June 4, 2020 Press Releases
COVID Response Fund Grants Over $1 Million to Local Nonprofits in Latest Grant Rounds
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts requesting applications from nonprofits needing resources
June 4, 2020—The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts announced two new rounds of grants totaling over $1 million from its COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley. The funds were awarded to local nonprofits addressing immediate needs for families, mental health and food justice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a new development, the Community Foundation is also requesting applications from local nonprofits for its continued grantmaking in the coming weeks and months. Earlier rounds of funds were awarded without a formal application process.
The Response Fund has raised nearly $5.4 million from more than 25 businesses and foundations, and over 575 individuals and families and has received resources from the statewide Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, which has provided nearly $1.4 million in funding to support the Community Foundation’s response to the pandemic crisis in our region.
In two rounds in late May, the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley awarded grants to 30 Western Massachusetts nonprofits:
- Baystate Health Foundation
- Behavioral Health Network
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke
- Center for Human Development
- Clinical & Support Options
- Community Action Pioneer Valley
- Holyoke Health Center
- Holyoke Young Men’s Christian Association
- Lovin Spoonfuls
- Mental Health Association
- Pathlight
- Pioneer Valley Workers Center
- Springfield Day Nursery Corporation/Square One
- Springfield Partners for Community Action
- Stavros Center for Independent Living
- Tapestry Health Systems
- The Salvation Army – Holyoke Corps
- Valley Opportunity Center
- YMCA of Greater Springfield
- YMCA of Greater Westfield
- Community Legal Aid
- Holyoke Medical Center
- Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry
- MANNA Soup Kitchen
- Our Community Pantry
- Partners for Community
- Salasin Project/Western MA Training Consortium
- Stone Soup Café
- The United Arc
- Wales Community Pantry
With this newest round of grants, the COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley has invested more than $3 million in grants to nonprofits in Western Massachusetts that are on the front lines of serving vulnerable populations affected by the crisis. Organizations seeking grants for resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to complete a short online application on the Community Foundation website at communityfoundation.org/request-for-information. New grants are awarded every week.
According to Katie Allan Zobel, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, “These additional grants continue to address the most urgent needs in our community in support of nonprofit organizations doing the work on the ground. As we evolve our grant making to target areas and populations in need, we have instituted an application process for those nonprofit organizations serving and sustaining the most vulnerable among us. We’re eager to hear from nonprofits what they’re seeing on the ground in our three counties
and what can be done to help. This simple application will enable us to distribute more funding quickly. In some cases we can award funding within a week.”
The COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley was established to provide emergency grants to community nonprofit organizations serving the immediate needs of the most vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic in Western Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund supports those across the state most impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis, focusing on essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations including the homeless, immigrant populations, people with disabilities and those facing food insecurity. The Fund works in concert with regional community foundations and nonprofit leaders who partner with local leaders to understand the response and relief landscape, strategically filling in where gaps are pronounced. For more information, visit MACovid19ReliefFund.org
The Community Foundation welcomes additional donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund for the Pioneer Valley. 100% of donations go to community needs. Gifts can be made online at: communityfoundation.org/covid19.