Delaware COVID-19 Response Fund awards weekly grants

In its third round of grants, the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund awarded $287,000 to 12 nonprofit organizations providing services to communities throughout the state. The grants will address a broad range of community needs during the pandemic.

Local grantees are: Catholic Charities - Diocese of Wilmington - $25,000 to provide case management for families affected by COVID-19 statewide; Community Legal Aid Society Inc. - $10,000 for secure technology to continue serving clients statewide while working remotely; Love Inc. of Mid-Delmarva - $50,000 to provide shelter for the homeless in western Sussex County; Rosa Health Center Inc. - $3,000 for technology and personal protective equipment to provide medical care for people in Sussex County; and Sussex Community Housing Services Inc. - $15,000 to provide shelter for the homeless in Sussex County.

In this third round, 40 applicants requested a total of $1.1 million from the COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund, which is housed at the Delaware Community Foundation.

To date, the fund has awarded $987,000 to 36 Delaware nonprofits. To see a list of all grantees, visit delcf.org/covid-grantees. Additional grants will be awarded next week.

The goal is for the fund, which launched March 18, to provide grants for several more weeks, said Stuart Comstock-Gay, foundation president and CEO, who chairs the fund’s decision-making council. The council is actively raising money to be able to respond to community needs, he sad.

“As the pandemic continues, the needs are growing and evolving. We are calling on the community to help local nonprofit organizations get food, shelter, medical care and other essential services directly to the people who need it most. We also must support our workforce, arts community and other sectors to restore our quality of life post-COVID-19,” he said.

The Longwood Foundation, which previously gave $1 million to the Strategic Response Fund, last week awarded a $500,000 grant, with the stipulation that the DCF must raise a matching $500,000 from the community.

To make a gift that qualifies for the match, go to www.delcf.org/covid19-fund or contact Joan Hoge-North, jhoge-north@delcf.org.