Dear Colleagues,
In 2015, Georgetown University launched GUCares. GUCares is an emergency fund to assist full-time faculty, AAPs and staff with a full year of continuous service with the University who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of a recent natural disaster, accident, catastrophe, death or illness. The GUCares fund received initial seed funding from the University and continues with ongoing support from employees through payroll donations.
In light of the COVID-19 crisis, the University has temporarily expanded this program to include all faculty, AAPs, staff, and temporary employees, regardless of their roles or time with the University. Further, Georgetown has committed significant additional funds to support members of our community who may be facing financial distress as a direct result of the current pandemic.
COVID-19-Related Grants
On March 13, 2020, the coronavirus became a Presidentially declared disaster, as defined in Internal Revenue Code ยง1033(h)(3). GUCares grants are normally included as wages for employees and, therefore, subject to taxes and required withholding. However, qualifying COVID-19-related grants made out of the GUCares fund are considered disaster relief payments and will be paid as reimbursements through payroll, rather than as taxable wages.
Who is eligible to apply?
All faculty, AAPs, staff and temporary employees (including Hoya Temps) are eligible to apply regardless of length of service and % FTE.
What is the maximum grant amount?
The maximum grant amount for any GUCares grant request is $1,000. At this time, there will be a limit of one grant per employee for a COVID-19-related reason.
What are the criteria for awarding grants?
Grants from the GUCares fund that relate to the COVID-19 disaster are intended to help Georgetown University employees recover from “reasonable and necessary” expenses directly attributable to the coronavirus pandemic. Expenses may include personal, child care, family, living, or travel expenses not covered by insurance or reimbursed through other programs. These can be actual or anticipated expenses.
To apply for a grant, please complete the online application.
Contribute to the Fund
You are invited to support Georgetown community members who are in immediate need. While the University has committed significant funds during these extraordinary times to ensure we meet the needs of our community, GUCares relies on donations from both the University and individual community members to ensure that we can continue to provide emergency financial support. You can help by making a one-time gift or a regular monthly donation by completing a payroll deduction contribution form. Your donation is tax-deductible.
If you have questions regarding GUCares and its COVID-19 related grants, please reach out to gucares@georgetown.edu for assistance.
In this time of great uncertainty, we want you to know that GU cares. Please know we are here to support you in any way we possibly can.
Be well,
Charles DeSantis
Interim Vice President, Human Resources
Chief Human Resources Officer