IH Cares receives support primarily through voluntary payroll donations from Island team members, various fundraising events, corporate sponsors and donations. All contributions and donations will provide much needed assistance to fellow team members facing difficult times.

Any Island team member who has been employed for at least ninety (90) days and has been impacted by designated large-scale natural disasters (i.e., hurricanes, wild fires, floods, etc.) or any other qualifying hardship.

Visit the Apply page. If you have any questions on the process, please email [email protected] or complete the email form on the Contact Us page.

IH Cares fund is administered by IH Cares Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing emergency assistance. Assistance requests are reviewed by the IH Cares committee, and approval is based on the documented need and qualifying circumstances.

While there are many factors that determine whether assistance can be made, the review process conducted by IH Cares is designed to aid whenever possible. An objective review is conducted to determine whether your situation meets the most basic criteria such as:

1. Have you been impacted by a qualifying event?
2. Have you been employed with Island Hospitality for more than ninety (90) days?
3. Are you applying within forty-five (45) days after the qualifying event?
4. Have you received any previous grants within the last twelve (12) months totaling more $2000?
5. Do you have documentation of the event and expenses showing the following details such as date of expenses, person responsible for payment and other pertinent information?
   1. All out of pocket expenses must occur within 60 days of the qualifying event.

While there may be some additional criteria, applications that do not meet the basic criteria, cannot be reviewed for approval.

Qualifying Events Include:

• Natural disaster (tornado/hurricane)
• Home catastrophe (flood/fire)
• Medical emergencies
• Death of associate or immediate family member (funeral/travel/burial expenses)

Currently the standard grant amount is $750. The committee will consider higher amounts up to a maximum amount of $1,500 depending on extenuating circumstances and only with proper documentation.

Various expenses related to a qualifying event may be covered. You will need to provide documentation to show that the expense was incurred by you or by your eligible dependent. “Eligible dependent” for this purpose means your spouse/domestic partner, minor children or other dependents you are financially responsible for. If you are a U.S. taxpayer, you may be required to show that you have claimed the person as a dependent on your federal income tax return. Similar requirements may be required if you are a non-U.S. taxpayer.  A domestic partner for this purpose is an individual, whether of the same or opposite gender, with whom you have an on-going and committed spouse-like relationship.

An eligible immediate family member for this purpose is spouse, domestic partner, parents and eligible dependents as well as adult (i.e., non-minor) children.

The usual response time once you submit your completed application is within 10 business days. A longer period may be necessary when there is a high volume (e.g. due to a large-scale disaster). You will be notified if additional information is needed once a completed application is received.

You will be notified by email of your application’s status, including whether it was approved or not approved. You will also be notified by email if your completed application requires additional information.

No. The financial assistance is not a loan and DOES NOT have to be repaid.

Team Members can apply for up to two (2) grants per 12-month period up to a maximum grant amount of $1,500.

Yes, any team member or GM can apply on behalf of another team member. Additionally, in the case of a team member who is incapacitated, a family member or guardian can apply on the team member’s behalf.