The US Retail Share Fund offers relief to associates experiencing severe financial hardship due to circumstances beyond their control. Follow these steps to apply for the USR Share Fund.
Review all Qualifying Events and the
Direct Grant Application Prep Pack (pdf).
Click on qualifying events below to review details.
Gather all supporting documentation you need for your application.
To ensure prompt processing of a Share Fund grant, please gather the appropriate documents before submitting your application. The Share Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that has strict government requirements that requires written documentation as proof of the qualifying event.
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The application is not complete until we have received ALL relevant supporting documentation.
- a. Past due mortgage statement.
- b. Past due rent letter from landlord or eviction notice.
- c. Past due basic utilities (electric, gas, water/sewer and garbage).
1. Copies of bills for which associate is seeking assistance, for instance:
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2. Proof of qualifying event causing the financial need, for instance:
- a. Doctor’s Note / Leave documentation.
- b. Fire/police report.
- c. Layoff/separation notice.
ORIGINAL documents must be provided wherever available.
NOTE: The Share Fund does not cover car repair, replacement, insurance or car loan, phone, Internet, cable, credit card bills, daycare, student loans, tuition, deductibles, medical expenses, or insurance bills.
Other documentation may be required to complete the application. This list is in no way a comprehensive list of documents required.
Every request submitted by US Retail associates is reviewed.
Submit your application online.
The USR Share Fund team will be in touch if additional documentation is needed and to notify you about the status of your application.
To assist associates or immediate family member (spouse/domestic partner or dependents ONLY) who have encountered financial hardships for reasons beyond their control (illness, injury) with household expenses or travel expenses to appointments.
Travel expenses to attend appointments
Past due rent or mortgage
Past due basic utilities
Note: Share Fund does not provide funding for medical bills.
PLEASE NOTE the US Retail Share Fund DOES NOT require details on diagnosis. We simply need to know the associate is unable to work during a particular time frame as a result of their doctor's instruction.
- Medical leave documentation or FMLA1 form (if applicable)
- Doctor’s note documenting dates associate was not able to work
- Itemized medical bill statement to prove illness/injury occurred
- Documentation of time off from work due to medical reasons
- Travel receipts to attend appointments
- Copies of past due or soon to be past due rent/mortgage or basic utility bills (i.e., water, gas, electric)
Available to assist those who have incurred the loss of an associate or immediate family member (spouse/domestic partner, parent or dependents ONLY) if the associate is financially responsible for arrangements. An associate's spouse/domestic partner may apply for assistance in the event of an associate's death.
Essential funeral expenses for deceased family member
Travel expenses to attend the funeral or to make funeral arrangements
Past due rent or mortgage
Past due basic utilities
- Itemized funeral invoice or estimate with the name of the person who is responsible
- Proof of the death of relative (death certificate or obituary)
- Transportation receipts showing cost and date of travel to funeral or travel to make arrangements
- Copy of past due bills
Available to associates whose primary residence is severely damaged, destroyed, or rendered unlivable by a localized natural disaster (fire, flood, tornado, mudslide, storm, etc.), federal/state-declared natural disaster or terrorist attack, or an associate displaced from home and forced to pay for alternative housing.
Event must occur while associate is employed with Staples.
Does not cover associate’s 2nd home, rental property or other building on associate’s property. Does not cover boats.
Uninsured/underinsured needed repairs to primary residence
Security deposit to move into a new residence
Emergency housing (if needed)
Necessary items lost due to event
Food
Past due rent or mortgage
Past due basic utilities
- Photos of damage to home or car/primary vehicle (smartphone photos accepted)
- Itemized repair estimate for primary residence from a contractor
- Copies of temporary housing receipts from hotels
- List of necessary items lost due to the disaster (clothing, food, shelter, vehicle)
- Homeowner's insurance deductible information, damage and what is covered
- Statement from community organization assisting Associate (i.e., FEMA, American Red Cross, fire/police department, shelter, etc.)
- Lease agreement from NEW landlord showing security deposit amount
- Copies of past due or soon to be past due rent/mortgage or basic utilities (i.e., gas, water, electric only)
Loss of a spouse’s job or associate’s second job due to layoff or company closure within the past six months. Staples jobs excluded.
Event must occur while associate is employed with Staples and in last 12 months.
Not covered:
· Loss of Staples job, behind on rent/utilities with no triggering event, car (general maintenance, accident, car no longer works).
· Reduction of hours or o/t for Staples job.
For loss of 2nd job or Spouse job - we reserve all rights to deny a grant based on circumstances of the job loss.
Back to topPast due rent or mortgage
Past due basic utilities*
*Covered utilities include electric, gas and water only
- Copy of the termination letter with date and reason of termination or paperwork from unemployment office showing date and reason of separation
- Copy of past due or soon to be past due rent/mortgage or utilities* statement.
*Covered utilities include electric, gas and water only
Available for associates in need of new housing due to either their place of residence being condemned or deemed uninhabitable due to unsafe living conditions, or unforeseen sale/foreclosure of a home rented from a private landlord that sees the associate forced to find new accommodation with less than 30 days’ notice. (Foreclosure of a home owned by an associate DOES NOT fit this circumstance.)
Please note, unfortunately the Share Fund is unable to assist with evictions which are a result of being behind or unable to pay rent without a qualifying event, such as injury/illness or those listed above.
Event must occur while associate is employed with Staples and in time frame as noted above.
Security deposit to move into a new residence
Provide grant to repair/correct unsafe living conditions not covered by landlord or insurance company
- Unsafe/Uninhabitable Living Conditions:
- Inspection report, or other documentation showing how the home is uninhabitable or unsafe living conditions
- Quotes for repairs not covered by insurance, to make home safe/inhabitable
- Receipts for temporary housing if unable to stay in home while repairs are being completed
- Eviction:
- Eviction notice or Court Order with reason for Eviction
- Associates requesting assistance as a result of the sale or foreclosure on their RENTED residence are REQUIRED to submit proof of the sale or foreclosure including:
- · Foreclosure notice from the landlord or owner of the rented property
- · Documentation showing the property is for sale
- · Current lease or proof of address
- Lease agreement from NEW landlord showing security deposit amount
Available to associates in an unsafe home environment and in need of new housing.
Event must occur while associate is employed with Staples and in time frame as noted above.
Back to topSecurity deposit to move into new residence
Temporary housing if needed
First month's rent to move into a new residence
Replace daily care items left behind when fleeing unsafe environment (i.e., clothes, toiletries)
Provide assistance with rent/mortgage or utilities* owed at unsafe environment if required to pay prior to new lease
*Covered utilities include electric, gas and water only
- Police report or restraining order documenting the abuse
- Copy of past due bills
- Letter/note from pastor, social worker, school counselor, etc
- Lease agreement from NEW landlord showing security deposit and first month's rent amounts
- List of items to be replaced
Available to associates, their immediate family members, or a spouse/domestic partner who has encountered financial hardships after being deployed.
Event must occur while associate is employed with Staples and in time frame as noted above.
Back to top
Rent or mortgage (don’t have to be past due)
Utilities* (don’t have to be past due)
Other bills where assistance is needed, (i.e., spouse no longer able to work due to spouse deployment, food)
*Covered utilities include electric, gas and water only
- Copy of deployment orders
- Copy of basic utility bills
- Copy of rent/mortgage statement
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