Wabash Valley Community Foundation Announces COVID-19 Recovery Grant for Nonprofit Organizations

Wabash Valley Community Foundation Announces COVID-19 Recovery Grant for Nonprofit Organizations

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (03/03/2021) – The Wabash Valley Community Foundation is offering COVID-19 Recovery grants, a $1-for-$2 matching grant for nonprofit
organizations in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties to assist with COVID-19 recovery.

Building upon the success of the $1-for-$2 matching challenge grants issued to the Terre Haute Children’s Museum and the Sheldon Swope Art Museum, the Community Foundation is expanding this opportunity to other qualified organizations to assist in recovery from the adverse financial effects the pandemic has had on their organizational budgets.

“The Community Foundation has a reputation spanning nearly three decades for providing much needed assistance to our community,” said Sally Zuel, Wabash Valley Community Foundation Board President. “As the Wabash Valley continues to move forward into 2021, we know there is much to be done to not only fight the [COVID-19] disease, but to help our nonprofit organizations survive and thrive. This matching challenge grant opportunity will support our important nonprofit community in the Wabash Valley and help meet our mission of engaging people, building resources and enriching lives.”

In responding to an earlier Community Foundation survey, several nonprofit organizations identified a significant loss of revenue related to COVID-19. The
Community Foundation has allocated $250,000, including a $50,000 anonymous donation, to offer its COVID-19 Recovery $1-for-$2 Matching Grant program.
Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties may apply for up to $10,000. An organization receiving a $10,000 grant must raise $2 for every $1, or $20,000, from individuals, businesses and other fundraisers. If successful, the organization will receive a $30,000 boost to its financial recovery efforts.

“The request and total fundraising goal must reflect a need that is demonstrated in the organization’s request,” explained Kelli Miller, Program Director of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation. “It is essential that the loss of revenue being reported is directly related to COVID-19 restrictions.”

The application, available to download online at wvcf.org/covidrecovery, must be received by the Community Foundation and in-hand by 5:00 PM on Wednesday,
March 17, 2021. Funding in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties is limited. A submitted request does not automatically qualify an organization for the program. All requests will go through a review process to confirm eligibility. It is expected that successful applicants will be notified by April 1 to participate in the matching period which ends September 30, 2021. This matching challenge grant opportunity is the most recent response of the Community Foundation to address the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the Community Foundation implemented a Rapid Response grant process, to which nearly $90,000 was awarded to entities on the front lines in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties. The Community Foundation also partnered with the United Way of the Wabash Valley to coordinate a response to support immediate economic stability through the establishment of the UW/CF COVID-19 Relief Fund. The Fund, in its first tier, granted over $612,400 to community-based organizations best positioned to meet the needs resulting from the pandemic. The Fund received an additional $1.1 million grant from a partnership between Lilly Endowment, Inc. and Indiana United Ways. This allowed committee members to award an additional $503,500 in grants for large scale
mid-term relief services.

In November 2020, the Community Foundation issued a revenue loss survey to Vigo County nonprofit organizations to determine the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Community Foundation targeted two organizations whose missions complement Vigo County’s determination that tourism and visitor attraction are key economic drivers to the community’s success.

The Wabash Valley Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties. The Community Foundation enables people with philanthropic interests to easily and effectively support the organizations and issues they care about – immediately or through their estate plans. Donors may give to existing funds or establish a charitable fund at the Community Foundation by contributing a variety of assets. For more information on the Community Foundation, please contact 812.232.2234 or visit www.wvcf.org.