Our timeline
What has happened and what comes next?
Updated May 24, 2026
April 14 - Hampshire College announces 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 26 — Second Round of Aid Requests opened. More information about the Aid Request Form can be found at this internal link (just for Hampshire staff and faculty).
Help Hampshire Workers announced that we 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 will close. The review group will meet to verify eligibility criteria, determine allocation amounts, and alert applicants shortly after.
June 16 — Hampshire College employment ends for 80% of employees.
Our aim is to place funds directly in the hands of affected workers by their termination date of June 16.
We are ready to distribute our second round of aid funding!
Our Round 2 Aid Request Form is live as of May 26, 2026. Hampshire College employees have TWO WEEKS to submit a request by the June 10, 11:59 PM deadline.
Eligibility is open to all Hampshire College staff and faculty, with priority given to those laid off with a June 16 termination date and who have not yet received aid. Individuals must be willing to provide basic contact information, submit a W-9 for payment processing, and receive funds by mailed check. Aid will be distributed in set amounts ($1,000, $1,500, $2,000, or $2,500) based on need.
Submit a request for emergency relief funding
Support Hampshire College Staff and Faculty
Being processed/delivered to recipients now $140,500
Round 2 requests from employees are open from May 25 through June 10, 2026. $0
5% of funds supports fiscal sponsorship, administrative, and platform fees $0