Eligibility Guidelines for Freelancers Relief Fund

Please note: Applications have been temporarily closed due to the overwhelming response we have received from our community. We will send an update to members when we are able to reopen application submissions.

Freelancers Relief Fund is operated by Working Today, a nonprofit subsidiary of Freelancers Union, and provides assistance of up to $1,000 per household to qualifying freelancers to cover lost income and essential expenses. Applicants will be asked to submit a detailed funding request outlining their needs. Funding amounts will be determined by magnitude of income loss as a result of COVID-19. Applicants should be as detailed as possible, and provide as much documentation as possible, to support their funding requests.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for grant assistance from the Freelancers Relief Fund, recipients must satisfy all of the following requirements:

1. Be a freelancer who primarily resides in the United States. To qualify, an eligible freelancer must have performed freelance work as their primary source of income for at least one year prior to their application. Eligible freelance businesses include sole proprietors, limited liability companies, or other entity provided there is no more than one employee.
2. Experience a sudden decrease of at least 50% of income as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those experiencing contract cancelations or loss of work due to social distancing measures, experiencing COVID-19 illness or caring for immediate family members infected with COVID-19. Your application must include a narrative and provide tangible documentation of income loss.
3. Provide tangible documentation of freelance income and income loss by providing the following supporting documents:
   1. 2019 tax filings or annualized financial statements
   2. Two consecutive months of 2020 financial statements
   3. Canceled contracts or relevant client communications

Financial documents can include: tax returns (including schedule C statements if applicable), bank statements, or CPA-certified profit & loss statements.

Selection Criteria

Grant recipients will be selected primarily on the basis of the eligibility requirements above. Additional consideration may be given to Freelancers Union members.

Each grant applicant will be reviewed by Working Today staff or other persons designated by Working Today’s Executive Director. Grants will be awarded by Working Today on an objective and nondiscriminatory basis upon reviewing the application and ascertaining any additional facts and circumstances as necessary.

Grants will be made in the form of lump sum distributions to the recipient, or as determined by Working Today based on the needs of the particular recipient. Grant recipients may be required to provide Working Today with additional documentation that the grant was used in a manner consistent with the terms of the grant. All data is kept confidential and secure.