In these uncertain times, lending a helping hand is more important than ever.
As a way to do just that, the Arizona COVID-19 Community Response Fund was established by the Arizona Community Foundation, in partnership with a growing number of local corporations and foundations. The purpose is to support nonprofit organizations across the state as they respond to the impact of COVID-19 within the community.
“ACF is committed to working with other funding partners and community collaborators to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving community needs in order to support gaps not covered by state or federal relief funding,” according to a press release. “One hundred percent of contributions to this fund will be distributed to nonprofit organizations swiftly as needs arise.”
While the initial priority is to address immediate needs, additional funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues through the outbreak and recovery phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a lot of work to do but it’s worth it,” said Jennifer Perry, regional director of Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona. “This is an opportunity for us to pull together as a community and help one another.”
This fund provides general operating support for nonprofits assisting families and children with essential and direct services, including but not limited to childcare, education support, food security, health care, elder care and human services.
Perry’s office started the fund with an $80,000 match challenge from ACF. As of April 1, they had raised $47,000 toward that challenge.
“But the needs of our nonprofits will be far greater,” she said, adding that her fundraising goal is $300,000. “One of the big benefits to the fund and the work that ACF does is we can pool resources and while most of us are very concerned about our financial situation, when we pull together we can make a bigger impact.”
Perry said they have a community review panel, which is a combination of their board members, donors and community leaders.
“We work diligently to help avoid duplication of funding so we can provide the biggest impact for the community with limited dollars,” she said.
The normal application process to receive funds normally takes two to three months. But because funds are needed immediately, in some cases, that process has been reduced to about a week, she said.
To date, ACF has issued $54,400 to Manzanita Outreach, Project Rising Hope, Bread of Life and the Old Town Mission — all of which are food banks in the Verde Valley.
“Food banks are seeing upwards of three times the number of people they normally do,” Perry said. “Most were not ready or equipped to handle that demand. Their primary services include weekly drive-thru food sharing events and home delivery of food boxes to seniors.”
The four organizations chosen provide weekly food to more than 7,000 families, or 20,000 individuals, in Sedona and the Verde Valley area.
“By donating through the ACF Community Response Fund, donors can feel confident that their money will be given to the organizations in good standing with the IRS and that are addressing the most critical needs in our community without duplication,” Perry said.
To contribute to the Sedona/Verde Valley COVID-19 Community Response Fund, visit azfoundation.org/covid19 and select the “Sedona/VV” tab. Contributions to this tab will support nonprofits across Sedona and the Verde Valley.
Local nonprofits in need of financial support can apply for funding at azfoundation.org/Covid19Grants.
For more information, contact Perry at JPerry@azfoundation.org or call 399-7218.
