Relief Fund and Assistance Program Information

What is the application process?

• Once an application is submitted, an automatic email is sent to the employer to verify the applicant’s employment status.
• Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF) will review the application and request documentation that demonstrates the emergency leading to financial hardship.
• After receiving the necessary documentation, the committee will review and determine whether to approve or deny the application. Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision via email (within 5-10 business days after documentation is received.)
• If an applicant is approved for assistance, the grant will be issued through checks mailed directly to the vendors, such as landlords, utility companies, or contractors. Please note that the program does not provide funds directly to the applicants; all payments are made to vendors.

What documentation is required?

In order for your application to be reviewed, you must send supporting documentation to Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF). The Application Review Committee will not consider incomplete applications. You are welcome to submit your application without documents to start the process and then follow up with your documents.

Two types of documentation are required:
1.) Documentation of the emergency event/incident that has caused your financial hardship.
2.) Documentation of your financial hardship, such as, copies of the bills for which you are requesting payment, receipts from crisis expenses, and/or affected paycheck stubs.

We understand that each situation is unique and there are many types of documents that TCF can review.  Feel free to submit your application to start the process, then contact us if you need help with documentation.  Email:  Emergency@TulsaCF.org.

What are examples of events and documentation needed?

Please refer to your specific employer’s program guidelines; not all programs include the below categories of assistance.

Home Catastrophe/Natural Disaster

• Report from fire, police, or insurance; insurance claim; lodging and unexpected expense receipts / bills; photograph of damaged residence, etc.
• Repair estimates; furniture replacement bills; relocation cost invoices, etc.
• Proof of home ownership
• Items that Will Not be Considered: Non-necessities such as electronics, boats, and recreation vehicles; outbuildings, fencing; or down payments on new / used cars.

Funeral for Immediate Family

• Statement from funeral home indicating financial responsibility of employee; copy of cemetery bill; etc.
• Documentation of relationship (obituary, birth certificate, marriage license, death certificate, etc.).
• Items that Will Not be Considered: expenses for extended family members.

Emergency Travel to Immediate Family

• Travel receipts; Statement from attending physician regarding either terminal/critical status of immediate family member or need to go to or be transferred to an out-of-state medical facility or hospice, etc.
• Documentation of relationship (birth certificate, marriage license, insurance certification, etc.).
• Items that Will Not be Considered: travel to extended family members.

Military Deployment

• Deployment orders, mobilization alert, etc.
• Bill you need this charity to pay for you (Lease agreement; mortgage statement; utility bills; repair estimate).

Personal Emergency

• Documentation of emergency incident preventing payment of household necessities (i.e. notice of job loss; police report; repair estimates; deed, title or registration, etc.).
• Financial impact of situation (i.e. paycheck stubs; repair receipts, etc.).
• Bill you need this charity to pay for you (Lease agreement; mortgage statement; utility bills; repair estimate/contract).

Medical Emergency

• Documentation of non-elective medical emergency preventing payment of household necessities (i.e. medical document showing emergency; letter from doctor, itemized hospital bill or EOB from insurance, etc.) Note: Routine pregnancy/maternity care is not reviewed by this program.
• Financial impact of situation (i.e. paycheck stubs, receipts, etc.).
• Bill you need this charity to pay for you (Lease agreement; mortgage statement; utility bills; expanded medical bill). 

What are examples of events and documentation needed?

Please note the following types of expenses will not be considered for assistance from TCF:

• Unexpected expenses that do not cause a financial hardship; Unexpected expenses that cannot be documented;
• Routine living expenses such as car maintenance, clothing, food, etc.;
• Discretionary expenses or bills for elective procedures or expenses such as cosmetic procedures or routine maternity leave; 
• Daycare, Tuition, books, or other college or educational fees;
• Expenses that do not impact the employee’s household or are not the responsibility of the employee;
• Insurance co-pays and expenses covered by insurance;
• Expenses related to legal fees, attorney fees; Traffic or other court related fines; payday loans, or garnishments of an employee’s paycheck due to past debt;
• Financial hardship due to divorce or separation;
• Other personal debts such as property or income tax, child support, credit cards, gambling, etc.;
• Expenses resulting from events before you were hired by your employer
• Over-time, less than expected bonuses, commissions, or other pay that typically fluctuates;
• Continued emergency expenses exceeding the program’s maximum available grant. Grants are provided once per incident, focused on short-term relief during unexpected conditions.
• If your program is funded by your employer, loss of income due to a decrease in scheduled hours, layoff, or furlough by your employer cannot be considered.

Tulsa Community Foundation must comply with IRS regulations; further guidelines may apply. Please refer to your specific program’s guidelines for applicable categories of assistance.   For any questions, please email Emergency@TulsaCF.org.