COVID-19 Response Fund surpasses $17 million in donations
Applications accepted through May 1 for the next round of grant funding
In just over a month since it was launched, the COVID-19 Response Fund has passed the $17 million mark in donations thanks to new gifts totaling more than $900,000 from the people of BlackArch Partners and The Regions Foundation, an Alabama-based nonprofit initiative of Regions Bank; Deloitte; The Hearst Foundations; and PwC US and The PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc.
The fund, a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, was launched in March to support local nonprofits serving those impacted by the pandemic. To date, nearly $6.5 million has been granted to a range of nonprofits – from large institutions to small grassroots organizations – that primarily focus on human services.
“The generosity of our corporate partners, our local foundations and our community continues to move me,” said Foundation For The Carolinas President & CEO Michael Marsicano. “Since this campaign began a month ago, we have relied on a community-wide effort to aid our local nonprofits in providing services, employment and hope to those who need it the most. With fundraising ongoing, I’m proud that we continue to have good news to share more than a month after launching the fund.”
The COVID-19 Response Fund is administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
Grant applications for the next cycle of funding – which is open to all Mecklenburg County 501(c)3 nonprofits that meet eligibility – are now being accepted and must be submitted by May 1 at noon. Visit uwcentralcarolinas.org/grants/COVID for eligibility requirements and to apply. A COVID-19 Response Fund Grants Committee has been established to review and distribute grants from the fund.
“As the needs throughout our community continue to grow, donations to this fund are critical in making sure we have the ability and resources to help those who need us today and in the coming months,” said Laura Yates Clark, president and CEO of United Way of Central Carolinas. “It’s been inspiring to see this community rally around this cause and come together to help those who need it the most.”
Since the fund was launched on March 16, the more than $17 million raised has come from corporations, foundations, individuals and local government.
Donations have ranged from a two-dollar commitment from an anonymous online donor to $1.3 million from Mecklenburg County. Other gifts include $100,000 each from the Charlotte Hornets Foundation, the Springsteen Foundation, the Philip L. Van Every Foundation, Kim and Johnny Belk, and Alfred and Amy Levine Dawson; $150,000 each from Wells Fargo and Sean & Andrea Smith; $200,000 each from Allstate Insurance and Vanguard; $250,000 each from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation, the Weisiger Fleming Family Fund and EY; $500,000 each from Ally Financial, the Duke Energy Foundation and the Knight Foundation; and $1 million each from LendingTree, the City of Charlotte, the Howard R. Levine Foundation, Truist Financial Corporation, Bank of America, the David A. Tepper Charitable Foundation, Lowe’s, the C.D. Spangler Foundation and National Gypsum, Coca-Cola Consolidated and the John M. Belk Endowment.
To contribute to the COVID-19 Response Fund, visit HelpCharMeck.org. Corporations and foundations that wish to make a donation may contact either Catherine Warfield, Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Advancement at FFTC, at 704.973.4515 or cwarfield@fftc.org; or Clint Hill, Chief Development Officer at United Way of Central Carolinas, at 704.371.6359 or chill@uwcentralcarolinas.org.
Source: UWCC News
Date: April 29, 2020