COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND

The United Way of St. Joseph County (UWSJC) has established the COVID-19 Response Fund for St. Joseph County to meet the short term, immediate needs, of individuals and families that will be impacted by COVID-19 as well as the long term impacts that have yet to be seen.

UWSJC recognizes the potential for economic impact, unpaid absence, illness, or job loss related directly or indirectly to the virus, increased child care needs due to school and child care closures, and the potential risk of not being able to pay housing, utility and food bills due to financial strains.

Organizations that serve populations in need every day will find themselves under-resourced to serve a growing demand for those services. Keeping a strong network of engaged providers will be critical to the health of our community services. This fund may also support the capacity building and/or operational needs that may arise as the situation unfolds.

United Way will look to a broad network of direct service organizations, as well as Indiana 211 to identify critical needs and resource gaps. Given the evolving nature of this situation, the fund will be designed to be flexible and to get resources to organizations with minimal bureaucracy and the appropriate sense of urgency. 501c3 Organizations in St. Joseph County, IN will be eligible to apply.

Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis, making it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases.

UWSJC is underwriting administrative costs associated with this fund to fully direct 100% of proceeds to address the community’s needs.

DONATIONS

– Donations can be made online at this link

– If you would like to make a donation by check, please mail to:

 United Way of St. Joseph County, 3517 E. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, IN 46615

QUESTIONS

– Visit uwsjc.org regularly for updates.

– General questions & inquiries about the COVID-19 Response Fund can be directed to Laura Jensen at ljensen@uwsjc.org

– Organizations seeking funds, please contact Laura Jensen at ljensen@uwsjc.org

– Interested Corporate Partners please contact Lauren Smyth at lsmyth@uwsjc.org

– For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Allie Royce at aroyce@uwsjc.org

FAQ

I’M AN INDIVIDUAL WHO’S BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID-19. CAN THIS FUND HELP ME?

We understand many individuals and families have been affected by the outbreak already and more will continue to be affected. We are working to move resources to community-based organizations that are directly supporting local residents and families who are most affected by emerging health, economic, and social impacts.

While the Fund is not able to provide grants to individuals, it is funding community-based organizations that have experience and history of providing people and families with services and support. As we begin to award grants, we will post them on our website and social media platforms.  If you are looking for resources now, please contact Indiana 211. This service is available by dialing 211. This service is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Indiana 211 is a collaborative effort of the United Ways of Indiana and the IN211 Partnership.

MY ORGANIZATION IS INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR GRANT RESOURCES FROM THIS FUND. CAN WE BE CONSIDERED?

We understand the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting nonprofits in many ways, including increased demand for their services, lost revenue due to closures and cancellations, as well as other challenges. We are working to ensure that the grants awarded meet the most urgent needs in our community. In order to move resources quickly, we have a streamlined application process for the Fund. You may complete this simple form to make sure we are aware of your needs as the granting process and community-wide needs become clearer.

I WANT TO DONATE. CAN I RESTRICT MY FUNDING TO A PRIORITIZED GRANTEE?

To ensure we move resources as efficiently as possible and respond to the needs of communities most impacted, we are not considering restricted donations at this time. The COVID-19 Response Fund was created to provide a coordinated response to our region’s immediate needs.

SHOULD I GIVE TO THIS FUND INSTEAD OF MAKING OTHER DONATIONS?

This is a critical time for so many, including the nonprofit organizations that have benefited from your giving in the past, as well as those organizations that had to cancel their annual fundraising events or depend heavily on public gatherings. Please continue to give to organizations you regularly support, and those that need your help at this crucial time. Now is the time to double down for our community.

WHAT WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST PHASE OF FUNDING?

We anticipate multiple phases of funding to address both the acute needs from the outbreak and the longer-term impacts of recovery. In this first phase, we are prioritizing community-based organizations that are serving communities and individuals who are immediately and disproportionately suffering from this crisis. In this first round, we are not able to prioritize organizations who have lost revenue or are likely to lose future revenue due to canceled events or programs. We recognize these challenges, and as the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, we will continue to work with our partners to assess and evolve our funding strategies.

Based upon the charitable structure of the COVID-19 Response Fund, our 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. We are not able to fund individuals or businesses directly, labor unions, or other 501c4, 501c5, and 501c6 organizations.

IS THERE A GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF FOCUS FOR THE FUND?

The COVID-19 Response Fund will fund community-based organizations serving St. Joseph County.

WHEN WILL YOU SHARE WHO YOU FUND?

We anticipate making a first round of investments as quickly as possible and will publish the list of selected grantees on the United Way of St. Joseph County website and social media platforms, along with short descriptions of the services and support they are providing. We hope that this will help the community navigate available resources.

COVID-19 Response Fund Application

The United Way of St. Joseph County (UWSJC) has established the COVID-19 Response Fund for St. Joseph County to meet the short term, immediate needs, of individuals and families that will be impacted by COVID-19 as well as the long term impacts that have yet to be seen.

UWSJC recognizes the potential for economic impact, unpaid absence, illness, or job loss related directly or indirectly to the virus, increased child care needs due to school and child care closures, and the potential risk of not being able to pay housing, utility and food bills due to financial strains.

Organizations that serve populations in need every day will find themselves under-resourced to serve a growing demand for those services. Keeping a strong network of engaged providers will be critical to the health of our community services. This fund may also support the capacity building and/or operational needs that may arise as the situation unfolds.

Based upon the charitable structure of the COVID-19 Response Fund, our 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. We are not able to fund individuals or businesses directly, labor unions, or other 501c4, 501c5, and 501c6 organizations who are located in St. Joseph County, IN.

The first phase of the application process is to fill out the application below.