Welcome to the Yahalom NJ Grant Assistance Center
Below please find a list of grants that may be applicable and helpful to you. We are here to help you if you need any guidance. You can contact us at 732-456-6322 or yahalomnj@agudah.org.
We would like to thank Mrs. Dinah Wadiche and Mrs. Esther Hazan for their extensive research in compiling this list and for their dedication and tireless efforts to help out family’s who have children with special needs.
Grants, Funds & Foundations for Children with Autism, Special Needs and Medical Challenges
Grants for Health Care Costs Not Covered by Insurance
United Healthcare Children’s Foundation
1855 MY UHCCF (1855-698-4223)
This charitable organization provides medical grants to help with services not covered/ fully covered by the parent’s commercial health insurance plan.
The grant covers approved items related to deductibles, coinsurance and co-pays as well as non-covered services. (Ex. Therapies, durable medical equipment, hospitals stays, medication, mental health services…)
Age 16 and under
You can receive up to $5,000 annually per child. ($10,000 max lifetime)
You do not need to have insurance through United HealthCare to be eligible.
Once you have applied and are approved, payments are available immediately.
Submit a request for payment online.
Payments may be issued to a provider, vendor or parent.
Grants are available for medical costs incurred within 60 days from the time UHCCF determines the application complete, grant will then be good for a year. Must live in US and face a health related challenge.
Child must be covered by commercial insurance/ insurance provided thru private employer.
Family cannot exceed maximum adjusted gross income.
Family size of 2- 65k, 3-100k, 4- 135k, 5+ – 170k
Does not cover insurance premiums, home modifications and experimental/unproven services.
Will need doctor to fill out a form with diagnosis and recommendation of requested therapy/ surgery/ equipment.
Required documentation: IRS 1040
Insurance Card
Medical conditions form (from doctor)
HealthWell Foundation
800-675-8416
A foundation that helps with medications, copays and insurance premiums for specific health conditions or diseases.
All ages including adults.
You must have insurance as they will help with copays but will not cover the full bill.
They have separate funds for each disease that will cover a specific item related to that disease. For example, travel funds for gout patients, behavioral health for cancer patients and vitamins for Cystic Fibrosis.
They have a full list of diagnosis they cover online or call the phone number above and press 1.
Humanitarian Foundation
614-933-0711
Dental care for children with special needs program Helps pay a percentage of your child’s dental bills.
Up to 18 years old
All children with special needs can automatically be enrolled with the exception of those with autism who will need to fill out a form to determine the child’s IQ learning level.
Dental work needs to be pre-approved in order to receive funds. They will help pay for the evaluation and x-rays cost you already incurred but all subsequent work must be submitted for preapproval.
They do not cover surgeries in the hospital but can assist with the anesthesia costs.
Cerner Charitable Foundation
Cernercharitablefoundation.org
816-201-1569
This grant offers a broad array of assistance. Examples of covered items- clinical procedures, medicine, therapy, evaluations, service dogs, wheel chairs, assistive technology, prothesis, care devices, healing aids, vehicle modifications.
Requests must be pre-approved. They will not reimburse for paid services or items.
Reach out to them if you have a specific need.
The grant can include up to $700 in travel and lodging costs when accessing healthcare.
They will request a copy of your federal income tax return. Applications are due by the final Wednesday of each month to be considered for the following month.
Payments will be made directly to the provider.
Funds must be used within 12 months of being granted.
Equipement and Therapy Grants
Special Angels Foundation
www.specialangelsfoundation.org
888-835-3919
Grants for children with all types of special needs including Autism. Up to $2500 in assistive equipment or essentials that will help the child learn or grow. Wheelchairs, assistive technology, etc. and $1500 in therapy – including what they call out of the box therapies for example horse therapy.
Ages 0-18
Money is paid directly to the provider or the foundation will buy the item for you.
Apply online; expect an answer within the month.
For a paper copy call 848-326-1512
And then email or mail it back directly to them.
Small Steps in Speech
888-577-3256
Helps pay for speech therapy.
Ages 3-22
Paid directly to therapist.
Requires a letter from the speech therapist with how often sessions will be and the fee per session.
You will need to prove insurance does not cover the therapy. They will ask if you ever received a speech grant from another organization.
The next deadline for this grant is November 1, 2024.
The Orange Effect
Helps pay for speech therapy.
Paid directly to therapist.
Requires a letter from the speech therapist with how often sessions will be and the fee per session.
They will ask if you ever received a speech grant from another organization.
Will need a biography on the child, they may also ask for the IEP if you have one.
Funds must be used within a certain amount of time so only apply when you’re ready to start. Will require summary from the therapist.
The application process is easier than Small Steps but parents reported that they give less funds.
The next deadline for this grant is November 1, 2024.
Freds Footsteps
484-368-3602
Support for sick or disabled kids.
They help with lost wages of parents forced to leave work or reduce their hours to provide around-the-clock care for a child, Home modifications, Vans (as well as car repairs if you need to travel back and forth to the hospital), equipment and household bills put on the back burner due to medical expenses.
They pay the vendors directly.
One-time acceptance to the program – up to $10,000 during a one year period
Ex. If you require a ramp they would ask you to get 3 estimates from local vendors, have yours hospital social worker upload it on the portal, if approved they will chose one to pay.
One or both parents must be employed or on temporary leave due to child’s illness.
Hospital social worker needs to apply for you.
Social workers at CHOP are familiar with this program, and are happy to help. You can request a social worker from your hospital if you weren’t assigned one.
MyGOAL Autism Grant
https://mygoalinc.org/mygoal-autism-grant-program/
877-886-9462
Applications are open from January to April each year.
$1000 grant for families with an autistic child under the age of 18.
There is an income limit.
Funds can be used at parents’ discretion. You will be required to send in a picture and testimonial video if awarded the grant.
Apply online.
Doctors form required.
You can reapply yearly
LymeLight Foundation
650-348-5509
You can apply if you suspect your child has Lyme disease or you have visited a Lyme specialist.
You will need a doctor’s letter to apply.
The grant is issued in the form of a check to the parents which can be used towards doctors bills and medications not covered by insurance.
Funds are awarded in $3,000 increments with a $10,000 max. Once the first payment is at least two thirds used up you can apply for additional funds. You will need to show receipts of how you spent the funds.
Kelly And Dolan Memorial Fund
215-643-0763
Offers financial assistance up to $500 yearly.
They pay bills directly for car, phone, electric, water etc., if there is financial difficulty due to child’s illness/disability. Assists families in NJ, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Referrals to the program must be made by a healthcare provider or social worker.
OpensDoors Foundation
202-557-2929
Home assistance program for children being treated or were recently treated in the hospital with a minimum seven day stay. They pay your rent or mortgage for one month in a 12-month period. You can reapply each year.
Under 21 years old or 26 years if they are still a dependent. You can also be eligible if the child has 30 or more hours of home health care or nursing.
Apply thru your hospital social worker, they work with 17 hospitals across the county including CHOP.
Kids-in-Camp Fund
This grant is for day camp or sleep away camp for all children, including typically developing children.
9-16 years old who would otherwise have no alternative but to stay home during the summer.
This grant is open to families who cannot afford to send their child to summer camp, due to a myriad of circumstances,
including single-parent families, large families, families with serious medical or other emergencies,
or simply families struggling to make ends meet for even their basic necessities of daily life.
This is a heimishe fund that partners with the frum camps.
The parents have to pay only 25% of the camp fee and the camp chips in 25% as well.