We understand that these are challenging and stressful times. Our hearts especially go out to our families and frontline partners most impacted by COVID-19. While the world is uniting in efforts to battle the problem we’re facing, we feel it is crucial to find ways to serve our community in the best possible manner by joining hands and collaborating with other like-minded organizations.
The economic devastation in the wake of COVID-19 is expected to have significant, negative global impacts. While we recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic is a major stressor for everyone and is disrupting communities everywhere, we know that these economic impacts disproportionately affect small businesses and individuals whose income depends on in-person engagement. Further, we also understand that these and all of the negative impacts are magnified amongst the most vulnerable. Ivy Child is proud to serve as a partner and administrator of The Yoga Alliance Foundation Emergency Relief Fund alongside the Yoga Alliance Foundation. This aims at providing financial support to those within the yoga community who are experiencing extreme economic hardship due to COVID-19. The Fund is a global resource available to yoga professionals worldwide. The applications are open till funds run out.
Apply for Relief
IMPORTANT NOTE: The application for support is a Google Form. Once you begin the process, you will not be able to save and return to your partially completed content. Therefore we recommend you use this document to view the full list of questions in advance, prepare your documents and responses, and then enter them into the Google Form.
Eligibility requirements and general information on how to apply are posted below.
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions below or contact us at info@ivychild.org
Information and Instructions
The Yoga Alliance Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: COVID-19 was created to provide emergency assistance to yoga professionals worldwide who are experiencing financial hardship caused by the current COVID-19 crisis. We seek to assist as many people as possible through these funds. All applications will be assessed on a rolling basis and prioritized on basis of need.
Explained below are the criteria that have been established for eligibility and use of funds. We ask that all applicants read the information below.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
- All yoga professionals around the globe who are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 are eligible to apply for funding support (including Yoga Alliance members and non-members)
- 18 years of age or older;
- Yoga School owners can apply as individual professionals
- Preference will be given to applicants at or below 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI) prior to loss or reduction of income due to the coronavirus/COVID19 crisis (see below)
- Applicants must demonstrate a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis
- Proof of yoga teaching, residency, income eligibility, and proof of loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) must be provided
- Immigration status will not be considered in determining eligibility (i.e. undocumented residents are eligible).
What can the Emergency Relief Funds be used for?
Approved applicants will receive a minimum of $150 USD and maximum $1500 USD.
The Fund will be available to assist with other needs as detailed below.
- Rent Payments
- Mortgage Payments
- Utility Payments
Note: The Emergency Relief Fund is not for overdue rent payments, overdue mortgage payments, or overdue utility payments owed prior to the loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
Are the funds received taxable income?
A payment of funds from the Emergency Relief Fund for COVID-19 to the applicant is not income for the applicant because such a payment of funds is a qualified disaster relief payment under the federal law of the United States of America. Please refer to your country’s guidelines on disaster/emergency relief specifications for further information. Because a payment of funds is not income, we will not provide a tax form for any payment of funds to an applicant.
If an applicant has further tax questions, the applicant should contact a tax professional.
How to apply?
Applicants can apply online (link coming soon)
Once submitted, the application will be reviewed by a committee and applicants will be notified
The four basic steps to submitting this application:
- Complete the application form
- Upload supporting documents – The application does NOT require social security numbers or other Governmental identification numbers. Therefore, prior to submitting, please make sure to cross out all social security and id numbers where present.
- Confirm and submit
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Proof of yoga teaching must be demonstrated through one or more of the following documents:
- Yoga Teacher Certificate or Credential
- Professional Yoga CV
- Yoga Support Letter from current/former employer verifying duration and experience of teaching
- Independently contracted Yoga teachers or professionals, who are unable to submit the above can provide relevant contracts or bank statements highlighting proof of income.
Proof of Residency must be demonstrated with one of the following documents:
- A current Government photo I.D. with address,
- A current signed lease, mortgage statement, or signed tenant agreement,
- School enrolment documentation of a dependent child for the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year,
- Other valid documentation such as a utility bill for the applicant’s residence dated within the past 30 days or current car registration with the applicant’s residence.
- An affidavit concerning residency (affidavit here)
Proof of income eligibility must be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
- A 2019 income tax return (first page),
- A 2018 income tax return (first page) and 2019 year end income statement,
- An affidavit concerning 2019 income (affidavit here)
The application does not require government identification numbers, so please delete them or cross them out prior to submitting.
Proof of loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 must be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
- Two pay stubs/pay slips, one showing income before loss or reduction of income, and one paystub showing income after loss or reduction of income and dated after January 1, 2020.
- A letter from employer that indicates change of income due to COVID-19,
- A business closure notice from the applicant’s employer dated January 1, 2020 or after,
- A Department of Revenue or other official statement that shows reduction of child support payments since January 1, 2020,
- An affidavit from a family or child support provider indicating that they are unable to pay applicant because of COVID-19, OR
- An affidavit of loss of income and wages since January 1, 2020.
Income reduction may include, but not be limited to: reduction of hours of employment, loss of employment, loss of other income sources (such as reduction or loss of family or child support, or other significant income disruption). Loss of income does not include loss of investment income.
Other Important Eligibility Information:”
- This application does NOT require any Government ID numbers to apply for these funds. Please cross out or delete ID numbers from any documents submitted.
- Immigration status will not be considered in determining eligibility (i.e., undocumented residents are eligible).
- All applicants will be asked for a government issued picture I.D. to prove identity.
- We reserve the right to request additional information from applicants as needed to ensure the integrity of the program.
- Income reduction may include, but not be limited to: reduction of hours of employment, loss of employment, loss of other income sources (such as reduction or loss of family or child support, or other significant income disruption).
- Loss of income does not include loss of investment income.
- Applicants will receive an automated acknowledgement message of the Fund’s receipt of their application. The Fund will thereafter notify applicants of either an award of relief funds, a denial of funds.
- Rejected applications are not subject to appeal. Even if rejected every applicant will be considered as and when more funds are available.
- If an award is made, the award notification will indicate the total amount and for what purposes the award was made.
SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND
YOUR support will make a difference in the lives of yoga professionals.
100% of the funds raised will be used in providing financial support to those within the yoga community who are experiencing extreme economic hardship due to COVID-19.
Apply for Relief
To apply, please fill out the grant application form below.
Thank You to our Partner
The Yoga Alliance Foundation leverages yoga for social impact and fosters an expansive, accessible, and equitable yoga community.