Welcome to 2026! As I reflect on last year, one thing stands out: financial hardships are increasing – it's less about if and more about when. Wildfires tore through California. Typhoons swept across the Pacific. A U.S. government shutdown rattled families. While 13 named storms hit the Atlantic and 27 hit the Pacific (and, thankfully, none made U.S. landfall) the real storms last year were financial ones. And employees everywhere felt them.
What We Saw
Last year resulted in a 30% increase in hardship applications. That number doesn't surprise us. It confirms what we've known for some time: financial fragility is growing. Recent Federal Reserve data shows that 4 out of 10 Americans would struggle to cover a $400 unexpected expense. What was manageable a year ago now pushes families to the edge. MetLife's 2026 U.S. Employee Benefit Trends study backs this up — 83% of employees say rising living and medical costs are their top stressors, and 77% name economic uncertainty as a major concern. The support systems employees once had access to are disappearing. That's not a temporary trend.
What We Delivered
The application experience matters profoundly to us, and improvements were our priority this past year. We are acutely aware that when someone is in crisis, every extra step and every delay compounds their stress. That's why we've invested in making the experience as smooth and clear as possible.
Our progressive enhancements resulted in 91% of surveyed applicants saying they were satisfied with the application experience. Our recent response to Winter Storm Fern confirmed we are focused on the things that matter, and organizations partnering with us can expect significantly improved timeliness, precision and care. We also launched a range of refreshed resources, including our investment in navigation guides and resources for clients and applicants. You can see the full picture in our 2025 Year in Relief report.
Looking Ahead
In 2026, we're focused on three things:
- Continued operational excellence, ensuring a superior experience for every grant applicant.
- Enhanced delivery of global grantmaking: We're expanding our native translations package from 12 to 20 languages later this summer and refining how we handle documentation and validation requirements based on local context. Emergency Financial Relief should be delivered in ways that are culturally appropriate and meaningful for the people receiving it. Strong stewardship and accountability don't look the same in every country, and we're building that understanding into every process.
- Clear and timely insights for the organizations we serve, covering program trends and opportunities. Our Strategy Labs have been invaluable in shaping our roadmap, and we look forward to expanding focus group opportunities throughout this year. Our Regional Summits continue to facilitate meaningful community building among the visionary leaders we are proud to work alongside.
As we celebrate 25 years of delivering cash grants to individuals in need, I am optimistic about what lies ahead. The organization leaders who believe in corporate stewardship are building something rare and powering a new era of employee financial relief.
