List of Foundation responses to COVID-19 maintained by Grantmakers of Oregon and SW Washington. https://gosw.org/covid19/

‍

LOCAL EMERGENCY & OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Last week Meyer Memorial Trust’s Board of Trustees decided to provide some relief to current grantees. Effective today, active MMT grants awarded to support a program or project may now be used as general operating support to meet immediate organizational needs. If you are a current grantee, expect an email with more details. They are also relaxing grant reporting requirements. More details are offered in this blog post by Kaberi Banerjee Murthy, MMT Director of Program Strategy, here.

Meyer Memorial Trust has also announced its 2020 grantmaking cycle, with LOIs due 4/13 for all four grantmaking portfolios: Building Community, Equitable Education, Healthy Environment, and Housing Opportunities. More here.

The Oregon Community Recovery Fund established by Oregon Community Foundation is now active and accepting applications from nonprofits particularly affected. They recognize that the types of projects and available funding from this program may shift over time. It’s a pretty streamlined grant application process. Read the Q&A to determine if your organization is a fit.

MRG Foundation also established a COVID Community Response Fund. It’s been available since 3/13 and is a flexible resource to groups led by and working with  communities disproportionately impacted by COVID. They aren’t asking for applications or reports, but rather directing one-time operating dollars to current MRG grantees and partners. More info here.

Social Justice Fund Northwest: COVID-19 Crisis Fund is offering $3000 grants to meet community needs and support mutual aid for communities disproportionately impacted. More info here.

‍

The Healy Foundation Beginning 3/26/20 Healy Foundation is awarding grants weekly to nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. Maximum award is $25K and 100% is unrestricted. Priority will be given to organizations working in domestic violence, human trafficking, food businesses, farms, hunger, frontline health services, and family support (housing, childcare, digital access). More info here.

Ford Family Foundation FFF announced emergency funds to support rapid response efforts to alleviate the hardships on rural families and organizations. Current grantees and partners are invited to request $2K-10K to help rural organizations address immediate needs. They’ve created a streamlined process with a rapid turn-around. The deadline is March 31. Contact grantsmanagement@tfff.org with any questions and link to apply.

WorkSystems Layoff Aversion Fund TriMet announced an emergency fund to help ensure nonprofits are equipped to handle the needs for services coming from the growing number of dislocated workers and struggling families. If your organization is facing the difficult decision of laying off workers as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, you may be eligible. $200K is immediately available for Washington and Multnomah County based nonprofits to avert layoffs. Visit CBO Lay-Off Aversion Fund and Application to learn more and apply.

Information changes daily. For more info on how local funders are responding, NAO is hosting a 3/31/20 webinar with Kendall Clawson, CEO of Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington. More info and register here.

‍

NATIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Center for Disaster Philanthropy: CDP COVID-19 Response Fund supports preparedness, containment, response, and recovery activities for those affected and for the responders. More info here.

Dunkin’ Joy In Childhood Foundation announced emergency grants for health or hunger relief projects. Funds are to help respond to the surge of demand for essential services from people directly impacted by COVID-19. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling bases and funds will be approved pretty nimbly. Review FAQs to determine fit and apply online here.

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING

If your organization receives federal funding, the OMB Grants Team issued a 3/19 memorandum: M-20-17, Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations. This memorandum provides similar administrative relief offered in M-20-11 to an expanded scope of recipients affected by the loss of operational capacity and increased costs due to the COVID-19 emergency. To view both memos, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/memoranda/. Recipients should direct questions on how these memos impact individual Federal awards to the appropriate Federal awarding agency.

You already know by now that Congress approved a $2 trillion stimulus package (CARES Act) for coronavirus relief. Local leaders expect between $1.3 and $1.5 billion to be shared with Oregon (in addition to cash payments, unemployment assistance, and help for business). There are no federal rules, regulations, guidelines or forms yet for most of the CARES Act, and some of the programs will require states to take certain actions. New info is coming out hour by hour. NAO prepared an excellent overview of which federal programs will receive funding boosts and what’s in the bill for nonprofits in terms of loans and loan forgiveness and payroll tax credits.

Sen Merkley’s office indicated about 55% of the stimulus funds will go to state government, and the rest will be distributed to counties and cities. Nothing has been rolled out yet and I’ll keep monitoring where these dollars are flowing and any potential impact on nonprofits.

NONPROFITS ELIGIBLE FOR SBA LOANS

Today the Small Business Administration announced that nonprofits are also eligible for targeted, low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans. It’s a 3-part application process. More info here.

WORK SHARE OREGON

Work Share provides an alternative for employers and workers who may be facing the prospect of a lay off situation. With work Share, instead of reducing staff, an employer reduces the hours of work for a group of workers. Partial Unemployment Insurance benefits are then paid to supplement workers’ reduced wages. Your organization must apply for the program by sending a written plan to the Oregon Employment Department. Employees cannot apply for Work Share directly. To qualify, your nonprofit must have 3 or more employees with reduced work hours to participate in the program. More info here.