This episode of NPR’s Marketplace aired on Tuesday, February 2, 2026. The discussion between Canary’s Rachel Schneider and Kai Ryssdal first appeared here.
Despite a growing economy, uncertainty and volatility are big themes in many Americans’ financial lives. In its annual Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households, the Federal Reserve reported in 2025 that a third of American adults would not be able to cover a $400 emergency expense using cash or an equivalent.
The nonprofit Canary, founded by Rachel Schneider in 2021, helps employers distribute lump sum grants to their employees when they’re experiencing a financial crisis. And with high housing costs and climate-related natural disasters causing more financial emergencies, Canary has its work cut out in terms of providing “financial palliative care” to workers.
“Canary provides emergency relief funds to people in a moment of crisis, and those moments are life-changing for people,” Schneider said. “‘Palliative care’ sounds like a Band-Aid, but that Band-Aid is what tides somebody over while they figure out the next big step.”
“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal talked to Schneider about what Canary does, and how writing her 2017 book “The Financial Diaries” inspired its creation.
Canary provides an emergency employee relief fund solution, Grant Circle, that helps organizations of any size deliver charitable grants to individuals facing financial hardship. This can be in the event of a natural disaster, death in the family, catastrophic car issues, and more. If your workplace could benefit from a grant program as part of your overall employee financial well-being strategy, please visit www.workwithcanary.com and reach out to our team to learn more.
