Financial Micro-Grants
​(for Case Workers + Clients)

overview: MICRO-GRANTS

Jewish Family Services (JFS), a program of the Jewish Community Center of San Luis Obispo, offers limited financial micro-grants to community members in need, located from San Miguel to Santa Maria.  These grants are only available through case workers who apply on behalf of their clients.  Individuals cannot apply directly.

• Requests are reviewed in the order they are received. If monthly funds have been fully distributed, we will do our best to revisit your request the following month. Please note that funding is limited for the remainder of the year. We do have a list of resources available here.
• After approval, most requests (other than gas grants) take about a week to process. Unfortunately, we’re not able to issue checks quickly enough to meet a 3-day pay-or-quit notice.
• JFS is staffed by one part-time administrator. If you don’t receive an immediate response, it may be outside her working hours. She is typically available Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Jewish Family Services is a program of the Jewish Community Center of SLO. We support people of all backgrounds and faiths with dignity, respect, & care. 

• About Jewish Family Services
•  Gas Assistance
• Financial Resources
• Donate to JFS

FOR CASE WORKERS

IF YOU ARE A CASE WORKER supporting a client who may qualify:
✅ Please review the eligibility details and application process below.
✅ Submit the online form to request micro-grant assistance.

Eligibility Guidelines (for your clients):

• The client must live between San Miguel and Santa Maria.
• The need should be urgent and one-time (e.g., rent assistance, vehicle needs, transportation, food).
• ​​If a client request is over $200, we need to know they can pay the balance of funds BEFORE we can assist them.
• The client must have exhausted all other avenues prior to reaching out to Jewish Family Services. ​​(See more details below)
• The client must not have received any other assistance from the JFS program within the last 365 days (including gas awards).

How to Apply:

1. Obtain your client's consent that other agencies, organizations and references may be contacted and information shared and verified in order to assess whether the grant should be made.
2. Ensure that you have verified required supporting documents prior to referring a client.**
3. Complete the Micro-Grant Referral on behalf of your client:

MICRO-GRANT REFERRAL (FOR CASE WORKERS)

We will get back to you once your application has been reviewed with next steps, and any documentation that is needed. 

FOR Clients

IF YOU NEED HELP:

• We are not able to process requests submitted directly by individuals.​​ Please ask your case worker or social service provider to apply for a JFS micro-grant on your behalf. 

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IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CASE WORKER:
​See our resources page, which includes information on finding a case worker:

HOW TO FIND A CASE WORKER

Or, instead, you can apply for up to $70 in gas from our partner station in the city of San Luis Obispo.  Please do note that you will be ineligible for other help within the next year if you obtain a gas award.

LEARN ABOUT GAS SUPPORT

​IMPORTANT NOTES for case workers

AVAILABILITY & AMOUNTS

• Micro-grants are typically for up to $200 - $250 on a one-time basis as funds are available. This is per family/household, per year. 
• If a client request is over $200, we need to know they can pay the balance of funds BEFORE we can assist them.
• Jewish Family Services considers itself an "agency of last resort". We define that as:
  • ​"​An applicant should have exhausted all other means such as family, friends, employers, other institutions and lenders before asking for a grant from JFS. If JFS believes an applicant has other alternatives than a grant, this shall be sufficient to deny a request."​
• ​Payments are typically made directly to landlords, vendors, or service providers, not to individuals.
• ​If someone receives an award from JFS, they will need to wait 366 days from the award to be eligible for another. This includes both micro-grants and gas awards. 
• Funds are limited and not guaranteed.

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PRIVACY

• By having a Case Worker apply on their behalf, a client is providing consent that other agencies, organizations and references may be contacted and information shared and verified in order to assess whether the grant should be made.
• ​While information about the applicant is kept confidential, JFS volunteers, the JFS Steering Committee, JCC staff and the JCC-Federation of SLO Board of Directors might be informed of the grant and all or some of the relevant information obtained in connection with the grant review process.

​REPAYMENT

• Whenever possible, as recipients’ financial situations stabilize, JFS encourages grant recipients to repay grants and contribute to the Jack Pearl/Jewish Family Services Fund so funds will continue to be available to families or individuals in need for the future.​​

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