Hardship Overview: Qualifying Events

To qualify, your request for assistance must be the result of a specific, unexpected event outside of your control:

•  Illness or Injury 
•  Transportation- Car Repairs/Car Accidents (please note we do not buy cars)
•  Natural Disaster (fire, flood, extreme weather) 
•  Death of a Family Member or Funeral Assistance (may include funeral-related expenses; does not include travel or time off work for bereavement)
•  Lack of Permanent Housing or Housing Hardship (loss of housing or unsafe/uninhabitable living conditions due to circumstances outside of your control)
•  Domestic Violence
•  Increase in Family Size (not related to pregnancy or maternity leave) 
•  Unexpected Loss of Household Income (does not include reduced hours, seasonal changes, or voluntary job loss)

Not sure if your situation qualifies? Please contact a Cares Advocate at jhull@kbpcares.org before continuing.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be an active KBP employee or on an approved leave of absence 
• The event must have occurred within the past 120 days and while employed with a KBP brand 
• The hardship must directly impact your ability to pay essential living expenses 
• Supporting documentation is required to move forward 
• Assistance is limited to one request per event 
• A maximum of two awards may be granted within a 12-month period 
• Employees should typically be working at least part-time hours; exceptions may be considered for students or other qualifying circumstances

KBP Cares provides short-term support during unexpected hardships to help you stay on track with essential expenses. If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, you’re encouraged to apply or reach out to a Cares Advocate for guidance.

Application Process

Here’s what to expect from start to finish:

1. Submit Your Application

Select the hardship you are facing and share details about your current situation in the application.

2. Application Review

After you submit, a KBP Cares team member will contact you by email to review your application. You’ll be asked questions about your situation, and if it meets the qualifying criteria, you’ll receive a second form to provide bills, financial details, and supporting documents.

3. Approval Process

Your request will be reviewed against program guidelines. If eligible, it will be submitted to the review committee for final approval.

4. Payment Process

If approved, KBP Cares pays vendors directly (such as landlords, utility companies, car mechanics, etc.). We cannot pay employees, family, or friends. 

Need help getting started? Check out the step-by-step guide:

👉 How to Submit a KBP Cares Application

For questions, contact a Cares Advocate at jhull@kbpcares.org 

Level Up Scholarship:

Powered by KBP Cares in partnership with KBP Brands Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

The Level Up Scholarship was created to support KBP Brands team members who are taking the next step in their educational journey. Whether you're pursuing college classes, vocational or trade training, or working toward your GED, this program is designed to help remove financial barriers that may stand in the way.

At KBP Cares, we believe education has the power to change lives. In partnership with KBP’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), we’re proud to offer this opportunity to invest in employees who are striving to grow, learn, and build a stronger future.

Level Up is more than a scholarship — it’s an investment in your goals, your growth, and your future.

Because when you level up, we all do.

Important Dates

• Application Opens: March 30
• Application Deadline: Extended to June 1
• Applications Reviewed: Late May through June 
• Recipients Notified: June 22
• Scholarship Payments Issued: July

Scholarship awards are intended to support Fall 2026 

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Level Up Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

 ✔️ Be employed with KBP Brands for at least 90 consecutive days 

✔️ Be a member of at least one KBP Employee Resource Group (WRG, BERG, HERO)

 ✔️ Have worked a minimum of 130 hours 

 ✔️ Be an active employee or on approved Leave of Absence (LOA) at the time the scholarship is awarded

 ✔️ Be accepted to or currently enrolled in one of the following programs 

• College or university courses               
  • Vocational or trade school
  • GED program

   

 ✔️ Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA if currently enrolled in college courses   

Essay Questions & Review Process

As part of your application, you’ll be asked to complete several short essay questions. These responses play an important role in the review process.

All applications are reviewed by the Scholarship Committee, made up of KBP ERG leaders. The committee uses your essays to better understand your experiences, goals, and connection to your ERG(s).

While there are no “right” or “wrong” answers, applicants who take the time to fully elaborate on their thoughts and provide specific examples are more likely to receive higher scores. Brief or minimal responses may not give the committee enough information to fully evaluate your application.

We encourage you to be thoughtful, honest, and thorough in your responses.

Encouraging Smiles x KBP Cares Dental Program helps employees facing the high cost of medically necessary or extensive dental work, such as full extractions and dentures by providing financial assistance towards the cost of treatment. Untreated dental issues can lead to serious health problems, and this program is designed to ensure employees receive the critical care they need.

Who Qualifies?

To be eligible, you must:
 ✔ Be an active employee for at least 90 days
 ✔ Be in good standing
 ✔ Requesting dental work that is medically necessary, extensive, and poses a risk to their health or well-being. Routine procedures such as root canals, wisdom teeth removal, or other standard dental care do not qualify for assistance.

This program is designed to assist with urgent dental needs, ensuring employees receive the essential care they require.

Utilice esta aplicación si desea comunicarse únicamente en español.

Please use this application if you want to communicate only in Spanish. 

Guidelines for Eligibility  

• The KBP employee must be actively employed or on an approved leave of absence for no more than six months to be eligible for a grant from KBP Cares.
• In the case of a death of an employee, the surviving spouse or eligible dependent of the employee may apply

Coverage in the Grant Assistance Program is approved based on a Qualified Incident. 

A Qualified Incident is an unexpected and unavoidable circumstance, out of the control of the employee, that has now created a financial hardship. These circumstances are one-time events that have caused the employee to spend their mortgage, rent, or utility money on unexpected expenses.

This Incident MUST fall into one of these categories

• Illness/Injury 
• Natural Disaster
• Death of Immediate Family Member
• Extreme Circumstance

As an employee, if you endure one of these hardships and it causes you the inability to afford basic living expenses, you can apply for a KBP Cares grant. We will review your application and if approved, we will pay your bills directly to the service provider. 

Before you apply for a KBP Cares grant, please take a look at the qualification requirements below.

Please click this link for 'Do I Qualify' Flow Chart (www.myworkday.com)
 

Technical Questions?

Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support.