Thanks to gifts generously donated to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund established by the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities, eight nonprofits were recently awarded $80,000 in grants to assist their efforts as they respond to the unfolding public health emergency. That brings the total awarded to 22 nonprofit organizations so far from the fund to $275,000!

Grants from the fund support nonprofit organizations engaging in immediate basic needs relief, short-term response and longer-term recovery of many types of nonprofits in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties.

The current phase one of granting is focusing on the Fox Valley region’s most vulnerable populations and the nonprofit organizations providing urgent basic needs support such as safe shelter, food, childcare and financial assistance.

Grants will continue to be awarded on an ongoing basis and listed on our COVID -19 Grants page.

Latest grant recipients:

Pillars  – To help prevent or reduce the likelihood of coronavirus infection among residents and staff, and to avoid hospitalization for those who may become ill, the Appleton-based homeless shelter will use a $45,000 grant to implement plans to enhance social distancing of residents from two shelters assisting people in Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties (including the Neenah-Menasha area).

Thompson Center on Lourdes – The Appleton-based organization will use a $10,000 grant to continue supporting the mental and emotional well-being of adults age 50 and older by focusing on needs related to loneliness, isolation and depression during the state’s safer at home order.

New Hope Center – A $5,000 grant will help the Chilton-based provider of residential services, transportation, supported employment, prevocational training and adult day services for people with disabilities in greater Calumet County continue providing critical personal care for residents in its homes, apartments and group homes.

Mosaic Family Health – A $5,000 grant will help the downtown Appleton clinic, and home to the Fox Valley Family Medicine Residency Program, meet an increased need to assist patients from Outagamie, Calumet, Waupaca and the Neenah/Menasha area of Winnebago counties with reducing medication costs and providing urgently needed transportation for those experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.

Community Benefit Tree – A $5,000 grant will help the Kaukauna-based organization provide basic needs assistance to people from Calumet, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties who are struggling with a medical crisis, including Covid-19.

Brillion Food Pantry-St. Vincent de Paul – A grant of $2,500 will help the pantry provide more food to meet increased need.

Freedom Food Pantry – A grant of $2,500 will help the pantry in the Town of Freedom provide more food to meet increased need.

Little Angel Child Care – A $5,000 grant will help the Appleton-based center continue providing care to low-income and special needs children in Outagamie County with family members employed by essential businesses during the Covid-19 crisis.

Donors to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund:

Since the Community Foundation and United Way established the fund March 17 with $50,000 each, many individuals, funders and businesses have stepped up very generously to contribute more than $621,138. Updated donor recognition is available at www.cffoxvalley.org/coviddonors

The needs of local nonprofit organizations are and will continue to be significant during the public health crisis and beyond. Ongoing donations to the fund, as well as direct donations to nonprofit organizations from individuals with a passion for specific organizations and causes, are critical now and during the weeks and months to come.

How to donate to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund:

The Community Foundation is waiving all credit card and administrative fees for this fund. Every dollar donated into the fund will be put into action in the community.
To donate online, please visit our COVID-How to Help page.

Checks can be made payable to the Community Foundation/COVID-19 and mailed to Community Foundation, 4455 W. Lawrence St., Appleton, WI 54914.About the COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

Granting Approach:

The fund supports local nonprofit and other community organizations engaging in response and recovery efforts in Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Waupaca and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago counties impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Currently the fund is in “Phase One” of granting, addressing immediate basic needs for people who are disproportionately affected by the crisis. This phase includes proactively identifying potential grant recipients and using input, guidance and research from organizations and others in the community to make grant decisions.

In order to move resources quickly and not further burden nonprofit organizations, during Phase One there will not be a formal application process. Nonprofits providing immediate basic needs relief can email United Way to share their needs so they can be considered during the granting process.

As the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and United Way Fox Cities will continue to assess and consider evolving the granting approach into subsequent phases for many types of nonprofit organizations. The grants committee meets on a weekly basis to understand needs and make decisions.

We invite you to donate now to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. You can also learn about who has given to the fund, the fund’s grant recipients, and check out our latest news and updates.