Families still recovering from the July 27, 2026 tornado in Wisconsin’s Fox Valley can apply for direct financial assistance based on how the storm affected their household.
There isn’t a standard check or published maximum award. Instead, local nonprofits review each household’s situation and determine assistance based on its current tornado-related needs.
Demand is high, but assistance is still available through local organizations involved in the recovery effort.
Here’s where to start.
What Is the Community Response Fund?
The Community Response Fund – 2026 Tornado Relief was established following the devastating July 27 tornado.
The relief effort is a partnership between:
- Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
- United Way Fox Cities
- Oshkosh Area Community Foundation
Together, these organizations have raised and distributed millions of dollars to nonprofits and community organizations helping people recover from the tornado.
For households seeking direct financial assistance, two of the key organizations distributing tornado-relief funds are LEAVEN and People of Progression.
Who Can Get Direct Tornado Assistance?
The assistance is intended for individuals and families directly affected by the July 27, 2026 tornado.
The tornado affected communities across the tri-county region of:
- Winnebago County
- Calumet County
- Outagamie County
For direct assistance, applicants may need to establish that their primary address was affected by the tornado.
LEAVEN verifies the information submitted before scheduling an intake. During that intake, staff review how the tornado affected the household and determine eligibility for available assistance.
The public program information doesn’t list a simple income cutoff. Instead, assistance is individualized based on the household’s circumstances and tornado-related needs.
What Can the Money Help With?
This isn’t a program where every household receives the same amount for the same expense.
Assistance is flexible and based on the household’s actual tornado-related circumstances.
Examples of needs identified in the recovery effort include:
- Housing
- Temporary housing
- Transportation
- Childcare
- Utilities
- Damaged vehicles
- Damaged belongings
- Insurance deductibles
- Financial hardship related to lost income
The exact assistance available will depend on the organization handling your request, your circumstances, eligibility, and available funding.
LEAVEN describes its tornado assistance as temporary, one-time financial assistance for eligible people directly affected by the storm.
How Much Can I Get?
There is no standard household award amount published.
LEAVEN says the amount of its one-time assistance is determined during the intake process based on the unique impact the tornado had on the household.
That means the amount isn’t simply calculated according to the total dollar value of everything you lost.
Staff look at your household’s circumstances and determine what assistance may be available based on the program’s assessment process.
How Much Tornado Relief Has Been Distributed?
The response has grown significantly since direct household assistance began.
Millions of dollars have now been awarded across the broader tornado relief and recovery effort, including substantial funding for direct household assistance through LEAVEN and People of Progression.
By mid-September, more than 500 families had already received direct financial help, while the organizations were still working through more than 600 additional requests and scheduled appointments.
That backlog illustrates just how significant the remaining need is.
Additional fundraising has continued as local organizations work to help more affected households.
How Do I Apply Through LEAVEN?
LEAVEN has a specific process for tornado assistance.
Start at the LEAVEN Tornado Relief Assistance page.
Step 1: Submit the online form
All tornado-relief requests through LEAVEN must begin with its online tornado assistance form.
LEAVEN is not accepting walk-in tornado-relief requests.
Step 2: Wait for verification
LEAVEN staff will review the information you submitted.
If your information is verified, you’ll receive a link to schedule an intake appointment.
Step 3: Complete your intake
During your intake, LEAVEN staff will review your situation and determine whether you’re eligible for available tornado-relief assistance.
The amount of any assistance is also determined through this assessment.
If you don’t have internet access or need help completing the online form, call:
920-738-9635, extension 2
That extension is specifically for tornado assistance.
Will LEAVEN Pay Me or Pay My Bills Directly?
For this particular tornado-relief program, LEAVEN says approved assistance is paid directly to eligible individuals.
That’s different from LEAVEN’s regular assistance program, where payments are generally made directly to vendors or service providers.
Remember that tornado assistance is also separate from LEAVEN’s regular financial-assistance services.
What About People of Progression?
People of Progression is another organization providing direct assistance to tornado-affected households through the recovery effort.
The organization is located at:
333 First Street, Suite A
Menasha, WI
For tornado assistance, the published walk-in hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. by appointment only
Phone:
920-815-9487
Because procedures and availability can change as demand continues, contact the organization before visiting if possible.
Is Tornado Assistance Still Available?
Direct household tornado assistance remains an active part of the recovery effort, but demand is extremely high.
More than 500 families had already received assistance by mid-September, while more than 600 additional requests and scheduled appointments were still being worked through.
That doesn’t mean every pending household will automatically receive assistance. Eligibility, household circumstances, available funding, and the individual organization’s process all matter.
If you were directly affected by the July 27 tornado and still need help, it’s worth contacting LEAVEN or People of Progression rather than assuming the funding is already gone.
One distinction is important: broader grantmaking through the Community Response Fund for nonprofit organizations is separate from the direct household assistance handled by organizations like LEAVEN and People of Progression. A pause or change involving organizational grants does not necessarily mean household tornado assistance has stopped.
What Should I Have Ready?
Follow the instructions from whichever organization you contact.
Be prepared to provide accurate information about:
- Your primary address
- How the tornado affected your household
- Your current tornado-related needs
- Any other information requested during verification or intake
Don’t exaggerate the total value of your losses in hopes of qualifying for a larger award. Assistance is based on the household’s circumstances and current needs rather than simply matching the total dollar amount of property damage.
Relief Recap
Wisconsin families directly affected by the July 27, 2026 Fox Valley tornado may still be able to receive direct financial assistance through the ongoing community recovery effort.
There is no standard household award amount. Assistance is individualized according to how the tornado affected the household and what help is currently needed.
LEAVEN and People of Progression are providing direct assistance, and demand remains high.
For LEAVEN, start with the online tornado-relief form. Don’t go to the LEAVEN office expecting to submit a tornado request in person, because the organization says all tornado-relief requests must begin online.
If you don’t have internet access or need help with the form, call 920-738-9635, extension 2.
You can also contact People of Progression at 920-815-9487 for information about its tornado-assistance process.
