The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, a coordinated fund established by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, has issued new investments of $2.8 million as part of phase two of rapid response grantmaking. To date, the Fund has made total investments of $6.7 million in 192 nonprofits helping local residents adversely affected by the coronavirus public health and economic crisis.
These general operating grants — ranging in size from $10,000 to $50,000 — are intended to help vital nonprofits across the region to fulfill their missions and expand critical services during a time of unprecedented need. Flexible support is crucial for stability as our nonprofit partners work to shift operations online, purchase essential supplies and equipment, cover staff salaries and hazard pay, and pursue ways to offset lost revenue and volunteer resources.
Since launching the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund on March 13, The Community Foundation has mobilized more than $8 million from 700+ contributors, including corporate partners, foundations, and individual donors (with individual contributions ranging in size from $10 - $100,000).
In times of crisis, The Community Foundation is the region’s philanthropic first responder, bringing people and resources together to address community needs. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, The Community Foundation is convening weekly meetings with local philanthropic leaders, donors, and government advisors to raise funds, discuss needs and priorities, and guide strategic investments.
The Fund has received more than 1,340 requests from nonprofits seeking approximately $60 million in funding, which is more than seven times the amount of dollars raised. For phase 2 of grantmaking, priority was given to nonprofits with deep roots in the community and a demonstrated ability to address urgent needs and reach historically underserved populations. Phase 2 also included funding for advocacy and community organizing projects focused on improving systems for food security, violence prevention, medical care access, affordable housing, childcare, and more.
Phase 2 investments include:
Workforce and Small Business
To support individuals through direct cash assistance, including hourly and gig economy workers, contractors, and immigrant workers excluded from federal stimulus; and to support advocacy and community organizing efforts focused on policies affecting workers impacted by COVID-19, such as entry level workers and excluded workers in retail, food service, and hospitality.
Academy of Hope
Center for Nonprofit Advancement
Congregation Action Network
DC Bar Pro Bono Center
DC Jobs with Justice
District Bridges
Future Harvest
Nonprofit Village Center
People for Change Coalition
Per Scholas
Samaritan Ministry
Sunflower Bakery
The Training Source
Unite Here
Upwardly Global
Urban Ed
Education and Youth
To bridge the digital divide and expand resources for youth disconnected from school or work and students transitioning from middle to high school.
Advocates for Children and Youth
The Alliance of Concerned Men
Best Kids
City Gate
Covenant House
Community Bridges, Inc.
Community Support Services, Inc.
Crittenton Services of Greater Washington
The District of Columbia Association for the Education of Young Children
DC Fiscal Policy Institute & DC Action for Children
Family Services, Inc.Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop
Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection
KID Museum
Latino Student Fund
Nonprofit Montgomery (MMF)
Reach Education Inc
Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (MD Women's Business Center)
Total Family Care Coalition
The Young Women's Project
Medical Care and Access
To support the purchase of PPE and other equipment for frontline workers, expand medical care for marginalized communities, increase access to mental health support services, and pursue advocacy addressing local health issues.
Abraham and Laura Lisner Home for Aged Women
Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Inc.
Breast Care for Washington
Care for Your Health, Inc.
Community of Hope
Cornerstone Montgomery, Inc.
HIPS
Joseph's House
La Clinica del Pueblo
SOME, Inc.
Volunteers of America Chesapeake Inc
Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
Housing and Homelessness
To support advocacy and community organizing around universal testing in shelters, rent relief and assistance, housing for returning citizens, and increased funding for homeless services; as well as direct services to protect individuals, families, and youth experiencing homelessness and to prevent community spread.
Bethesda Cares
Central American Resource Center
Central Union Mission
The Church of the Epiphany
Community Development Network of Maryland
Empower DC
FAIR Girls, Inc.
Hearts and Homes for Youth
Mary House
Mi Casa Inc
Miriam's Kitchen
National Coalition for the Homeless
The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens
ONE DC - Organizing Neighborhood Equity
The Platform of Hope
Rainbow Place Shelter for Homeless Women
St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families
University Legal Services
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
Food Security, Legal Services, and Domestic and Community Violence
To provide critical infrastructure and coordination support and emergency food assistance; to address the uptick in domestic and other forms of violence; and support the civil legal aid needs of individuals and families.
Bread for the City
Capital Area Food Bank
Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition
Community Family Life Services
Community Support Systems, Inc.
Community United Methodist Church
DC Affordable Law Firm
DC Volunteer Lawyers Project
District of Columbia Center for Law and Justice
District of Columbia Forensic Nurse Examiners
Dreaming Out Loud
Fair Budget Coalition
FRESHFARM Markets, Inc.
Germantown Cultural Arts Center/ BlackRock Center for the Arts
Greater Mount Nebo A.M.E Church
Greater Riverdale Cares/Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitalization Community Development Corporation
Homeless Persons Representation Project
JCADA
Jews United for Justice
Kings & Priests Court International Ministries
Life After Release
Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations
Maryland Center on Economic Policy
Montgomery County Food Council
Mutual Aid Movement
Rising for Justice, Inc.
Shepherd's Table
St Camillus Church Food Pantry
The Safe Sisters Circle
Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs
A generous contribution from PepsiCo, Inc. and its philanthropic arm, The PepsiCo Foundation, allowed for additional investments to aid Black and Latino communities by providing food, cash assistance, medical care and support for small female-led businesses. Recipients include:
African Communities Together to provide emergency cash support for the African immigrant diaspora in the Greater Washington region.
Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative to provide emergency support for children and families in Wards 7 and 8.
Identity, Inc. to provide emergency cash assistance to low-income families in Montgomery County.
Impact Silver Spring to provide emergency cash assistance for undocumented workers.
Jubilee Jobs to provide an emergency cash assistance program for returning citizens.
La Cocina Virginia to provide support for low-income, immigrant, mostly food-focused female-led small businesses.
THRIVE East of the River Partnership to support 500 families in Wards 7 and 8 with emergency assistance.
Voices for a Second Chance to provide support for incarcerated individuals and their families.
A full list of the organizations receiving assistance through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is here
Anyone interested in contributing to this collective effort can make a tax-deductible gift here.