Whole Foods Market Team Member Emergency Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

APPLICATION

The Fund's Charitable Class (those eligible to apply for a grant) includes:

All active regular Whole Foods Market Team Members in the US, UK or Canada; or
it's affiliates on the date of the application; or
on approved medical leave or an approved leave of absence for no more than one year.
Note: Does not include seasonal or contractors

Which events and expenses qualify for a grant? ﹀

Charitable Class members can apply for a grant if they have been impacted by one of the following unforeseen events and one or more of the associated expenses:

▼ EVENT: Natural disaster such as flood, wildfire, tornado, earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, blizzard, drought, cyclone, hurricane, typhoon or severe storms.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Food - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Clothing - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable evacuation expenses resulting from an Event
MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
HOUSING EXPENSE: Reasonable repairs to damaged property
HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential appliances and furnishings
HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
HOUSING EXPENSE: Security deposits (for new housing if unable to inhabit existing home)
HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
HOUSING EXPENSE: Adaptive improvements and solutions related to the Event
TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE: Repairs other than routine maintenance, or repairs that could not have been avoided
TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE: Cost of public or commercial transportation
TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE: Cost of car rental up to 30 days

▼ EVENT: Disaster resulting from an accident involving a common carrier such as buses, trains, ferry, planes or trucks

MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
HOUSING EXPENSE: Reasonable repairs to damaged property
HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
HOUSING EXPENSE: Adaptive improvements and solutions related to the Event
TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE: Repairs other than routine maintenance, or repairs that could not have been avoided
TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE: Cost of public or commercial transportation
TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE: Cost of car rental up to 30 days

▼ EVENT: Epidemic

HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days

▼ EVENT: Military Deployment (employee, spouse or domestic partner called to active duty)

HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days

▼ EVENT: Impacts primary residence: fire, flood or unusual life-altering expense not paid by insurance

IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Food - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Clothing - Immediate needs only (usually applicable up to 2-4 weeks after the Event)
IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable evacuation expenses resulting from an Event
HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
HOUSING EXPENSE: Reasonable repairs to damaged property
HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential appliances and furnishings
HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
HOUSING EXPENSE: Security deposits (for new housing if unable to inhabit existing home)
HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence

▼ EVENT: Serious illness or injury

MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
MEDICAL EXPENSE: Prescription medications
MEDICAL EXPENSE: Travel expenses related to the medical care
HOUSING EXPENSE: Rent - Temporary housing up to 30 days
HOUSING EXPENSE: Essential utilities (gas, water and electricity)
HOUSING EXPENSE: Mortgage or rent assistance for primary residence
MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event
MISC. EXPENSE: Unexpected child care up to 60 days

▼ EVENT: Non-routine/exceptional medical expense

MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
MEDICAL EXPENSE: Prescription medications
MEDICAL EXPENSE: Travel expenses related to the medical care

▼ EVENT: Victim of a violent crime

MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
MISC. EXPENSE: Expenses resulting from flight from domestic violence such as temporary housing, etc.
MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event

▼ EVENT: Domestic abuse

MEDICAL EXPENSE: Significant medical expenses
MISC. EXPENSE: Expenses resulting from flight from domestic violence such as temporary housing, etc.
MISC. EXPENSE: Unable to work due to the event

▼ EVENT: Death

IMMEDIATE NEEDS EXPENSE: Reasonable funeral, travel and burial expenses.

What are the criteria to qualify for a grant? ﹀

The Fund was designed to provide financial assistance to as many eligible applicants as possible in accordance with the Fund's criteria and United States IRS regulations. Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF), the Fund's administrator, strives to award grants whenever possible, but there are many factors that determine whether a grant can be awarded. The most basic criteria include the following:

You or your eligible dependent (including your spouse/domestic partner) were impacted by one of the Fund’s designated events.
Due to the impact of the designated event, you or your eligible dependent (including your spouse/domestic partner) incurred one or more of the Fund’s qualified expenses.
Your application would meet the following conditions:
1. You are applying within 90 days after the event.
2. Standard grant awards are limited to 1 every 12 months.
3. If your previous application was not awarded, you must wait 4 months before reapplying.
IRS regulations require us to ask for proof of the event that has impacted you or your eligible dependent (including your spouse/domestic partner), as well as proof of the resulting expense(s) for which you are seeking assistance. You must be able to provide the required supporting documentation, which should be dated within 60 days of the application date. Please review our Supporting Documentation Guide at eafrelief.org/appresourcedocs for detailed information.
If the Fund has set a lifetime maximum for standard awards, and you have already exceeded this maximum, you will not be eligible for additional standard grant awards.

How large of a grant can I apply for? ﹀

The grant maximum is US $4000 and the minimum amount that can be requested is US $400. Actual grant award amounts are based on individual financial need as demonstrated through required documentation in the grant application. A tiered approach may be in place to ensure that the monetary values for each grant amount are equitable across geographies. If applicable, click the “Regional Grant Tiers” button for additional information.

Does the Fund have a lifetime dollar maximum for standard awards? ﹀

Yes, grantees can receive a maximum of from the Fund in their lifetime.

Does the Fund have a lifetime maximum for the number of standard grant awards one person can receive? ﹀

Yes, grantees can receive a maximum of grant award(s) from the Fund in their lifetime.

Who does the Fund consider an immediate family member?﹀

An applicant may be eligible to receive a grant if they are financially responsible for funeral, burial, and/or travel expenses due to the death of an immediate family member. The Fund defines an eligible immediate family member as any of the following:

Spouse or partner in a civil union or domestic partnership*
Parent/parent-in-law/step-parent
Child/child-in-law/step-child
Sibling/sibling-in-law/step-sibling
Grandparent/grandparent-in-law/step-grandparent
Grandchild/grandchild-in-law/step-grandchild

*A domestic partnership is defined as "an on-going and committed spouse-like relationship between adults.”

What does “Unable to Work due to the Event” mean?﹀

An applicant is considered “Unable to Work due to the Event” after 5 or more consecutive days of work are missed due to the impact of the Event.

Who does the Fund include as eligible dependents? ﹀

The Fund considers the applicant’s spouse/domestic partner, minor children, and others for whom the applicant is financially responsible as eligible dependents. The applicant's parents, grandparents, or other relatives are not considered eligible dependents, unless the applicant claims them as a dependent when filing taxes and can provide supporting documentation as proof. A domestic partner is defined as “an ongoing and committed spouse-like relationship between adults.”

Are grants from the Fund taxable? ﹀

Grants from the Fund are considered tax-free for grant recipients who are subject to United States IRS tax regulations. For recipients outside the United States, the tax treatment of your grant will differ based on local policies/laws. For questions related to the tax treatment of grants received, please contact a local tax professional.

How do I apply for a grant? ﹀

To apply for a grant, click the "Apply for a grant" button. Be sure to look for any relevant emails in any filtered inboxes and spam or junk folders.

Please review our Grant Application Guide at eafrelief.org/appresourcedocs for step-by-step grant application instructions.

Can I apply for a grant on behalf of someone else? ﹀

No. If you think an eligible Charitable Class member would benefit from a grant, please share information about the Fund with them. In the case of a Charitable Class member who is incapacitated, a family member or manager can apply on their behalf.

How does the grant review, award, and payment process work? ﹀

INITIAL REVIEW: Once your application is submitted and received by Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF), one of our objective Reviewers will be assigned to review your application. If any additional information or supporting documentation is needed, they will let you know. Your application will remain in Initial Review until all supporting documentation is received and the application is complete. This stage normally takes 7-10 business days but, depending on the applicant's response time and the information/documentation, timing can vary.

QUALITY CHECK: After the Initial Review process is complete, your application will enter the final stage of review, in which a second Reviewer completes a final quality check. This stage normally takes 2-3 business days unless there is a need for additional clarification.

AWARD NOTIFICATION & PAYMENT PROCESS: You will be notified by email if your grant is awarded or not awarded. If you are awarded a grant, the email you receive will include all of the important details related to the grant amount and payment information/instructions.

The processing of grant payments could take up to two weeks. Please note that this time estimate assumes there are sufficient assets to make the grant payment. In addition, banking systems vary by country and certain banking regulations may cause delays that are beyond EAF’s control.

Please review our Grant Payment Guides at eafrelief.org/appresourcedocs for additional detail.

I borrowed money from my family and/or friends due to an unforeseen disaster or personal hardship. Will the Fund reimburse me so that I can pay them back? ﹀

No. Grants from the Fund are only available for those in need of immediate financial assistance who do not have any other financial resources available to them.

Do I have to repay the grant? ﹀

No. Grants from the Fund are not loans and do not have to be repaid.

When I apply for a grant, will my personal information remain confidential? ﹀

Yes. Your personal information is only used to determine your grant eligibility and the grant amount unless you as the applicant opt in to share additional details with the sponsoring organization under certain circumstances. Grant applications are independently and objectively reviewed by Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF), the Fund's third-party administrator, and will be treated confidentially. However, non-identifying aggregated statistical information will be reported to the sponsoring organization on a periodic basis in an effort to improve the Fund.

How do I contact Applicant Support? ﹀

The Fund’s Applicant Support team at Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF) can be reached via the email address, phone number, or other options (if available) listed under 'Application Help'.