Provide emergency funding to students facing hardships

“Students who are under-resourced are often only one financial crisis away from dropping out of school. Those students face a range of financial emergencies like a parent losing their job and are now unable to help support their student’s living expenses, or a repair on a car that is required for the multiple jobs the student needs to support themselves. This program has given hope to those students so they can focus on their education and attain their dream of a college degree.”

–Kathy Fahl, Interim Associate Dean of Students

Ohio University's Student Emergency Fund provides funding for students experiencing personal crises, who can apply for a one-time Emergency Microgrant to cover needed supplies and/or bills. Throughout 2021, 231 OHIO students facing financial difficulty turned to the Emergency Microgrants program to ease their hardships. Of those applicants, 50% were awarded short-term financial assistance with an average award of $431. Of the recipients, 89% were from the Athens Campus and 11% were from Regional Campuses.

• More than 96 percent of students who apply for an Emergency Microgrant work at least 15 hours per week, in addition to their academic demands. 
• Ninety-two percent of Student Emergency Fund survey respondents reported that receiving a microgrant helped them stay in school.
  
  

“The Microgrant truly saved my life. I can honestly say that I would not be here and able to graduate without it.” – 2019 Student Emergency Fund recipient

By giving to the Student Emergency Fund, you can help a student with an immediate financial need. Unforeseen circumstances such as family deaths, natural disasters, loss of income, and displacement all have the potential to uproot a student’s personal and academic experience.

Fortunately, the Student Emergency Fund exists to cover safety needs, emergency medical bills, rent, utilities, groceries, and/or childcare during personal crises.

Here are a few ways your dollars meet a student’s immediate need:

• $60 replaces a flat tire for a commuter student
• $200 provides two weeks of rent for a student recovering from illness
• $750 covers the average amount awarded to a student in need
• $1,000 provides emergency dental care for a student without insurance

Your support for the Student Emergency Fund grows Ohio University's ability to help when a student experiences an emergency. Thank you!

If you are interested in starting an endowment for the Division of Student Affairs' Student Emergency Fund, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at giving@ohio.edu.

Looking to make a gift to a different OHIO fund? Visit give.ohio.edu/funds and search our database of over 2,000 funds, all aimed at supporting our students, faculty, and campuses.