25 Coronavirus Relief Funds That Give Cash to Workers in Need

Here at the Rules of Thumb blog from MoneyThumb, our discussions lately have been about coronavirus resources for small businesses, accountants, and the effects the coronavirus is having on private lenders. What we haven't covered recently are resources for the individual during these trying times. Since one of our best selling PDF financial file converters is specifically designed for home use, today we would like to address our blog readers who are individuals seeking financial relief for situations created by the pandemic.

Many American workers have been laid off due to the coronavirus and the government's order to shut down businesses. This has created a financial crisis of profound proportions. The $1200 stimulus check the government issued to individuals was helpful, but unfortunately for most people that check was a very small bandaid when it comes to financial relief.

That is why we are sharing a list of 25 coronavirus relief funds that give cash to workers in need. We discovered this list at Money.com. Below are the 25 relief funds for workers with instructions for how to apply to each fund:

Arts and Entertainment

Artists Relief

Artists Relief is giving out $5,000 grants to “artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19.” According to their website, applicants must be at least 21 years old and able to prove that they are practicing artists experiencing “dire financial emergencies” due to the pandemic. They must also provide a W9 and a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Artists Relief Project

All artists who have been directly impacted by event cancellations and venue closures due to the coronavirus are able to apply for financial support through the Artists Relief Project, provided by Artly World. The funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, and applicants must fill out a Google form application. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they’re an artist by providing a resume or website link.

Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund

The Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund is providing one-time micro-grants of $200 through crowdfunding efforts to those who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) pursuing careers in the arts or arts administration, who are in need of immediate financial assistance.

Carnegie Fund for Authors

The Carnegie Fund for Authors provides emergency grants to authors who have published at least one book by a mainstream publisher and have demonstrated the need for emergency funding through documentation. Applicants must register and apply online.

Dramatists Guild Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Fund

The Dramatist Guild Foundation is providing COVID-19 Emergency Relief for playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists. Applicants must fill out a form using Submittable and will be processed based on the severity of need.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts COVID-19 Fund

The Foundation for Contemporary Arts fund provides one-time $1,500 grants to experimental artists who have “been impacted by the economic fallout from postponed or canceled performances and exhibitions.” Applicants must be individual artists who can show proof that they’ve had an engagement postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SAG-AFTRA COVID-19 Relief Fund

The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund is available to eligible members for immediate food, housing, and healthcare assistance. Applicants must provide proof of membership and their last month’s bank statement, among other information.

Actors Fund Emergency Financial Assistance

The Actors Fund Emergency Financial Assistance fund is available to all people who work in entertainment, not just actors. To be eligible, applicants need to provide proof of the “entertainment industry earned over $6,500 for three out of the last five years” or “three years of recent dance earnings of at least $2,000 a year” for dancers. Additional application requirements include proof of the past five years of earnings, and a current lease, rent, or mortgage statement.

Beauty Professionals

Professional Beauty Association COVID-19 Relief Fund

The PBA COVID-19 Relief Fund is providing one-time $500 electronic gift cards through a lottery system to beauty professionals including cosmetologists, barbers, hairstylists, massage therapists, makeup artists, nail techs, and more. Applicants must fill out a form detailing their job, their income and current assets, and license information. Funds are limited based on the number of donations.

Horst Rechelbacher Foundation: COVID-19 Relief Grant

The Horst Rechelbacher Foundation is providing relief grants of $1,000 to be distributed directly to applicants. Applicants must submit proof of licensure, a driver’s license or passport, a copy of their W-2, 1040, or 1099, and specify their place of employment. Grants are prioritized based on the date their unemployment began, 2019 salary, and a number of dependents. To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. resident living in a state or county where non-essential businesses are closed, and must currently not be earning an income.

Domestic Work

NDWA Coronavirus Care Fund

The National Domestic Workers Alliance Coronavirus Care Fund provides $400 in funds to domestic workers via a Visa gift card. At the moment, the fund is only available to domestic workers who are “participants in activities of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), NDWA chapters, affiliate organizations, and circles or who were NDWA dues-paying members or Alia users prior to March 16, 2020.” The NDWA says it will open up the fund to all domestic workers once funds allow it.

Farming and Agriculture

Farmworkers’ COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund

Justice for Migrant Women and other farmworker-serving organizations have teamed up to raise funds for the immediate needs of the estimated two to three million farmworkers across the United States. The funds will be distributed through local partner organizations to farmworkers.

Freelancers and Gig Workers

Freelancers Relief Fund

The Freelancer’s Union’s fund is offering financial assistance up to $1,000 to independent workers to cover lost income and essential expenses including food, and utility payments. Anyone who has “primarily earned income through freelance work for at least one year” and has had their income directly impacted by COVID-19 is eligible to apply.

The Workers Fund

The Workers Lab has created The Workers Fund to address the financial needs of gig and low-earning contract workers in dire need of immediate cash assistance. The Workers Lab will be distributing funds via Canary, a “vehicle for getting cash to verified applicants quickly.” To identify those in need, they have teamed up with Steady, an app that helps people find jobs.

Health and Fitness

Wellness Relief Fund

Reclamation Ventures, an investment fund for wellness entrepreneurs, is providing grants up to $2,500 to wellness spaces and instructors that represent “underestimated” communities including people who “identify as a person of color, LGBTQ+, disabled, or anyone who has been impacted by the criminal justice system.” Applicants can apply via a Google form.

Restaurants and Hospitality

Restaurant Strong Fund

The Greg Hill Foundation, in partnership with Samuel Adams beer, is providing grants for laid-off restaurant workers. Applicants must be full-time employees (can be multiple restaurants that add up to 30+ hours a week) who have been employed for at least three months and prove it via their last two full-time pay stubs. This fund is available in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont.

Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is giving away $500 grants to individual U.S.-based restaurant employees facing hardship who have worked part- or full-time in the restaurant industry for “at least 90 days in the past year.” To be eligible, you must have had a primary source of income from restaurant work, had your wages decreased or lost your job on or after March 10, 2020, and demonstrate an immediate financial need.

United States Bartenders Guild Charity Foundation

The USBG National Charity Foundation is providing “supplemental emergency aid” between $150 to $500. Applicants must be bartenders or the spouse or child of a bartender who has experienced an emergency hardship and lacks “the necessities of life, including financial, physical, mental, or emotional well being” as a result of the hardship. Applicants also must be able to provide tangible documentation of the catastrophe or hardship.

Restaurant Workers COVID19 Crisis Relief Fund

The Restaurant Workers Community Foundation, in partnership with the Southern Smoke Emergency Relief program, is providing need-based relief for restaurant workers across the United States. Applicants must apply through the Southern Smoke Application Form. This application is fairly lengthy and must include a statement of need, employment history, copies of previous paychecks, and possibly doctor’s bills and photos of damages, among other requirements.

Unite Here Education and Support Fund

The UNITE HERE Education and Support Fund provides help for hospitality workers hit hard by the crisis. Eligible workers include those who work at theme parks, sports and event venues, and hotels, and convention centers. The fund will help cover the cost of hospital workers’ health insurance, utilities, food and rent, replacing wages, and retraining for new jobs.

Another Round, Another Rally

Another Round, Another Rally is offering $500 relief grants if you are a “chef, server, bartender, dishwasher, sommelier, manager or someone who holds any other type of hospitality role” who lost your job or had your hours cut due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Applicants must fill out a Google form and those who receive the grants will get their money via Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or Paypal.

Non-Industry Specific Funds

One Fair Wage Emergency Fund

One Fair Wage is providing cash assistance for tipped workers. This includes restaurant workers, car service drivers, delivery workers, and personal service workers. To apply, simply fill out the form provided. Applicants will receive a follow-up phone call from an OFW organizer.

Humanity Forward Coronavirus Relief Fund

Humanity Forward (former presidential candidate Andrew Yang’s non-profit organization) is giving out both one-time and recurring basic income payments to those most impacted by the coronavirus. Although Yang touted his monthly $1,000 universal basic income (UBI) plan during his presidential campaign, it is unclear how much money will be distributed per month. through this fund, Their first initiative is being rolled out for those living in the Bronx, NY, and plans call to roll out more initiatives in the coming weeks.

Betancourt Macias Family Emergency Fund

The Betancourt Macias Family Scholarship Foundation is providing emergency financial relief to undocumented immigrants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They have currently disbursed the funds from their GoFundMe but will continue to fundraise to create more financial relief. Applicants must fill out a simple Google form to be eligible.

Mission Asset Immigrant Families Fund

The Mission Asset Fund is providing eligible immigrant families with $500 grants to go towards immediate financial needs. The funds are raised on a rolling basis. To be eligible, applicants must not be eligible for a CARES Act Recovery Rebate (coronavirus stimulus check) from the federal government, must have earned less than $99,000 in 2019 (or live in a household with total income below $198,000), and must have experienced an income disruption due to the coronavirus.