COVID-19 Employee Emergency Relief Fund

The Harvard COVID-19 Employee Emergency Relief Fund was established from May 2020 to August 2020 to provide one-time emergency relief grant funds to members of the Harvard University community facing immediate economic hardship due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout the summer of 2020, the Harvard COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund distributed funds to over 800 employees in emergency relief grants. This assistance was made possible by the generosity of Harvard community members who elected to support colleagues by giving to the Fund, an especially meaningful choice in these times which present many challenges for all.

The Fund closed on August 31, 2020 and is no longer accepting new applications or new donations at this time. Eligible employees who have applied for funding on or before August 31, 2020 will hear from the Fund administrators in September.

Additional Employee Resources and Support

The uncertainty and ongoing impact of this crisis, in particular the financial effects on households, is likely to persist for some time. Other assistance available to employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic includes:

Background

The Harvard COVID-19 Employee Emergency Relief Fund provided one-time emergency relief grants to employees facing economic hardship due to the pandemic, open to all benefits-eligible Harvard employees (administrative and professional staff; support staff; service and trade staff; faculty and other academic appointees; and postdoctoral fellows) with an annual household income less than $150,000. A volunteer Award Committee comprised of members of the Harvard community made award decision recommendations. We are grateful for the assistance of the Harvard University Employee Credit Union and the Harvard Office of the Controller for their assistance in disbursing relief funds to employees.

Please direct any questions to vphr@harvard.edu and your inquiry will be directed accordingly.