Deadline: 30-Sep-20
The Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) is seeking applications for its COVID-19 Response Fund to address the most pressing needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged populations in the region due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
By design, the grants during the initial Crisis Relief and Mitigation phase (April – June) were rapid, unrestricted, and responsive to address basic needs. Areas of impact included: hunger, emergency shelter, elderly, disabled populations, emergency childcare, healthcare, mental health, financial relief aid distribution, and food for summer youth programs.
Funding Information
- Grants will range from $5,000 – $50,000.
- In rare instances of collaboration and regional or county-wide systems thinking, ECCF will consider proposals that exceed $50,000.
Funding Priorities
- Supporting Essex County residents disproportionately impacted by COVID-19
- Supporting seniors, communities of color, underserved youth, immigrants, individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities, and other vulnerable populations
- Providing programs and/or services addressing one of the three priority areas: Health & Mental Health, Economic Security, and Education and Youth
- Expanding or pivoting operations to address the most pressing issues in their community and have stepped up in significant ways
- Serving Essex County residents, priority will be given to organizations based in Essex County
- Organizations valuing inclusion from many community voices in decision-making from a diverse range of areas of expertise, gender, race, ethnicity, and community perspectives
Area of Need Priorities
- Health and Mental Health
- Economic Security
- Education and Youth.
Eligibility Criteria
- The grants are limited to 501c3 nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 nonprofit organization, or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution, such as schools, faith-based organizations, and other public entities. The foundation is not able to fund individuals or businesses directly, labor unions, or other 501c4, 501c5, and 501c6 organizations.
- In addition, grants will not be awarded:
- To individuals
- For sectarian or religious purposes. COVID-19 Response Fund grants to faith-based organizations may only be used for non-conditional relief work and available to all qualified applicants without obligation
- For political purposes
- For debt or deficit reduction
- For capital campaigns for buildings, land acquisition, or endowment
- To support academic research
- Organizations are still eligible to apply even if they received funding from the Essex County COVID-19 Response Fund during its rapid response phase.
For more information, visit https://www.eccf.org/essex-county-covid-19-response-fund-open-application-crisis-relief-and-recovery/