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Find similar grantsHelping Hands Program is sponsored by Gerstner Family Foundation. Assists individuals and families facing unexpected crises by providing timely support to restore household stability in Greater New York City, Greater Boston, and Greater Palm Beach County.
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Helping Hands | Program Areas | Gerstner Family Foundation The Helping Hands program assists individuals and families facing unexpected crises, providing timely, strategic support when a “helping hand” can help restore household stability. In 2025, Helping Hands supported 6,500 households and students through 36 trusted nonprofit and university partners.
While these grants are modest, averaging less than $1,500 per household, they deliver lasting impact. One year after receiving rent assistance, 95% of surveyed recipients remained stably housed. Among student recipients, 86% are either continuing their studies or have graduated.
Read our 2025 Impact Summary to learn more. Helping Hands grants help cover essential expenses such as rent, utilities, and medical costs, stabilizing individuals and families during moments of acute need. When paired with case management and wraparound support, these grants serve as a critical strategic intervention, helping households recover from temporary setbacks and strengthening communities.
Our partner portfolio spans our primary funding regions, Greater New York City, Greater Boston, and Greater Palm Beach County, with select partners serving nationwide. Learn more about our chairman's grants Reflections on Helping Hands Lou Gerstner shares the origin of and his vision for the emergency grants program, lessons learned over the past decade, and his belief in the critical importance of the work.
PHOTO CREDIT: Catholic Charities USA Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), founded in 1910, is the largest private provider of social services in the United States, supporting a national network of 169 member agencies.
These organizations deliver a broad range of critical services—including disaster relief, immigration and refugee support, food access, housing assistance, integrated health, and workforce development—tailored to local community needs. CCUSA strengthens its affiliates through funding, technical assistance, and shared infrastructure, enabling consistent and effective service delivery nationwide.
Gerstner Philanthropies began partnering with CCUSA in 2022, initially supporting 15 agencies to help families address one-time, acute financial emergencies. The partnership has since scaled significantly: in 2025, CCUSA’s Helping Hands program reached more than 900 households through 27 agencies. The 2026–27 grant will expand the program to 35 agencies nationwide through a $4.
8 million investment. Helping Hands funds are primarily used to prevent housing instability, with 75% of grants supporting rent assistance. These grants have demonstrated strong outcomes: 98% of rent-grant recipients who responded to follow-up remained stably housed one year later.
CCUSA’s effectiveness has been bolstered by a robust peer learning network and internal technology portal that facilitates real-time knowledge sharing, access to tools and training, and more responsive support for families facing crisis. To learn more, please visit https://www. catholiccharitiesusa.
org/ . Major Helping Hands Grants Grants listed below may be from the Gerstner Family Foundation or another Gerstner family philanthropic vehicle. Amounts may reflect cumulative annual grants or multi-year grants.
To see annual amounts, please see listings of grants paid each year. United Neighborhood Houses New York, NY | Visit Website To support Neighborhood-Based Emergency Cash Relief through Settlement Houses To support Housing Stability through CCUSA's Housing Counseling Program. New York, NY | Visit Website To fund the Emergency Client Assistance Program.
Summit, NJ | Visit Website To support the Shelter Diversion Initiative. Lake Worth, FL | Visit Website To support the Housing Stabilization Program. The Havens Relief Fund Society New York, NY | Visit Website To support the emergency cash grant program.
Boston, MA | Visit Website To support the emergency cash grant program. Coalition for the Homeless New York, NY | Visit Website To support the emergency cash grant program.
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley White Plains, NY | Visit Website To support the Eviction Prevention Emergency Assistance Program Bronx, NY | Visit Website To support the Housing Stabilization Program New York, NY | Visit Website To support the emergency cash grant program.
The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty New York, NY | Visit Website To support the Emergency Cash Assistance Program Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse Delray Beach, FL | Visit Website To support the Support for Survivors Program Boston, MA | Visit Website To support the Homelessness Prevention Program Angelica was connected to Safe Horizon’s Crime Victim Assistance Program after she was assaulted by the father of her children.
As a result of her injuries, Angelica couldn’t work for four weeks. Angelica fell behind on rent and was at risk of facing housing court. Helping Hands supported this mother of three through a $1,400 grant which covered one month's rent, and necessities such as clothing and toiletries for her children.
Angelica recently returned to work and will be able to pay for her family expenses moving forward. United Neighborhood Houses Release Report on Helping Hands Program Impact Read the Full Report from UNH Here Gerstner Philanthropies Awards $16.
8 Million for Helping Hands Emergency Grant Program Gerstner Philanthropies Joins Hostos Community College for “Women in Philanthropy” Panel Gerstner Philanthropies Supports Expanded Food Distribution Efforts by Boca Helping Hands Learn more about this initiative by visiting bocahelpinghands.
org Catholic Charities of New York Reaches Hundreds of Hungry New Yorkers Through Feeding Our Neighbors Initiative WSJ OP-ED: Stop Homelessness Before It Starts
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Individuals and families in Greater New York City, Greater Boston, and Greater Palm Beach County. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $1,500 per household. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Helping Hands Program is funded by Gerstner Family Foundation. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in New York. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
The Homeless Youth Program is a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services that funds services for homeless and at-risk youth across Illinois. Administered through the Office of Community and Positive Youth Development, it supports nonprofit organizations delivering shelter, outreach, and support services to young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Eligible applicants are Illinois-based nonprofits with demonstrated capacity to serve youth. Awards range from $100,000 to $800,000 per year under CSFA number 444-80-0711. This is a FY 2026 funding opportunity with an application deadline of May 21, 2025.
Community Investment Tax Credit Program (CITC) is a grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development that provides state tax credit allocations to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, enabling them to attract private donations from individuals and businesses. Donors contributing $500 or more to approved projects receive tax credits equal to 50% of their contribution. The program has leveraged nearly $27 million in charitable contributions to approximately 700 projects statewide. Eligible project areas include education, housing, job training, arts and culture, economic development, and services for at-risk populations. Projects must be located in or serve residents of Maryland's Priority Funding Areas. The application period is typically held annually.
The Families First Community Grant Program is a competitive grant initiative from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) offering approximately $27 million in funding to support nonprofit organizations serving low-income Tennessee families. Grants fund programs across four priority areas: education, health, economic stability, and family well-being, aligned with TANF goals of promoting self-sufficiency. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits based in Tennessee that provide direct services to economically disadvantaged families. The 2025 application cycle closed July 10, 2025. This program reflects Tennessee's broader commitment to strengthening communities through strategic investment in local organizations that address the root causes of poverty.