COVID-19 Relief Fund Grants Top $2.9 Million

As Monterey County residents, nonprofits and businesses adapt to shifting conditions, the Community Foundation for Monterey County’s (CFMC) COVID-19 Relief Fund is providing critical funding for food, housing, mental health and operations to Monterey County nonprofits.

From its launch March 16 through July 28, the CFMC’s COVID-19 Relief Fund granted $2,973,762 in 126 grants to nonprofits serving vulnerable individuals and families with basic needs (food, housing, living expenses, transportation costs, supplies, etc.) related to the economic impact of the Shelter-in-Place Order.

“We started by focusing on the front lines. We want agencies to have adequate resources and supplies as they deal directly with affected populations,” – Dan Baldwin, CFMC President/CEO.

Grants Awarded to More than 100 Nonprofits

– More than $1.49 million granted to organizations providing direct support such as food, housing assistance, financial assistance and baby items and personal protective equipment

– Over $960,400 granted to assist nonprofits experiencing staffing and/or volunteer gaps to support vulnerable populations. This includes providing emergency childcare to essential workers, adaption of programming for children with special needs, adapting programs to ensure the safety of the YWCA’s domestic violence shelter, suicide prevention services, and educational outreach to local indigenous communities about the pandemic.

CFMC Donor Advisors, Companies & Foundations Partners

The need is great to ensure that those facing food insecurity and other hardships have places to turn for resources. Individual donors, CFMC fund holders, companies and private foundations responded. Through July 28, 2020, $3,029,349 was contributed to the fund.

Give Now

Donors can make a secure online tax-deductible donation at www.cfmco.org/CovidRelief, mail a check to the Community Foundation for Monterey County, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940 with “COVID-19 Relief Fund” in the memo, or call 831.375.9712.

To contribute stock or make a gift of an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution, please contact Christine Dawson at christine@cfmco.org for details.

Apply

To see a full list of grantees or apply, visit www.cfmco.org/CovidGrants. The CFMC’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence also offers a curated list of nonprofit resources at www.cfmco.org/COVID19NonprofitResources.

“Food pantry costs and nutritional needs have increased 300% during the pandemic. The grant helped us focus on serving our community in crisis. We are extremely grateful”  – Kurt Schake, Executive Director, Veterans Transition Center.

“Because the CFMC grant immediately funded nutrition, that allowed us to worry about other areas, like safety and transportation,” Schake added.

It is also crucial that nonprofits have funds to continue their work.

“Our COVID-19 Relief Fund has focused on immediate relief efforts. If people have favorite nonprofits they support, I encourage them to give directly,” says Baldwin. “This is a time when philanthropy can fill important gaps.”

Donor Advisors Giving Generously

Donor-advised fund account holders at community foundations nationwide have been rallying to help those in need in the face of the Covid-19 crisis, granting hundreds of millions to support their neighbors in communities large and small across the U.S.

According to a July study by the Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative, donor-advised funds at nearly 600 U.S. community foundations have granted more than $1 billion to nonprofits in response to the pandemic. CFMC donor advisors have granted more than $1.7 million combined to the Relief Fund and local nonprofits.

Private Foundations and Companies Give to COVID-19 Fund

Private foundation and company donors to the COVID-19 Relief Fund include: Aera Energy, L/G Anderson Family Foundation, Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation, California International Airshow, The California Wellness Foundation, Carmel Host Lions Club Foundation, Church in the Forest, Claire Giannini Fund, Intero foundation Inc., The James Irvine Foundation, Monterey County Bar Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Scott and Kim Negri Family Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Neumeier Poma Investment Counsel, PG&E Foundation, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, J. Miles and Rosanne Reiter Family Foundation, Sunlight Giving Foundation, United Way Monterey County, Wellin Family Foundation.

About the Community Foundation for Monterey County

The mission of the CFMC is “to inspire philanthropy and be a catalyst for strengthening communities throughout Monterey County.” Thanks to generous community members who have created charitable funds in their lifetimes or through their estates, the CFMC has granted more than $205 million to nonprofits working towards healthy, safe, vibrant communities. For more information visit www.cfmco.org, call 831.375.9712 or stay connected at www.facebook.com/cfmco or www.twitter.com/cfmco.

Photos/ Richard Green

Updated July 28, 2020