Donate to Americans still missing their SNAP food benefits
Nov. 14 update: We’ve paid 225,615 SNAP families — thank you for your support.
Our SNAP relief program has ended, but you can still give so we can quickly send cash to Americans during the next emergency or natural disaster.
Send emergency cash to families who still have not received their full SNAP benefits
Since November 1, millions of Americans have missed their monthly SNAP food benefits due to the government shutdown. The government shutdown has ended, but not all states have been able to restart full SNAP benefits to all families.
Your donations are being delivered to those lowest-income families still missing their November benefits. Donate to SNAP recipients today to help families buy food and essentials.
Your donations are going directly to the poorest families who have missed a SNAP payment
Propel, an app used by millions of SNAP households to manage their benefits, and GiveDirectly have partnered to respond to this crisis. Together, we are quickly identifying the families most affected and sending funds directly to them—securely and immediately.
GiveDirectly & Propel are distributing one-time $50 cash transfers to households with children who receive the maximum SNAP allotment, a key indicator of extremely low income. Each day, we’re sending funds through the Propel app to families who have missed their expected SNAP deposits.
Even as some states restart SNAP benefits for some families, we’re able to target your donations to those who have not received benefits.
Your donation will be delivered to people like Selene, a mother of four in Florida:
“I knew I wouldn’t be eating because all the food needed to go to the kids. By the last week of [October], we had very, very little. When we were told there would be no more funding, I lost it,” said Selene. “We’re all going through hard times, and after being homeless with four kids for two and a half years, we finally just got back into a place of our own.”
“I rely on food stamps to feed the kids while I work full-time. Do I pay the bills and keep a roof over our heads, or do I feed the kids? No one should have to make that decision. Food banks are empty. I didn’t pay some bills this month because the food stamps were gone—my kids had to eat. And I’m eating their scraps.”
Selene received her $50 payment quickly and remotely via virtual card. “Receiving the cash was a small weight lifted off my shoulders. I bought rice, canned goods, and noodles. I really appreciate how fast I got the money. Now I have food for at least a week. My kids are eating, and that’s all that matters to me.“
Your donation uses a trusted model to reach those in need quickly and remotely
This approach works. When disasters struck in the past, GiveDirectly and Propel proved this model delivers results:
- After the Los Angeles wildfires and Hurricanes Helene and Milton, eligible users were notified and enrolled directly through the app.
- Families received relief payments within two days of enrolling.
That same speed and trust will allow us to help families keep food on the table in this moment of uncertainty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to receive funds?
No, you cannot apply to receive funds.
Eligible households will be notified via the Propel app when funds are available with an invitation to collect the funds. There is no way to enroll in this program outside of the app. We will not contact eligible families any other way. Please be aware of online, phone, and text scams claiming otherwise.
Never share your information outside the Propel app. Ignore any social media posts claiming to distribute these funds.
I’m an eligible recipient and have questions about my payment. Who can help?
If you were notified via the Propel app and have questions about your virtual or physical card, please contact GiveCard at support@givecard.io.
For all other payment-related questions, please submit a support ticket here.
Please note that there is no open application for this program. Eligible families are notified in the Propel app, and it’s not possible to apply or request a notification.
What is GiveDirectly?
We’re a nonprofit that lets you send money directly to the world’s poorest, no strings attached. In the last decade, we’ve delivered cash to over 1.6 million people across 15 countries and research the impacts it can have for families in need.
Propel and GiveDirectly are partnering to identify impacted low-income families and send cash directly to those in need.
Note: This response was entirely paid for by donors who give to this specific SNAP fund; general donations through GiveDirectly’s website go to our Africa cash for poverty relief work.
What is Propel?
Propel is a tech company that’s strengthening the social safety net for people who receive government benefits. Over 5 million Americans trust the free Propel app to check their EBT balance, save money, and get updates about their benefits.
Propel has partnered with renowned institutions and organizations like GoFundMe and GiveDirectly.
The company is backed by world-class investors like Andreessen Horowitz, NYCA Partners, Salesforce Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, JPMorganChase, Kevin Durant, and Serena Williams.
Who is eligible to receive money?
The lowest-income families who use the Propel app and miss their scheduled November SNAP payment are eligible to receive emergency funds through this program. Specifically, we are providing cash assistance to Propel users who regularly receive a maximum SNAP allotment for a household of 3 or greater. This represents about 20% of all Propel users. Because we do not require users to provide granular household information, this is our balanced approach to targeting families with clear high need while avoiding burdensome and difficult verification processes that would slow down payments.
How much will each family receive?
Each eligible family will receive a one-time payment of $50 in emergency cash relief. This is less than what they would have received from SNAP monthly, and is meant to supplement as they await back-payment once the shutdown ends. They receive these funds through our payment partner GiveCard.
When will families receive my donation?
We began enrolling and distributing funds as soon as the first SNAP payments were missed on November 1. We are sending funds on the date each recipient would normally receive their food benefits to help fill the gap left by missed deposits. We will continue to enroll families and send cash as quickly as possible.
Not all families receive their food stamps on the first day of the month, so we will triage payments, releasing more funds with every further day benefits are missed.
What can the money be spent on?
The goal of this program is to help fill the gap for families who have lost food assistance benefits, in complement with efforts from community food banks and others. However, like with all GiveDirectly programs, recipients are free to spend this money however they think is best for themselves and their families.
How do the recent court rulings change this effort? What will you do with my donation if SNAP payments restart?
There are still millions of families who are missing their November SNAP benefits – our program is specifically designed to pay those families.
Courts and the USDA are in a legal battle over using emergency funds to restart SNAP benefits and some states are taking different approaches to issuing payments in this uncertain policy environment. Nationally, there are still almost 10 million households and growing who missed SNAP deposits. Our adaptive model is built to adjust in real time. We detect missed SNAP deposits, and can pause or redirect funding to those households who are still left without support.
How to donate to SNAP recipients?
You can donate directly through this fundraiser using Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, your credit or debit card, or ACH transfer. Your donation goes straight to eligible low-income families – not through intermediaries – so they can receive the support they need immediately.
What if I’d like to make a major gift?
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org. If you’d like to fund payments for an entire state, you can find our funding gaps by state here.
Can I allocate my donation to a specific geography?
If you’d like to fund payments for an entire state, you can find our funding gaps by state here. To reduce administrative costs and complexity, we are only restricting major gifts to specific geographies. If you’re interested, please reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org for more info.
Can I give to the campaign through a donor-advised fund (DAF)?
Yes. When recommending a grant through your DAF, please include “SNAP relief” or any phrase containing “SNAP” in the purpose or designation field to ensure your donation is directed to this campaign.
What do you do with excess funds raised?
If for any reason we are unable to deliver all funds raised to families missing their SNAP food benefits, donations will be delivered to other low-income Americans in need.
Similarly, if a donor makes a recurring donation, any future payments made after the campaign closes will be allocated to other U.S. cash programs.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States. We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more.
If you’re giving outside the U.S., you can still give to this campaign but your gift may not be tax-deductible.
Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org with any questions or for more information on ways to give.