Which states do the grants cover?
You MUST live in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in order to qualify for a Grant. Specifically, these are the states of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.). We apologize, but we will not accept an application from any other state.

Is there a limit to how much money we make?
Unfortunately, yes, there is a limit to your household income. Due to the overwhelming need for financial assistance by low-income families, NeighborHeart will only accepting applications from families making less than $30,000 per year. We certainly understand that these grants are extremely useful for all families, regardless of income. However, we believe that lower-income families are in the greatest need of financial assistance.

Is there an age limit for the grants? Are the grants just for children? Can adults apply, too?
There is no age limit for applying. If you have a person (or multiple people) with Autism or any other special need living with you, then you may apply. Each individual with special needs may be listed on the application

I don't have an application for this year. May I submit an old application?
No. Applications will only be accepted that are for the current period.

I received a NeighborHeart grant last year. May I apply again this year?
No. If you received a grant from NeighborHeart, you cannot receive another the following year. You must skip at least one application period before receiving another grant.

Why do we have to submit proof of income and a diagnosis letter?
We require these items in order to reduce fraud. It's sad to say, but there are unscrupulous people out there and, by asking for this information, we are lessening the likelihood of fraudulent activity. Applications without proof of income or a diagnosis letter will not be considered for a grant. Submit a copy of your previous year's Federal Tax Return or any other verifiable source that shows your household income. W-2's AND SSI PAPERWORK IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF PROOF OF INCOME.

May I "black out" my social security number on my submitted documentation?
Yes, you may hide your social security numbers on your submitted documentation.

Do I need a current diagnosis letter?
No. As long as you have a document on organization letterhead with a diagnosis on it (e.g., an IEP), this will be sufficient.

How much are the grants?
All of the grants that we distribute are $500 per individual applicant. If you receive a grant from NeighborHeart, the tax burden rests with you.

What kind of therapies do the grants cover?
NeighborHeart does not restrict the use of the monies granted to a family. The money may be used toward anything that improves the family's quality of life. This may be paying for therapy, increasing the security of your home, summer camp, respite care or anything else that may ease caring for a loved one with autism or any other special need.

What is the likelihood of receiving a grant?
This is a tough one to answer because it depends solely on the number of applications we receive and the amount of money we raise. Our criteria is simple and we do not compare one family's application to another in order to see "who is more needy." Every application is marked in the order it was received. Then, each application is reviewed to make sure it is complete and meets all of the requirements. Next, the applications are checked for any signs of fraud or inaccuracies. Finally, we distribute funds to families by income level and the date in which the application was received until our funds are depleted. Furthermore, NeighborHeart is a small, 100% volunteer organization that does not receive any funding or support from any state or local government. 100% of the money we raise is by supporter donations.

May we submit an application or paperwork by fax?
No. While the application may be submitted online, all supporting documentation must be submitted via US Mail and must be postmarked by October 1st.

If granted, when will we receive a check?
If your family is chosen to receive a grant from NeighborHeart, you can expect a check by the 15th of December.

How can I check on the status of my application? How will we be notified?
You may check the status of your application online at the NeighborHeart website (neighborheart.org) anytime after the submission deadline has passed. If you submitted your application via the NeighborHeart website, you may use your email address and the Confirmation Number your received upon submission. If you submitted your application via the US Mail, you may use the username (first initial plus last name) and password that you provided on your application. In order to provide as much money to families in need, NeighborHeart will only notify families that are recipients of the grant. Also, since NeighborHeart is a small, 100%-volunteer organization, we do not have the personnel on staff to receive telephone calls requesting the status of applications. We ask that you please refrain from contacting us regarding the status of your application.