Aid a Gator

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Helpful Links

The University of Florida continuously accepts donations to the Aid-a-Gator program in order to assist employees and students experiencing emergent and unexpected financial hardships. Please donate today to help members of the Gator Nation. Click here to help.

Faculty and Staff

In response to the significant and historic impact of Hurricane Irma in 2017, UF created the “Aid-a-Gator” program as an emergency fund to provide limited assistance (up to $1,500 per employee calendar year) to UF faculty and staff who experienced a temporary financial hardship due to the hurricane and its aftermath. Through the program, more than 400 UF employees received assistance in the months following Irma.

Now a permanent program, Aid-a-Gator is a way for UF employees to offer support to colleagues who are experiencing a temporary hardship due to a significant life event, such as a sudden illness, family crisis or natural disaster. Aid-a-Gator is completely dependent on donations, and awards are contingent on the availability of funding at the time of application.

Aid-a-Gator funds are intended to be a temporary life-preserver, not an income supplement or an alternative to insurance, FEMA or other types of public aid. Funds serve as a grant, not a loan requiring repayment. Under most circumstances, awards through Aid-a-Gator will be taxed as income.

Students

Undergraduate students and graduate students not on assistantship who are experiencing financial hardship may visit the UF Office for Student Financial Affairs Aid-a-Gator website, call (352) 392-1275 or visit the office in S107 Criser Hall (9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday) for support.

Special Thanks to Corporate Donors!

After Hurricane Irma, the Aid-a-Gator program was created utilizing a generous gift from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) that served as seed money. Additional donations came from individuals and corporate donors, including Duke Energy and the National Association of Educational Procurement, New England (NAEP-NE). This program could not exist without donations. UF is incredibly thankful for individual and corporate partners who help make programs such as Aid-a-Gator possible. Please click here to make a donation.

Applying for Assistance Through Aid-a-Gator

Employees experiencing an unforeseen, temporary financial hardship may apply for a grant through Aid-a-Gator at any time. Here’s how:

Please read the Applicant FAQ. These should address most of the questions you may have.
Complete the online application form for aid. Attach all relevant documentation illustrating your unexpected hardship. This might include an overdue utility bill showing a cut-off date, photographs of home damage, estimates for emergency house repair, unexpected medical bills (redacting any medical information or medical details) or insurance documents identifying your deductible.

Giving to Aid-a-Gator

During times of large-scale and individual crisis, the Gator Nation comes together. By making a donation, even a small one, you can help even more members of the Gator Nation who may find themselves in need today or tomorrow. Donor FAQs offer additional information about this program. Please click here to donate.