Support Hampshire College Staff and Faculty
About this effort
Hampshire College is closing for good at the end of the fall semester. Staff and faculty are facing job loss without severance pay, and many have yet to find new jobs.
To date we have distributed just over $453,000 to 168 employees. But there is still great need in our community.
Our Emergency Relief Fund continues to accept donations
This fund provides direct financial assistance for immediate needs such as housing, food, healthcare, and other essential expenses. Funds raised here will be distributed to affected workers based on need.
Although many employees were laid off on or before June 16, a small contingent of about 50 staff and faculty remain for the final fall semester to assist the 156 returning students during the teach-out.
We have a small sum of remaining money to be distributed for our third round, but there is still an urgent need to support all Hampshire workers, those currently unemployed and those losing their jobs over the winter holidays.
This initiative continues to be organized by Hampshire staff, faculty, alumni, and community members. It is independent, fast-moving, and focused on rapidly providing support to people. If you are able, please give!
We are working with a fiscal sponsor (Sundial Initiative Inc.) to securely receive donations and are building a process with community partners to distribute funds as quickly and fairly as possible. Working with a fiscal sponsor also means your donations are tax-deductible!
Frequently-asked questions:
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A fiscal sponsor is an existing nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that receives and distributes funds on our behalf. It allows us to work with an established partner that has the experience and infrastructure to manage funds responsibly and support distribution.
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Yes! We’re happy to accept donations from your donor-advised fund through our partnership with Sundial Initiative. Here is the information you need to process the donation:
EIN: 46-3559786Sundial Initiative Inc. DBA Sundial Film Initiative
PO Box 194
25 Lennox Avenue
Glenford, NY 12433Please contact helphampshireworkers@gmail.com with any additional questions.
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Yes! You can send a check by mail to our fiscal sponsor. Please make the check payable to Sundial Initiative Inc. and write “Help Hampshire Workers” in the memo line.
Mail to:
Sundial Initiative Inc.
PO Box 194
25 Lennox Avenue
Glenford, NY 12433
There are other ways to help, too!
Financial contributions are just one part of this organizing.
Share this page!
Circulate this site within your networks—email, social media, alumni groups, and professional communities. Broad visibility will directly increase support.
We’ve assembled these outreach tools to spread the word!
Provide employment leads
Many from our talented pool of staff/faculty have decades of experience, along with core values and career skills that are ideal for supporting organizational growth. And still, many have yet to find a new job. Referrals and priority hiring decisions for Hampshire faculty and staff would be an invaluable benefit to our most vulnerable community members!
Alumni, Community members and others: Please post any open positions at institutions, organizations, or enterprises where you have connections or affiliations under the JOBS tab on Hampshire Network.
Offer professional services, housing, or local resources
Legal support, financial advising, healthcare navigation, career counseling, temporary housing, childcare, and access to local services are in high demand.
Please share resource offerings using this form or on the Hampshire Network page.
Our timeline
What has happened and what comes next?
Last updated Sept 28, 2026
April 14 - Hampshire College announced its closure.
April 21 - HelpHampshireWorkers launched
May 1 — A group of 10 staff and faculty came together to collectively determine a distribution plan (how individuals can request support, how needs will be reviewed, and how funds will be distributed) with community input.
May 5 — First Round Aid Request Form opened for Hampshire employees to request support.
May 20 — First Round Aid Request Form closed. A small review group, composed of two staff members and two faculty members, met to verify eligibility criteria and determine allocation amounts.
May 24 — 81 employees were awarded a first round of emergency aid totaling $140,500! Applicants were informed of the aid amount allocated to them and were sent a payment processing form. Once the form is completed, payment processing will begin, and checks will be mailed within 5-7 business days.
May 25 — Second Round of Aid Requests opened.
May 26 — Help Hampshire Workers received a $250,000 gift from the Joannie Fischer Charitable Fund. In response to the level of need expressed by our community over the past weeks, and encouraged by this generous gift, we increased our campaign goal to $600,000.
June 10 — Second Round Aid Request Form closed. A small review group, composed of two staff members and two faculty members, met to verify eligibility criteria and determine allocation amounts.
June 16 — 150 employees were awarded emergency aid totaling $313,000 in our second distribution round! Applicants were informed of the aid amount allocated to them, and first-time recipients received a payment processing form. Once forms are completed, payment processing will begin, and checks will be mailed within 5-7 business days. Hampshire College employment ends for 80% of employees.
By June 16—the first wave of termination dates for Hampshire College employees—we successfully awarded direct aid to 170 staff and faculty members.
Sept 8 — the new Help Hampshire Workers committee met to launch the 3rd and final round of distributions. We are finalizing the application process and will publish the form shortly.
Oct 2 — Third, and final round Aid Request form opened - awards accepted until Nov 6th.
Nov 6 — Fundraising ends. Request application closes. A small review group, composed of two staff members and two faculty members will meet to verify eligibility criteria and determine allocation amounts. Awards to be dispersed by mid-December.
