Next round of COVID-19 strategic response funds allocated
In its second round of grants, the Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund awarded $350,000 April 10 to 13 nonprofit organizations providing services to communities throughout the state.
The grants will address a broad range of community needs during the pandemic. Sussex County grantees are: First State Community Action Agency, $40,000 to provide for basic needs of low-income families statewide; Colonial Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, $5,000 to provide supplies for veterans with spinal cord injuries statewide; Jewish Family Services, $30,000 to provide remote counseling and support services statewide; La Esperanza, $18,000 for technology upgrades to better provide emergency services to the Latino community in Sussex County; Milton Community Food Pantry, $1,000 to provide emergency food to families in Milton and surrounding communities; Nanticoke Senior Center, $32,000 to purchase, package and deliver food to seniors in the Seaford area; Project New Start, $25,000 to provide remote case management to individuals reentering the community after incarceration statewide; and Planned Parenthood of Delaware, $40,000 to fund personal protective equipment and staffing to provide reproductive health services statewide.
In this second round, 119 applicants requested a total of $4.5 million from the COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund, which is housed at the Delaware Community Foundation.
The fund will award an additional $350,000 in grants next week. The goal is for the fund, which launched March 18, to provide grants for several months, said DCF President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay, who chairs the fund’s decision-making council. The council is actively raising money to be able to respond to community needs.
“As the pandemic continues, the needs are growing and evolving,” Comstock-Gay said. “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.”
The Longwood Foundation, which previously gave $1 million to the strategic response fund, awarded a $500,000 grant, contingent upon the community foundation raising a matching $500,000 from the community.
Among the new additions to the fund this week is a $50,000 contribution from M&T Bank. To date, the fund has received $2.3 million, with another $1.1 million pledged.
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.
Applications are being accepted weekly on a rolling basis and grants will be awarded weekly for as long as funding is available and community needs exist related to COVID-19. Each week, applications received by noon on Monday will be reviewed, grantees will be selected Friday morning, and funds will be transferred Friday afternoon.
The application is open at delcf.org/covid-grants. The deadline for each week’s round of awards is noon Monday.
The Delaware Community Foundation has waived all administrative fees for this fund, so 100 percent of the funds are going to organizations helping people in need.
