Community Foundation Update (10/10/20)

Alabama

The Black Belt Community Foundation, Hope Credit Union, and several partners have announced a first round of grants through the COVID-19 Access Program. The program is designed to serve as a bridge for communities in sixteen Alabama counties seeking reimbursement for COVID-related expenses through the federal CARES Act. Under the program, the credit union provides BBCF with a line of credit that the foundation is using to fund grants.

Arizona

The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona in Tucson has announced COVID-19 Community Support grants totaling $45,000 to three organizations. The grants, which boost the foundation's COVID-related emergency funding to more than $2 million, will support efforts to assist vulnerable youth, caregivers of individuals with special needs, and day laborers impacted by the virus.

California

With the aim of convening and engaging local leaders of color working to address significant challenges and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the region, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation has announced the launch of a Community Advisory Council. To that end, the twenty-two members of the council will provide feedback and guidance with respect to SVCF's new strategic plan, which is moving into the implementation stage after a ten-month-long planning process involving the foundation's board, executive team, and staff. Under the plan, the foundation will continue to work to reduce systemic disparities while bringing more diverse voices and perspectives into that work.

Colorado

The Community Foundation Boulder County has announced grants totaling $263,543 in support of LGBTQ+ programs and initiatives, as well as organizations working in the areas of education, the arts, the environment, animal welfare, and to strengthen the community's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant recipients include the Autism Society of Boulder County, Garden to Table, a Queer Endeavor, and Colorado Horse Rescue.

Michigan

The Detroit-based Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has announced third-quarter grants totaling more than $17 million in support of organizations working in the areas of the arts, education, health, human services, and youth engagement. Grant recipients include the Arab American National Museum, Mercy Education Project, Mai Family Services, and the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health.

Minnesota

The Minneapolis Foundation has announced more than $1.57 million in OneMPLS grants to sixteen nonprofit organizations that are supporting Minneapolis businesses led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color experiencing financial distress due to COVID-19. Grant recipients include the African Development Center of Minnesota, the Hmong American Partnership, the New American Development Center, and the Whittier Alliance.

Nebraska

The Omaha Community Foundation, in partnership with Douglas County, has launched the Douglas County Stimulus Grant Program to provide funding to eligible nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. In September, the foundation launched two CARES Act grant programs that together will provide a total of $8 million to help underwrite organizations’ operational expenses and/or revenue/income losses, including $5 million for arts and cultural organizations and $3 million for human services groups.

New Jersey

The Community Foundation of New Jersey has announced the additions of Rhonda Crichlow and Marc Adee to its board of trustees. Senior vice president and chief diversity officer at Charter Communications, Chrichlow leads the company's Community Impact efforts, which are focused on strategic philanthropic investments and programs across Charter's forty-one-state footprint. Adee is CEO of Crum & Forster, an insurance company.

New Mexico

Cancer Services of New Mexico will conduct a virtual family cancer retreat for adult cancer patients and survivors, their caregivers, and family members on October 24 and 25, the Las Cruces Bulletin reports. Underwritten by the Santa Fe Community Foundation and other local donors and corporate funders, the retreat will feature online lectures and panel discussions featuring more than thirty-five of New Mexico's leading cancer specialists.

North Carolina

The Foundation for the Carolinas has announced a fifth round of COVID-related grants totaling more than $3 million in support of seventy-two organizations. To date, the foundation has awarded nearly $18 million through its COVID-19 Response Fund to more than two hundred nonprofit organizations working to assist those impacted by the pandemic in the areas of child care, education, housing, food security, emergency financial assistance, legal advocacy, health and mental health, and workforce development.

Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Foundation has announced grants totaling $356,000 in support of forty-five neighborhood-based projects. Grant recipients include the Blackstone River Watershed Council, R.I. Black Storytellers, the African Alliance of Rhode Island, and the Hera Educational Foundation.

Washington

The Orcas Island Community Foundation has announced that it is accepting submissions from organizations interested in being featured in its online 2020 GiveOrcas Catalog. Last year, the GiveOrcas Holiday Catalog raised $80,400 for twenty programs over a three-week campaign. The deadline to apply is November 6.