COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND DISTRIBUTES NEARLY $200,000
INITIAL GRANTS GO TO ORGANIZATIONS MEETING BASIC NEEDS
The COVID-19 Response Fund for the St. Croix Valley this week distributed $195,500 to 22 nonprofit organizations working to meet basic needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. The 22 organizations received grants ranging from $20,000 to $500 to help respond to needs for food, shelter, financial assistance and mental health (full list below).
The COVID-19 Response Fund for the St. Croix Valley was established as a collaboration between the St. Croix Valley Foundation (SCVF), United Way St. Croix Valley (UWSCV) and United Way Washington County East (UWWCE). The Response Fund will support community organizations responding to COVID-19 related needs in Chisago and Washington counties (Minnesota) and Burnett, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties (Wisconsin).
Initial funding was provided by the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation ($150,000), the Fred C. & Katherine B. Andersen Foundation ($150,000) and the SCVF ($35,000). Contributions have also been made by SCVF fund advisors, community businesses and the general public. Contributions may be made online at https://www.scvfoundation.org/covid-19.
Grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund for the St. Croix Valley will continue to be made weekly. Local nonprofit organizations responding to basic needs are encouraged to apply at https://www.scvfoundation.org/covid-19-form-nonprofits.
The application deadline for next week’s grants is 9 am Monday, April 6.
FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS
Week of March 30, 2020
100% DISTRIBUTION
In a consolidated effort to help those most affected by COVID-19, the SCVF is waiving all administrative fees for the Response Fund. This means (with the exception of fees charged by banks/credit card companies) that 100% of a donor’s gift will be used to help those most affected by COVID-19 in the St. Croix Valley.
The Response Fund will be administered in multiple phases to address immediate and longer-term needs related to this crisis. During Phase One, priority will be given to organizations working to meet the basic needs of those most significantly impacted by this crisis. Phase One includes proactively identifying grant recipients using input, guidance and research from organizations and others in the community in order to make grant decisions. Future grant phases will be communicated as fundraising continues throughout the crisis, making it possible to quickly adapt to evolving needs.
The COVID-19 Response Fund will make grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or other charitable organizations able to receive tax-deductible contributions, such as schools and other public entities.
THE GRANTMAKING PROCESS
Grants from the Response Fund will be recommended by an advisory committee appointed by the SCVF, UWSCV and UWWCE. These appointees could include staff, board members, affiliated community foundation board members and/or other community partners of the SCVF, UWSCV and UWWCE.
A listing of grantees will be published on the websites of St. Croix Valley Foundation www.scvfoundation.org, United Way St. Croix Valley www.unitedwaystcroix.org and United Way Washington County East www.uwwce.org websites.
In the unlikely case that all funds contributed are not able to be distributed to COVID-19 response efforts, any remaining balance will be granted evenly to the UWSCV and UWWCE to support future basic needs grantmaking.
The St. Croix Valley Foundation is a philanthropic organization with the mission of enhancing the quality of life in the St. Croix Valley. Accredited by the Charities Review Council and the Council on Foundations’ National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, the SCVF serves two counties in MN (Washington, Chisago) and 4 counties in WI (Burnett, Polk, St. Croix, Pierce). Ten affiliated community foundations are hosted under the structure and guidance of SCVF. For more information contact Heather Logelin, President at hlogelin@scvfoundation.org or 715-386-9490.
The United Way St. Croix Valley helps ensure that all people in the St. Croix Valley can lead a healthy life, receive quality education, and experience financial stability. The United Way St. Croix Valley coordinates services in Polk, Pierce, St. Croix and Burnett Counties and provides the 211 Get Connected. Get Help. service (responding to immediate needs).
For more information contact Ann Searles, Executive Director at ann.searles@unitedwaystcroix.org or 715-377-0203.
The United Way of Washington County-East works to unite our community and local resources to give each person the opportunity to build a better life. Areas served include river communities from Afton to Marine on St. Croix, also Woodbury, Lake Elmo, Stillwater, Hugo and Withrow. For more information contact Jessica Ryan, Executive Director at jessica.ryan@uwwce.org or 651-439-3838.