Foothold funds the everyday work of building a good life: learning a trade, keeping a roof overhead, starting something new, staying well. Support reaches older adults, people with disabilities, the unemployed, small investors, and individuals of every background — plus the community groups working alongside them.
Every grant is judged against a single question: does it move someone toward stability, capability, or a fuller life, on their own terms.
For training, certification, tools, or the early costs of starting an income-generating idea.
For the arts, study, and pursuits that build a fuller life beyond covering the basics.
For the essentials that keep a setback from becoming a spiral: housing, health, and basic needs.
The three tracks flex to fit real situations — here's who typically applies under each one.
Support for those on fixed incomes managing rising costs, home upkeep, or the shift out of full-time work.
Grants for adaptive equipment, accessibility upgrades, and support services that open up daily independence.
Bridge funding and retraining costs for those between jobs or changing fields entirely.
Seed capital for small ventures and cooperatives, sized to match a realistic early-stage plan.
A few of the ways grants get put to work, once they land.
Most decisions are made within four to six weeks of a complete application.
A short written application: who you are, what the grant covers, and what changes if it's funded.
A reviewer reads every application in full and may follow up with one clarifying call.
You hear back either way, with reasoning if the answer is no.
One brief follow-up at the six-month mark. No further reporting required.
Foothold funds individuals directly and community organizations acting on their behalf.
Say what you're trying to do in plain terms in your application. Reviewers place it in the right track — you don't need to guess.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. There is no deadline to work around and no application fee.
Questions before applying are welcome — a short call is often faster than an email chain.