Community Assistance Recovery Effort

Program Objective

Community Assistance Recovery Effort (CARE) provides assistance to members in the form of a matching grant to amplify the support our members provide to their communities when natural disasters occur. FHLBank members are in the best position to determine local needs following a disaster and to direct assistance where it will have the greatest impact.

Program Activities

FHLBank will match up to $3 for every $1 a member contributes to disaster relief efforts. When a disaster is declared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), members may request CARE funds as follows:

• CARE funds are only for declared disasters in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska or Oklahoma.
• Members must contribute $1 for every $3 of CARE funds requested.
• Members must donate at least $2,500 of their own funds.
• CARE funds are capped at $75,000 per member, per disaster.
• FHLBank will not match member donations made prior to Jan. 1, 2025.
• Members may submit multiple requests to address disaster needs in the communities they serve, subject to the member limit described above.

CARE funds must be used for relief efforts related to the declared disaster, such as, but not limited to:

• Emergency housing
• Debris clean up
• Supplies and equipment
• Uninsured repair costs for owner-occupied and rental housing
• Supplemental income for homeowners and tenants
• Climate resilience repairs such as storm shelters or fortified roofing
• Uninsured losses for small businesses

CARE funds may not be used for:

• A member’s foundation, member trade association foundations or similar
• Any political activity or purpose
• Any litigation expense
• Program funds unused as of Nov. 30, 2025, will be reallocated to the AHP Extra Program.

Submitting an Application

Fill out the CARE Application and Agreement Form listed below and email to CAREProgram@fhlbtopeka.com.