufficiency is 300% of FPL or the approximate equivalent of 110% of average state-wide Median Household Income. In Canada, the benchmark is 200% of LICO or MBM for a given location. Under extraordinary circumstances, an applicant can articulate another relevant measure to verify the target population being served has yet to attain economic self-sufficiency.
- Applicants should articulate the process by which income is verified.
- Applicants should be able to verify at least 80% of those served have not yet attained economic self-sufficiency
- Savings and assets are encouraged. Populations only become ineligible when savings and assets exceed the equivalent of three months of income at the FPL/LICO thresholds noted above.
- In special circumstances, when a higher income threshold is appropriate, or an alternate measure is being used, applicants should provide a clear rationale for doing so.
- People facing an immediate threat including those fleeing violence or at-risk of harming themselves or others, for whom income data is not available and seeking verification of income would be inappropriate.
- People facing significant barriers to care and in need of immediate assessment and referral, where income verification may be perceived as another barrier to care.
- People facing issues such as homelessness where economic disadvantage is assumed and it is not necessary to formally verify income.
- Efforts designed to benefit a universal audience or target population other than listed here are not eligible for Donor support.