29 nonprofits receive $438K from COVID-19 funds

The Delaware COVID-19 Emergency Initiative surpassed $2.4 million in total support with the allocation May 8 of $275,760 in grants awarded to 18 nonprofits from the Strategic Response Fund and $163,000 to 11 nonprofits from the Rapid Response Fund.

The weekly recipients for the Strategic Response Fund, which is managed by the Delaware Community Foundation and Philanthropy Delaware, were selected from $1.7 million in applications from 58 applicants. The United Way of Delaware will next announce recipients for the separate bi-weekly Rapid Response Fund allocations on May 22.

Recipients for Strategic Response Fund allocations and how the money will be used, are:

• Central Baptist Community Development Corporation ($9,000): Deliver fresh produce to vulnerable families in New Castle County.
• Delaware Contemporary ($10,000): Support virtual programming for at-risk children in New Castle County.
• Delaware Theatre Company ($10,000): Support staff working remotely with clients and educational programming participants.
• Down Syndrome Association of Delaware ($3,700): Fund virtual programming statewide.
• Elizabeth W. Murphey School ($15,600): Support pandemic-related precautions in housing foster children in Kent County.
• Faithful Friends Animal Society ($28,000): Fund Community Pet Food Banks in partnership with Delaware Humane Association and Delaware SPCA for families in need statewide.
• Harrington Senior Center ($4,800): Pay for a commercial refrigerator and freezer to facilitate meal delivery to homebound seniors.
• Harry K Foundation ($15,000): Provide take-away meals for families at sites in Kent and Sussex counties.
• Home of the Brave Foundation ($10,000): Provide housing for veterans in Milford.
• La Red Health Center ($42,000): Provide prenatal care for women in Sussex County.
• Latin American Community Center ($25,000): Provide families in New Castle County with emergency assistance.
• Mary Campbell Center ($10,000): Purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff at the Wilmington home for adults with disabilities.
• Milford Housing Development Corporation ($10,500): Purchase technology and supplies needed for staff to serve clients remotely in Greater Milford.
• NCALL ($29,000): Pay for technology and training to enable staff to serve clients remotely in Kent County.
• Neighborhood House ($16,000): Pay for case management, food and other direct support for families in Wilmington.
• Square One Delaware ($17,000): Provide housing for individuals recovering from addiction in Seaford.
• Wilmington Senior Center ($10,000): Deliver food to seniors in Wilmington.

To date, the fund, which launched on March 18, has awarded $1.75 million to 80 Delaware nonprofits.

Weekly grants will continue through Memorial Day, said Allison Levine from the Delaware Community Foundation, which houses the fund. Deadlines are at noon May 11 and May 18.

The fund will accept additional grant applications on June 1 and June 15. These grants will be focused on strengthening sectors largely upheld by nonprofits, including the arts, culture, environment, workforce development, animal welfare and others.

The June grants will target nonprofit organizations – both large and small – playing key roles in various sectors, throughout the state. This program is still being developed, and additional information is not yet available.

The Longwood Foundation, which previously gave $1 million to the Strategic Response Fund, recently awarded a $500,000 grant, with the stipulation that the DCF must raise a matching $500,000 from the community by May 30.

To make a gift that qualifies for the match, give at delcf.org/covid19-fund or contact Joan Hoge-North, jhoge-north@delcf.org.

Rapid Response Fund Grants

As for the Delaware Does More COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, managed by , the organization has released $631,750. For the fourth round, the fund received a total of 14 applications requesting $306,060.

To date, fund has assisted 45,100 Delawareans in 13,500 households and has provided 257,600 meals.

Fourth-round recipients are:

• Boy Scouts of America ($5,000): Food security programs and safety supplies statewide.
• Catholic Charities ($25,000): Utilities and housing assistance for families.
• Children and Families First ($8,500): For connectivity and technology for families statewide.
• Delaware Center for Justice ($12,000): Assistance with food, utilities, housing, and transportation for individuals and families statewide.
• First State Community Action Agency ($25,000): Housing interventions for homeless and seniors Kent and Sussex counties.
• Food Bank of Delaware ($25,000): Distribute 120,000 pounds of food through pop-up mobile pantry events statewide.
• Friendship House ($10,000): Emergency housing and basic needs for homeless.
• Home of the Brave ($5,000): Food, utilities, and basic needs for families, seniors, homeless and disabled, and veterans statewide.
• Latin American Community Center ($25,000): Food, housing and utility assistance for families statewide.
• Ministry of Caring ($12,500): Food and personal protective equipment for families, seniors, homeless, disabled in New Castle County.
• YWCA of Delaware ($10,000): Food, utilities and housing assistance for families, homeless, in New Castle County.

By Jacob Owens

jowens@delawarebusinesstimes.com