The Hit Submit Challenge starts Monday, August 31st, and it’s designed for creators, journalists, and small business owners who know they should be applying for grants but feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start.

Hosted by 6x grant-funded creator Danielle Desir Corbett, this 5-day challenge offers focused time, clear prompts, and step-by-step guidance so you finally move from thinking about applying to actually submitting.
Plus, you get one week of complimentary access to Grants For Creators, which curates 100+ active grants for August and September. 

In the “How did you hear about us” section, be sure to mention “Freelance Opportunities!”

Challenge Details:

📆 Dates: Monday, August 31st - Friday, September 4th 

💰 Cost: $29

💻 Outcome: Submit a real grant application in 5 days

Sometimes we encounter situations that we can’t budget our way out of. These programs and funding opportunities are available to freelancers facing emergencies.

The Inevitable Foundation offers grants to disabled writers, writer-producers, and filmmakers facing financial hardship.

The Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants help artists facing unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies. You must reside in the U.S., Washington, D.C., a U.S. territory, or a tribal nation and have made less than $80,000 as an individual. You must be an artist working in choreography, digital/electronic arts, video/film, or visual arts.

This fund is for new journalists working full-time, about to start a new job, or can prove that their main income is from freelance journalism. You must be based in the UK. This funding supports accommodation, moving, transport, and work-related equipment.

Canadian writers can apply for funding if they have been affected by sudden and difficult circumstances. Individual grants range from $2,000 to $12,000.

This fund is meant for short-form emergency situations to help writers cover medical expenses that insurance won’t cover.

U.S.-based journalists in need of small grants for medical and psychological care or immediate needs related to professional work

Minnesota-based journalists reporting on immigration enforcement can apply for $500 grants to support mental health support, medical support, protective gear, or safety equipment.

The PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative supports professional writers in the United States with a one-time grant to support a short-term emergency situation. Writers don’t have to be members of PEN America.

Diverse authors and illustrators, publishing workers, and educators can apply for emergency grants of $250-$1,000.

International journalists can apply for emergency support.

Staff and freelance journalists can apply for emergency grants facing psychological stress resulting from their work.

Actors’ Trust offers Financial Support Grants to actors and those in stage management with difficult circumstances

The WEAF fund supports professional freelance writers who are temporarily or permanently prevented from continuing with their freelance writing businesses.

The Carnegie Fund for Authors is open to American authors with at least one book that has been traditionally published.

The Stop-Gap Grant provides immediate support of £500 to people working behind the scenes in TV, film, and cinema. The Sir Horace Ové Grant supports Black and Global Majority film, TV, and cinema workers up to £500.

Help Musicians offers Wellbeing Services to working, retired, and early-career musicians as well as students

The Emergency Grant program is open to broadcasters in need of financial aid following emergencies or natural disasters. The Monthly Grant supports people in acute financial need who have been employed for five years.

The FCA supports visual and performing artists and poets living in the United States with $500-$3,000 grants.

This program supports painters, sculptors, and printmakers who are in need of one-time assistance for an emergency.

The Authors League Fund supports authors, graphic novelists, journalists, critics, essayists, poets, short story writers, dramatists, and librettists with financial need. These are “no-strings-attached” loans. Repayment of these loans is not required.

Sometimes you can get emergency funding from government grants at the state or national level (especially following a federally declared disaster like a flood). Check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see what’s available for small businesses and entrepreneurs in your area.