More than 40 Arlington nonprofits have received a total of over $500,000 in emergency response support from the Arlington Community Foundation COVID-19 Prompt Response Fund.
“We heard loud and clear from our nonprofit partners that we needed to quickly provide support for those who are struggling in our community, as this is a time of exceptional need for our neighbors who are experiencing job loss and other crisis situations,” said Arlington Community Foundation CEO and President Jennifer Owens. “Our network of nonprofit safety net providers responded quickly, as have the many generous people in our community who have pitched in to help with contributions of time, talent, and treasure. But the needs are immense and there’s no end in sight.”
Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Arlington, a team of Community Foundation staff, board members, and representatives from both the County and other local funders have met daily to assess grant requests from nonprofit organizations on the front lines with clients, patients, and residents impacted by the health crisis and its economic fallout. This includes organizations focused on emergency food needs, housing, health needs for the uninsured or underinsured, and support for hourly workers displaced from their wage-earning positions.
The Community Foundation’s response efforts were bolstered by a grant from Amazon, $350,000 of which was specifically targeted for use in Arlington.. The Washington Forrest Foundation has also partnered in the Community Foundation’s prompt-response effort, including supporting 25 percent of the first $300,000 in awarded grants. The Philip K. Graham Fund and many of the Foundation’s donor-advised fundholders have also supported the fund, which has secured more than $750,000 to date to fund emergency needs.
“We encourage people to directly support their favorite nonprofits if they know where the money is needed most and have those relationships,” said Owens. “But for businesses and individuals who are looking for a way to provide crucial help to an array of vetted Arlington nonprofits helping with right-now needs, our Prompt Response Fund is an effective way to do that.”
To learn more about the Community Foundation’s Prompt Response Fund, including how to make a gift, click here.
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