ServeMinnesota Member Support Fund

The member support fund is now CLOSED. For resources, please contact your program manager. 

Everyone needs support along the way. A little extra cash can help.

ServeMinnesota has partnered with Edquity to provide up to $500 to current Minnesota AmeriCorps State members for basic needs.

Member support funds do not need to be repaid. 

Outstretched purple hand holding a green circle with dollar sign inside

Need help with an application? 
Contact support@edquity.co 

How to Apply for Support

Create an account.

Download the app from the App store or Google Play. Or visit the Edquity website to apply for funds online.

You will be asked if you are a student. Select “Yes” and then enter “ServeMinnesota” as your school.

Complete the application.

The application takes on average 7 minutes to complete. No documentation is required; just answer a few multiple choice and short answer questions.

Wait for your application decision.

You’ll be notified within four days of your application via the email you used to sign up. 

Find more resources.

Check out the Resources tab within the app for additional support around food, housing, health, transportation, jobs, legal advice, childcare and more.

For a visual guide to applying, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Current members can find the Edquity app in the App store, Google Play or apply for emergency funds online. Simply download the app or head on over to the website and follow the instructions to get started.

When creating your Edquity account, you will be asked if you are a student. Select “Yes” and then enter “ServeMinnesota” as your school.

The application for funds takes on average 7 minutes to complete. You don’t have to worry about writing answers or finding references. The only thing you need is your National Service Participation ID. Your NSPID can be found in the MyAmeriCorps portal (all programs) or your Member Information Page (some programs).

The Edquity app offers a holistic approach to both preempt and support financial emergencies you might be facing. In addition to the ServeMinnesota Member Support Fund application, the Edquity app also includes a “Yelp for emergency resources” to help you find local resources nearby in times of crisis.

Eligibility is based on current service as an AmeriCorps member in one of the following ServeMinnesota programs:

  • AmeriCorps LEAP Initiative/ Southern MN Initiative Foundation
  • City of Lakes AmeriCorps/ Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Climate Impact Corps/ Ampact
  • College Possible Minnesota
  • Community Technology Empowerment Project /SPNN
  • Conservation Corps Minnesota
  • Early Learning Corps/ Ampact
  • Heading Home Corps/ Ampact
  • Lead for MN
  • Math Corps/ Ampact
  • Minnesota Alliance with Youth – Promise Fellows
  • Minnesota GreenCorps/ Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • Minnesota Public Health Corps/ Ampact
  • Reading Corps/ Ampact
  • Recovery Corps/ Ampact
  • Total Learning Classroom/ Ampact
  • True North AmeriCorps Program/ Duluth Area YMCA
  • Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

AmeriCorps alumni are not eligible to apply. 

Members can receive up to $500 in a single payment. Payments of $250 can also be awarded. A member can receive up to $500 in a calendar year.

Within four days of completing the support funds application within the Edquity platform, you will be notified if your application was approved or denied via the email you used when signing up. You can also log into the Edquity app to check for updates about your application.

Edquity aims to make sure everyone in need of support has the funds and resources they need as soon as possible. To do so, they’ve worked with Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, Edquity’s Chief Strategy Officer and the nation’s leading researcher on basic needs challenges and emergency funds, to develop an evidence-based approach to determining funds distributions.

After members apply for support funds through the Edquity app, all submissions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis using a research-driven, evidence-based evaluation system. The goal of the system is to ensure individuals demonstrating significant need will receive funds.

When you apply for funding, you’ll select from the following categories: food, housing, childcare, transportation, health, safety & security, and/or professional development resources. You may choose more than one area of need. If approved, your funds will be deposited into a bank account or mailed to you as a prepaid gift card that can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted or at an ATM to withdraw cash. You do not need to verify how you used the funds.

The Edquity platform was designed primarily to provide emergency funding to college students. As a current AmeriCorps member, you can qualify, whether or not you are a student. When asked if you are a student, select “Yes” and list “ServeMinnesota” as your school/institution. 

AmeriCorps alumni are not eligible to apply. 

NSPID stands for National Service Personal Identification number. You can find it on your MyAmeriCorps page.

You can claim your funds in two ways:

Direct Deposit: You can claim your funds via direct deposit into your bank account. It may take 3-5 days for the funds to reflect in your account.

Prepaid Card: Alternatively, users can claim a prepaid card with the approved fund amount. You will receive an email from Edquity’s partner, Giftbit, in which you’ll enter the address where you want your prepaid card mailed to (e.g., your personal address, service site or another safe location). The physical prepaid card can take up to 10 business days to arrive in the mail. Edquity does not collect your mailing address. This card can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted or at an ATM to withdraw funds (fees may apply). 

Click here for a visual resource on how to claim your member support funds through Edquity.

No, Member Support Funds do not require repayment.

While not every member who applies for support funds will receive it, ServeMinnesota and Edquity still want to help however we can. Please send an email to katie@serveminnesota.org for further assistance. We also suggest that you check out the resources section on the Edquity app to find other organizations and service providers in your area.

You can receive up to $500 per calendar year. If you were denied funds, you are welcome to reapply again immediately. If you received $250, you can reapply for an additional $250 the next month. Members can receive up to $500 per calendar year. 

Administrators at your program cannot view the personal or financial information you submit. They are, however, able to see de-identified, aggregated behavioral trends of members applying for funds overall, and general information regarding the usage of resources. ServeMinnesota staff can see individual responses to the questionnaire in order to follow up with you about your request (e.g., offer additional resources, answer questions, solicit feedback about the process, etc.). ServeMinnesota will not share personal information with your program without your permission.

For help with the application, please email support@edquity.co or use the chat function within the app. Edquity’s support team is available 8 a.m.-8 p.m. central.

Schultz Family Foundation logo, vertical

 

The ServeMinnesota Member Support Fund is made possible by the Schultz Family Foundation.

AmeriCorps & ServeMinnesota logos