A wheelchair, service dog or seizure monitor can cost far more than insurance covers. Chive Charities helps fill that gap for people who meet its eligibility requirements and need specific medical, mobility or therapy-related support.
What Chive Charities Grants Cover
Chive Charities funds three main categories of need:
- Medical items, such as oxygen equipment, medical beds, seizure monitors and generators needed to keep medical equipment running
- Mobility items, such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, stair lifts, vehicle hand controls, adaptive car seats and wheelchair or scooter lifts
- Therapy items, such as trained service dogs, adaptive exercise equipment, communication devices and physical therapy sessions
These grants are designed to help with specific items or services rather than general living expenses.
Chive Charities does not cover past-due medical bills, rent, mortgage or car payments, funeral costs, lost family income, or experimental procedures that haven’t received the required governmental approval.
Who Qualifies for a Chive Charities Grant?
You may be eligible to apply if you fall into one of these groups:
- A veteran with an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions
- An active-duty service member or military family with a dependent who has a life-altering condition
- A first responder, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, paramedics and 911 operators
- Someone living with a rare medical diagnosis
Chive Charities also requires applicants to be based in the United States and provide medical documentation supporting the need for assistance.
Finances matter as well. Chive Charities says applicants with income above $100,000 may not be eligible. Applicants who have already raised more than $30,000 through fundraising may also not be eligible.
These aren’t necessarily automatic disqualifications, which is why the organization uses “may not be eligible” when describing the thresholds.
Because of the number of requests Chive Charities receives, individuals may only apply once for assistance.
What You’ll Need to Apply
Chive Charities asks for documentation that helps its team understand both your situation and exactly what you’re requesting.
Depending on your circumstances, that can include:
- Income documentation
- Photo identification
- Medical documentation or a letter from your healthcare provider
- A list of the items you’re requesting
- Quotes for the requested items
- An explanation of how each item would improve your situation
- Information about previous or current fundraising
- Photos
- Military or first-responder documentation, when applicable
Fundraising isn’t required before you apply, but Chive Charities does ask applicants to provide information about any fundraising they’ve already done.
How to Apply for a Chive Charities Grant
The application process starts online:
- Create an account at recipients.chivecharities.org/register.
- Complete the application and upload the requested documentation.
- Submit information about the specific medical, mobility or therapy items you’re requesting, including quotes when required.
- Watch your email for follow-up information from Chive Charities.
After reviewing your submission, Chive Charities will email you with information about the processing timeline.
There’s no general published application deadline, so you don’t have to wait for a specific application window to open.
There’s also no standard grant amount. Each case is different, and the assistance available depends on the recipient’s needs and Chive Charities’ budget at the time of selection.
Relief Recap
Chive Charities provides grants for specific medical, mobility and therapy needs that can be difficult to afford or aren’t fully covered by insurance.
The program focuses on veterans, military families, first responders and people living with rare medical diagnoses. Assistance can include things like medical equipment, wheelchairs, mobility modifications, service dogs, communication devices and therapy.
Remember that this isn’t general cash assistance. Chive Charities doesn’t cover expenses like rent, mortgage or car payments, past-due medical bills or lost income.
If you’re also managing everyday hardship costs, our hardship grants roundup has more places to look.
