Requests are open!

Our Round 3 Aid Request Form is open and will close on November 6th, 11:59 PM.

This is the final round of funding. We will prioritize employees who have yet to find new employment, but we encourage anyone in need to apply.

Application and review process

  1. Applicant completes a short online form and selects their requested aid amount.

  2. A review group (made up of two staff and two faculty members) reviews all applications submitted by the deadline. Applications received by the deadline will be reviewed without preference to time submitted (this is not “first come first serve”).

  3. The review group meets to verify eligibility criteria and determine allocation amounts.

    If the total amount requested by applicants does not exceed the funds raised, we will provide the requested fund amounts for each applicant who meets the eligibility criteria.

    If the total amount requested by applicants exceeds the funds raised, we will prioritize employees who have not yet found new employment; if the total requested amount is still greater than the funds raised, we will adjust aid amounts to fit within the funds we have raised.

  4. The review group informs applicants of the aid amount allocated to them and provides instructions for completing payment details.

  5. Aid recipients submit payment information, including mailing address and banking information for ACH direct deposit. Payment will be dispersed shortly after.

Questions and Answers

  • We will use ACH direct deposit as the means for payment of the awarded aid funds. If your request is approved you will be asked to provide your bank’s routing and account numbers via an online payment processing platform called nickel.com

  • If you are allocated funds, you can choose to provide a W-9 tax form. This assists our non-profit partner in issuing payments and maintaining records in line with IRS requirements. The aid is provided to you as a gift and is not considered taxable income to the recipient.

  • If you are unable to receive an ACH deposit , please email helphampshireworkers@gmail.com so we can work with you to determine our options.

  • Requests will be reviewed confidentially by a small group of staff and faculty. Final membership of this group is still being determined from among those who have volunteered with this effort.

  • There is no strict threshold. If the loss of job/income is creating financial strain in the near term—covering rent, food, healthcare, childcare, transportation, or avoiding depletion of limited savings—you can request funds.

  • Request aid now. This is the final round of the emergency fund dispersement. Although priority will be given to employees who have yet to find new employment, we encourage all in need to apply.

  • A group of 10 staff and faculty came together following a call for volunteers and included Lorenzo Conte, Nathalie Arnold, rl Goldberg, Alexandria Donkor, Alice Loeb Jenkins, Charlotte Senders, Emily Landeck, Faune Albert, Jina Fast, and Kristen Luschen.
    This team developed the distribution plan, which was then shared for comment with all staff and faculty. This final round process has been reestablished and continued by another group of faculty and staff.

  • Here’s our reasoning:

    We trust our colleagues, and requests for aid should not require detailed justifications or require coworkers to perform their needs.

    Simplicity is important in the design of this effort: the process for requesting aid, reviewing requests, and distributing funds must be straightforward, quick to complete, and easy to administer. Requests will be reviewed in confidence by a small group of staff and faculty.

    Allocated relief funds provide direct financial assistance to laid-off Hampshire College employees for immediate needs: housing, food, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and related expenses. These funds prioritize individuals experiencing financial precarity.