7 Private Grants for Individuals with Disabilities

We’ve found several private grants for individuals with disabilities. After all, we know firsthand how difficult it can be to live with a disabling condition.

In this article, we’ll discuss seven different private grants for individuals with disabilities. We’ll explain who qualifies and how you can apply for assistance through these programs.

The Assistance Fund

First, The Assistance Fund offers grant programs and assistance programs for people with dozens of different diagnoses. Some of the programs are now open and accepting applicants, while others are on a waitlist. In my opinion, it’s always worth applying for a wait list if you need help. 

There are dozens of programs offered by The Assistance Fund. These programs vary depending on your exact diagnosis, but many of them offer assistance with medical co-pays and medications. Some of them also offer assistance with your health insurance premiums, genetic testing, lab tests, therapy, travel costs for treatment and more. 

Who is eligible for grants from The Assistance Fund?

There are currently 78 different conditions that are covered by Assistance Fund programs. These include common (or at least well-recognized) conditions including:

• ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
• Anemia
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Chron’s Disease
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Gout
• Hemophilia
• Lupus
• Psoriasis

It also includes a number of obscure diagnoses I’d never heard of before, such as amyloidosis and Pompe disease.

How do you get help from The Assistance Fund?

Each of these different programs have different statuses. Some are open to new applicants, others are waitlists, and a few of them are closed for now. Each of them also offers different types of assistance.

Because there are 78 different programs available through this organization, you’ll need to find the exact details on The Assistance Fund website.

Selma Schimmel Vital Grant

Second, the Selma Schimmel Vital Grant provides assistance to patients who are experiencing financial hardship due to a chronic, terminal or rare condition.

When I reviewed their application, I noticed that they allow you to choose between help with groceries or utility bills. They also partner with other organizations that may be able to help you with:

• Child sitting
• Companionship
• Food
• Home maintenance
• Housekeeping
• Laundry services
• Legal advice
• Meal prep
• Medical devices
• Medical expenses
• Parking fees
• Pet sitting
• Prescriptions
• Rental and mortgage assistance
• Transportation
• Other services

This seems very comprehensive and I know that many of these services could be very helpful to you. However, you need to be aware that the organization behind this grant program will share your contact information with partner agencies in order to coordinate those services.

Who is eligible for The Vital Grant?

In order to be eligible, you must be able to demonstrate that you are experiencing financial hardship due to a chronic, terminal or rare condition.

The organization does not offer a comprehensive list of every diagnosis that qualifies for a grant. The list includes but is not limited to cancer, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease.

How do you apply for The Vital Grant?

You can find the application on the Vital Options International website. You’ll need to read through the terms and conditions on this page and then click on the big yellow “Apply for Assistance Here” button.

It appears that in order to coordinate those other services, the organization that offers this grant will share your contact information with different organizations. That’s something you will want to consider before you apply.

The Life Grant

Third, the Life Grant by the Cameron Siemers Foundation for Hope offers up to $5,000 to people between the ages of 18 and 30 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. 

The goal of the grant is to help people with severe diagnosis make an impact in their lives and the lives around them. The Foundation suggests using the grant to organize a fundraiser, start a business, launch a product, take a photography class, produce a CD or publish a book, or travel the world on a goodwill mission.

Who is eligible for the Life Grant?

In order to be eligible for the Life Grant, you must have a life-threatening diagnosis and be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old.

You must also have a clear dream or goal that you would use the grant money toward. In the words of the foundation, “If you can dream it and it makes a difference for yourself and others, it qualifies.” 

Although the foundation does not provide a clear list of what diagnoses count, past winners have had diagnoses that included tumors, diabetes, lupus, cancer and autoimmune disorders. The grants have been used to support charity work, art therapy, college educations, and even to help people start their own foundations. 

How do I apply for the Life Grant?

The application is fairly extensive and requires you to write a short essay, provide a budget for your project, and more. You can find more information on the Foundation’s website.

The Individual Grant

Fourth, the Colburn-Keenan Foundation Individual Grant may provide up to $2,000 per calendar year for eligible applicants. Their funds can be used to pay rent, purchase small appliances, pay utility bills, cover unexpected medical expenses or the cost of transportation to treatment. They may also cover the cost of Medic Alert jewelry. 

Who is eligible for the Individual Grant?

In order to be eligible for this Individual Grant, you must be either a United States citizen or legally living permanently in the United States. You must also have a chronic inherited bleeding disorder or another serious chronic illness.

If your illness is not a bleeding disorder, you have to contact the Foundation for approval before you complete the application.

How do you apply for the Individual Grant?

You can download the application for the Individual Grant from the Colburn Keenan Foundation website. You will need to fill out the application and attach your proof of income, proof of expenses, a letter of support from a professional who is familiar with your diagnosis, and a statement of need explaining why you are applying for the grant.

Keep Swimming Foundation

Fifth, the Keep Swimming Foundation provides financial aid for patients and families who are affected by long-term inpatient hospitalizations.

This organization actually has a really lovely mission. They know that health insurance or charity care can often cover the medical expenses associated with a long hospital stay, but they also know that there are a lot of associated costs that families have to bear.

The Keep Swimming Foundation can assist you with a lot of different things, such as rent or mortgage payments, gas or public transportation costs so that you can get to and from the hospital every day, parking fees, bedside meals so that you don’t have to leave the room to get food, and even hotel rooms so that you can stay close to the hospital during a major surgery. 

Who is eligible for grants from Keep Swimming Foundation?

In order to be eligible, your family must include someone who is experiencing a long-term inpatient hospitalization.

The foundation defines that as a hospital stay that lasts more than 21 days. 

How do you apply for KSF Grants?

This grant works a little differently because you need to have a social worker, nurse or physician from the hospital fill out the application for you. If this grant applies to you, please ask an eligible hospital worker to fill out the Keep Swimming Foundation application on your behalf. 

The Pink Fund

Sixth, The Pink Fund may provide up to $3,000 in assistance for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The money is paid directly to a bill provider, such as a landlord, mortgage company, utility provider, car payment, car insurance payment, or health insurance company. The fund will pay up to $1,000 per month for up to three months. 

Who is eligible for grants from The Pink Fund?

In order to be eligible, you must be a patient in active treatment for a breast cancer diagnosis. You must have been working (or have a spouse or partner that was working) at the time of your diagnosis, and you must be able to show that your family has lost income due to the diagnosis. This could be due to reduced hours, or a leave of absence, or so on. 

Their fund actually has really generous terms. Your household income has to be 500% or less of the Federal Poverty Level – that’s 5 times the poverty level, which is about $150,000 per year for a family of four. 

How do you apply for The Pink Fund?

You can view the application instructions on The Pink Fund website. They encourage you to gather all the documentation listed on the application checklist before beginning the paperwork. The checklist includes items like gathering employment and health care information, financial disclosures and more.

Financial Assistance Program

Seventh, The Myositis Patient Financial Assistance Program provides up to $2,000 every two years to those who are eligible.

Who is eligible for MPFAP grants?

In order to be eligible, you must be a US resident who has been diagnosed with a type of inflammatory myopathy or going through a diagnostic process because doctors think you might have it.

If you are undergoing testing through muscle or skin biopsy, EMG, or blood work, you may be eligible even if you don’t already have a diagnosis.

How do you apply for the grant?

You can apply online for the grant but you need to make sure that you have documentation to back up your claim. The website says that applications must be complete when they are submitted, and any applications that are incomplete or missing documentation will not be considered. You can get more information on the Understanding Myositis website. 

Summary

We’ve found several grants for individuals with disabilities, including The Life Grant by the Cameron Siemers Foundation for Hope, The Selma Schimmel Vital Grant, The Colburn-Keenan Foundation Individual Grant, and more than 75 different assistance programs through The Assistance Fund. If you are a person with a disability and you need financial assistance, be sure to check out our list of hardship grants as well!

Nicole Thelin

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.