The Craft Emergency Relief Fund is a national nonprofit organization that provides loans and awards small grants of up to $9,000 to professional craftspeople who have experienced a career-threatening illness, accident, fire, theft, or natural disaster.

(Other services include referrals to craft suppliers who have agreed to offer discounts on materials and equipment to craftspeople eligible for CERF funds and booth fee waivers with certain craft show producers.)

CERF loan recipients are expected to repay the loan in full within five years. This enables CERF to have funds readily available for the next craftsperson in need.

An applicant must be a professional artist working in a craft discipline (such as a potter, metalsmith, glass artist, woodworker, fiber artist, or furniture maker) who has had a recent, career-threatening emergency and is a legal resident of the United States.