The UC Davis Staff Emergency Fund will aid members in times of personal hardship with grants of up to $1,000.

Assistance is typically provided to a staff member whose income cannot cover their needs, or the employee has experienced a loss of wages through no fault of their own. Grants would typically be used to help with housing, utilities, food, or transportation. Assistance can also be provided when employees with limited resources are faced with medical expenses or expenses related to the death of an immediate family member, or a change in family situation.

To legally provide charitable funds to individuals via employer-sponsored channels, recipients of the grants must be selected based on determination of an objective financial need.  The confidential evaluation committee will determine if applicants lack the means to maintain their basic needs, specifically:

1. Is there sufficient evidence of a financial hardship?
2. Is there a qualifying event/circumstance? 

General Guidelines

• Applicant must be a career or contract staff employee at UC Davis.
• Applicant has worked for at least 6 months at 50% time or greater.
• Applicant may only receive one award in a rolling 12-month period.
• Only one application per family will be reviewed. For example, if two members of the immediate family both work for UC Davis, only one can submit an application for assistance.
• Supporting documentation must be submitted with the application. Read more below.
• Recipients must provide specific documentation (e.g., invoices, receipts), substantiating need for funds and how the funds were used.
• Funds cannot be requested for anticipated future events.
• A close relative is defined as a partner, child, parent, sibling, or grandparent.  Other relatives will be considered is a pattern of dependent care is established.
• Grants will only be offered if funds are available.

Evaluating Applications & Criteria

To legally provide charitable funds to individuals via employer-sponsored channels, recipients of the grants must be selected based on determination of an objective financial need.

The confidential evaluation committee will determine if the applicant lacks the means to maintain their basic needs, specifically:
1.  Is there sufficient evidence of a financial hardship?
2. Is there a qualifying event/circumstance?

Qualifying Event   +   Demonstrated Hardship  =  Qualified Need

FAQs

• Will the grant be taxed?
• Yes – grants received through this fund will be taxed according to approved IRS rates.
• What type of information do I have to provide to apply?
• You must provide evidence that there is an additional financial burden. An actual amount must be accounted for in documentation (reflecting costs incurred). 
  
  Redact any personal identifying info, including account numbers, medical or other sensitive materials, before submitting application.
  
  Examples of eligible expenses include:
   >  Additional dependent care costs (e.g., extended hours at work, change to school/child/elder care).
           - Download the COVID-19 Support Fund Dependent Care Form that must be submitted with your application
   >  Additional transportation costs (e.g., to care for a close relative with COVID-19)
   >  Uninsured medical expenses of a close relative (e.g., co-pays for COVID treatments).
   >  Funeral expenses for a close relative.
   >  Loss of residence.
  
  Ineligible expenses include:
   >  Expenses more than 12 months old. Expenses with incomplete or no documentation (e.g. paid invoice).
  
  Please contact us with any questions staffemergencyfund@ucdavis.edu
• How long will it take to find out if I will receive a grant?
• Completed applications are reviewed and approved for funding in the order they are received.  Typically, it takes 3-4 weeks for an application to be approved and processed for payment
• Who decides if a grant will be provided?
• A confidential committee appointed by the Chief Human Resources Officer will review all applications for compliance to program guidelines.  
• Where does the money for these grants come from?
• Employees and other entities can contribute to this tax deductible fund. 
• How do I donate to the UC Davis Staff Emergency Fund?
• Please visit the UC Davis Giving website for information on making one-time and recurring donations. 
• Is my donation to the fund tax-deductible?
• Yes, your donation is tax-deductible.
• Is there a limit on the amount of grants?
• Employees may receive no more than $1,000 in a rolling 12-month period.
  
  Funds are limited to the amount of money available.
• Can someone get more than one grant?
• Employees are limited to one grant per rolling 12 month period.
• Can any employee apply for this?
• Career and Contract staff employees who have been employed at UC Davis for greater than 6 months at 50% time or more are eligible for these grants.
• Can student employees apply for these grants?
• Student employees are not eligible for these funds.
• How long will this fund be available?
• The fund will remain available to employees as long as there is money in the fund.