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FAQs for direct grants to families and individuals

How do I apply?

Click here to be taken to our application for families and individuals. Please apply only one time. Applying more than one time will not expedite your application. 

Will I receive confirmation that my application was received?

Yes. Upon submission of your application, you will see a confirmation screen.

Will I be notified if my application is not being funded?

Applicants for direct grants are notified if their application is not being funded only if they specifically request notification.

How long does your review process take?

Our application review process may take up to 4 weeks for direct grant applications. 

May I apply on behalf of someone else?

Yes! However, it is important that the applicant knows the recipient well enough that they are able to provide all relevant details and documentation. 

Additionally, if you are a therapist, religious leader, doctor/nurse or have any relationship with the grant recipient in which there is a professional expectation of confidentiality, please provide confirmation and/or documentation that the recipient has consented to your applying on their behalf.

Are applications restricted by applicant’s age or gender? 

No. Anyone may apply for a direct grant from Together Rising. 

May applicants live outside the United States?

Yes. Please note that international applications typically require more documentation than domestic applications because there is generally less publicly available information online and available information may be in languages other than English.

What types of needs do you meet through direct granting?

We fill discrete, one-time needs for families and individuals. Needs may arise from job loss, illness, natural disaster, or other reasons. You can find examples of recent grants here.

Recent direct grants have included:

  1. Sam: Rent assistance after her husband’s work dried up in the pandemic and she needed to complete her degree to get the family on a sustainable financial path
  2. Fitz: Covered medical bills and living expenses while this nurse awaited a kidney transplant but had to continue working during the pandemic
  3. Veronica: A used car for a survivor of domestic abuse plus a booster seat for her son
  4. Mirabella: A mobility bicycle provided independence and connection for this disabled woman

What types of grants are provided?

Together Rising provides grants of funds (either paid to the applicant or to a service provider) or goods only. 

We are unable to provide advice, connections with service providers, or referrals or to promote fundraisers, products, or businesses.

What size grant do you provide?

The size of direct grants varies and typically ranges from $500 to $5,000. Grants over $5,000 require considerably more documentation.

When should I apply for a grant? 

You may apply at any time. We are able to pay expenses that are already owed, as well as provide funds for upcoming expenses. However, if you are uncertain what the need may be or are considering applying in anticipation of a need, please wait to apply until the need has materialized and/or is clearly understood.

What type of documentation do you need? Must I submit documentation in order to receive a grant?

Although submitting documentation is not required, it is often a critical part of our review process. Applications that include appropriate documentation are more likely to be funded than those with no or minimal documentation. The type of documentation needed is specific to each application. Common forms of documentation include a copy of a lease (if requesting assistance with rent payments), bills, invoices, treatment plans, repair estimates, doctor notes, court/arrest documents, protective orders, and pictures. 

I’ve already received a grant from Together Rising. May I apply for another grant?

Together Rising typically provides only one grant per person/family. When a second grant is provided, there is typically at least one year between applications and the second application is for a new need, rather than a continuation of the previous need.

Is there a way to save my application and complete it later?

Applications cannot currently be saved for completion at a later time. We suggest applicants complete the narrative sections of the application in a word-processing document and then copy and paste into the application when they are ready to submit.

Is there anything Together Rising will NOT fund?

The range of goods and services Together Rising will provide is broad. However, please note the following:

  1. Together Rising does not provide adoption fees or cover the costs of infertility treatments. In rare circumstances, we may provide funds as families prepare for foster children. 
  2. It is very rare for Together Rising to pay for legal fees, especially in open cases. 
    1. We will not pay for legal representation in routine cases of divorce, spousal support, child support, and child custody disputes. 
    2. We will not pay for individuals to hire immigration attorneys. Our legal work in immigration occurs through the organizations we support. 
    3. We may provide grants for other needs that applicants may use to offset their legal expenses.
  3. For applicants in the United States, it is very rare for Together Rising to fund private school tuition for K-12 children outside of the documented need for highly specialized services that cannot be provided in the public school system.
  4. Together Rising does not provide scholarships, per se. 
    1. Under narrow circumstances, Together Rising may provide tuition support for undergraduate students. This includes but is not limited to undocumented immigrants, DACA recipients, and others who are not eligible for many forms of financial support.
  5. Together Rising rarely pays off any kind of debt outside of recently accrued medical debt or mortgage payments. 
  6. If you are applying for assistance with medical expenses, all therapies must be evidence-based.