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Every child deserves

access to the medical care they need

REQUEST A GRANT

Apply for Funding

Every child deserves access to the medical care they need. Our
pediatric medical grants help cover essential expenses—including clinical care, medical equipment, and travel-related costs—so families can focus on their child’s health, not financial hurdles. Explore the details below to learn more about covered expenses and eligibility.

APPLY

To apply for a grant, you’ll be redirected to GrantsConnect, our secure application platform. There, you can create an account and begin your application.

FUNDING CRITERIA

1. The child must be 18 years old or younger.

2. The child must be under the care of a licensed medical provider.
Please have your provider complete this form prior to applying: Provider Certification of Medical Necessity [PDF download] 

3. Homeopathic and naturopathic provider notes will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

4. The request must address a clinically relevant healthcare need specific to the child.

5. Each child is eligible for one grant every 12 months.

EXPENSES COVERED

Equipment

Wheelchairs, assistive technology, prostheses, care devices, hearing aids, vehicle modifications (ramps, lifts, transfer boards), etc.

Clinical

Clinical procedures, medication, therapies, evaluations, service dogs, etc.

Travel and Lodging

Gas, parking, transportation, and lodging directly related to child’s healthcare needs/appointments.

EXPENSES NOT COVERED

Any bills or reimbursements for services incurred before the date of application. Funding must be awarded for future treatment/care.

Equipment

Permanent home modifications, vehicle repairs, vehicle purchases.

Clinical

Research, clinical trials, emotional support animals.

Travel and Lodging

Travel outside of the United States.

Calculating QUalifying income

1

Income eligibility is based on the number of dependent children in the home.

2

Household income cannot exceed the following amounts based on number of dependents in the child’s household.

DEPENDENT CHILDREN

DC*

Qualifying Income Cannot Exceed

QICE**

1

2

3

4

5+

$65,000

$80,000

$95,000

$110,000

$125,000

*DC – Dependent Children
**QICE – Qualifying Income Cannot Exceed

Age
  • The child receiving the grant must be 18 years of age or younger.
Income Guidelines

General Quick Tips:

  • Applicants must submit their most recent tax return as proof of income.
  • We always consider the household income (both parents, if applicable).
  • If parents/guardians are separated, we will request income from the parent claiming the child as a dependent.
  • Foster parents are not required to provide income verification.
Income Qualifications
  • Household income must be $65,000 or less for families with one child.
  • Income increases by $15,000 per additional child.
  • The maximum allowable household income for all applicants is $125,000, regardless of the number of children.
Clinical Care

Covers medical treatments, therapy, medicine, evaluations, dental care, and service dogs.

❌ Does not cover: Medical bills, reimbursements, emotional support animals, alternative/experimental treatments, or education-related therapies/expenses.
✔️ All requests must be for future treatments—funding cannot be applied to past services.

Medical Equipment

Covers durable medical equipment, such as modifications of a vehicle, wheelchairs, prosthetics, orthotics, standers, lifts, communication devices, hearing aids, mobility bicycles, and feeding supplies.

❌ Does not cover: Medical bills, reimbursements, or permanent home modifications.
✔️ Equipment must be moveable—for example, a ramp or stair lift is eligible, but permanent structural changes are not.

Travel & Lodging

Covers lodging, gas, parking, and transportation costs related to a child’s medical care.

✔️ Must be directly tied to treatment needs, such as:

  • Weekly cancer treatments
  • Lodging for intensive therapies
  • Travel expenses for parents visiting a baby in the NICU

Important: Travel grant payments are made payable to the parent/guardian but must be mailed to a social worker or care navigator—funds will not be sent directly to families.

  1. Provider Certification of Medical Necessity
  2. Income Verification
    • Required:
      • Submit the first page of the most recent federal income tax return or W-2 for the household.
      • If taxes have not been filed, please contact the Grant Coordinator at grants@firsthandfoundation.org for further guidance.
    • Note: Submitting bank statements may delay the application processing.
  3. Evaluation from Specialist
    • Required (if relevant to the grant request): Include an evaluation from a specialist (e.g., audiologist, therapist).
    • If not applicable: Upload an additional copy of the physician’s form in place of the specialist’s evaluation.
  4. Quote
    • Required for clinical and equipment requests:
      • Must include the total price and identify the payee if funding is approved.
      • Must reflect a discount; lack of a discount may delay or disqualify the application.
      • For treatments involving multiple sessions, specify the number of sessions and cost per session.
      • Pricing details must be included directly on the document; links to pricing will not be accepted.
  5. Insurance Denial
    • Required:
      • Requests must not be covered by existing insurance.
      • For travel and lodging requests, upload a copy of the Physician Form
      • Submit a letter of denial or exclusion of benefits from the insurance provider confirming the expense is not covered or excluded.
    • Note: Requests for care with an out-of-network provider will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  6. Payment Information
    • Required:
      • Applicable payment information must be completed in its entirety within the application.
      • Payment details vary by grant type.
      • Payments for travel and lodging will be mailed to the applicant’s social worker. Providing the applicant’s home address will result in a delayed or denied application.

There must be no existing insurance coverage for the requested expenses.

We do consider out-of-network care on a case-by-case basis.

If you are actively seeking care with an out-of-network provider, please contact the Grant Coordinator at grants@firsthandfoundation.org for guidance on submitting your request.

Under no circumstances will a payment be sent directly to the family.

Clinical and equipment grants will be paid directly to the provider or company listed on the application and quote.

Travel/lodging grants will be paid to the parent/guardian, but payments must be mailed to the social worker or care navigator.

  • If relevant social worker mailing information is not provided, the grant may be delayed or denied.

Checks are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance; however, the funds remain active in the child’s name for 12 months from the date of approval.

All approved funds must be used only for the specific request outlined in the grant details.

Unused funds must be returned to the Foundation so they can be used to assist other families in need.

Application Review

  • Our grant application process operates on a monthly cycle to ensure timely review and support.
  • Application Deadline: All applications must be submitted by 11:59pm CST on the 15th of each month.
  • Rolling Reopening: The application portal will reopen on the 16th, beginning a new monthly cycle.
  • Review & Notification: Our Clinical Decision Committee reviews applications following the 15th of each month, and all applicants will be notified of their grant status by the end of the month.
  • Applications are always open – we simply operate on a month-to-month schedule for grant review.

2025 cycles

August

July 16 – August 15

September

August 16 – September 15

October

September 16 – October 15

November

October 16 – November 15

December

November 16 – December 15

Apply Now

APPLY

To apply for a grant, you’ll be redirected to GrantsConnect, our secure application platform. There, you can create an account and begin your application.

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