Dial 2-1-1 or 1-844-342-5211

← Back to Results

Modest Needs Foundation

(Agency)

Offers grants designed to promote self-sufficiency of individuals and families who are ineligible for most types of social assistance, and are living paycheck to paycheck. 
 
  • Unexpected or emergency expenses that an individual or family living paycheck-to-paycheck could not possibly afford without a short-term hand-up.
    • Examples of expenses of this type with which Modest Needs has helped in the past include everything from the cost of medical care not covered by insurance to the cost of repairing or replacing a major appliance to the cost of required work tools or uniforms to the cost of legal fees to complete an adoption to - tragically - the cost of burying a family member that has unexpectedly passed away;
  • Monthly bills that an individual or family living paycheck-to-paycheck cannot afford to pay at the time of their application because of a documented extenuating circumstance.
    • For example, if you were required to take unpaid leave from work because your child was ill and now cannot afford the cost of your auto insurance, or if you were in an auto accident and cannot afford this month's rent or mortgage payment because you had to pay a deductible to repair your car - under these kinds of documented emergency situations, Modest Needs would consider paying a regular monthly bill on behalf of your household on a one-time basis.

Eligibility: Individuals 18 years of age and older who: - legal resident of the United States - applying for assistance either for self or for a person living in the household - household has at least one active bank account OR has filed a Federal Tax Return within in the past two years - access to personal email and Modest Needs website daily for the entire time that application is active - ability to scan or fax documentation to support the application and additional requests during the grant application process - if renting (rather than owning) the home, household must have a legal lease the landlord and a member of the household both have signed; must show the monthly cost of the rental, whether or not the applicant pays the full amount - household passes 'income' and 'employment' tests, as explained in application process

Application Process: Go online to www.modestneeds.org/for-applicants/ to apply

Required Documentation: Call for required documentation

Fees: None

United States

Contact

Toll-Free:
844-667-3776 (Available Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 2 PM)
Main:

Email: general.questions@modestneeds.org

Website: www.modestneeds.org


33 Irving Place
5th Floor
New York NY 10003

Hours

Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM

Staff

Disabilities Access

Not applicable; services provided off-site