Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund awards more than $350,000 in fifth cycle of Phase II grantmaking

Fund stands at more than $3.5 million to support frontline nonprofit organizations in Greater Cleveland

Release Date: 01.12.2021

CLEVELAND – The Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund announced today its fifth cycle of biweekly grants as part of its Phase II efforts to support the Greater Cleveland nonprofit community during the ongoing pandemic. In total, $350,273 was awarded to 12 organizations and groups serving Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties, bringing the overall grantmaking amount to more than $2.1 million in Phase II.

The latest round of grant recipients includes:

  • All Faiths Pantry ($12,000): To continue to safely prepare and deliver food and basic care items to low-income seniors and individuals with mobility challenges in Cuyahoga County
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio ($50,000): To purchase food, cleaning supplies and PPE to allow for the continuation of extended hours for youth at the King Kennedy Club location on Cleveland’s east side
  • Cleveland Chesed Center ($26,000): To continue to provide food, including kosher options, to homebound individuals and families in Greater Cleveland, as well as school-age children who are currently unable to take part in school lunch programs
  • Cleveland Transformation Alliance ($30,000): To support school quality navigators who are providing families with the essential knowledge, tools and support they need to help their children find the best fit school, with an additional focus on students transitioning from pre-K to kindergarten and from eighth grade to high school
  • Esperanza Inc. ($20,000): To support two full-time programing coordinators who will oversee two learning pods that primarily serve Hispanic students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood
  • Famicos Foundation ($35,150): To continue to deliver food and hygiene products to low-income senior residents in the Hough, Glenville and St. Clair-Superior neighborhoods 
  • HFLA of Northeast Ohio ($20,000): To continue to provide interest-free emergency loans to address the financial challenges Northeast Ohio residents are facing due to COVID-19
  • Joseph’s Home ($17,845): To hire additional staff and to purchase medical and disinfecting supplies for the medical respite shelter, with the goal of relocating medically at-risk clients in Cuyahoga County to permanent housing
  • Thea Bowman Center ($40,000): To support additional part-time staff who will help connect seniors and families in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood to PPE, information about COVID-19 testing, vaccine information and a variety of support services
  • The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland ($50,000): To continue to handle increased demand for the Emergency Food Program at five food pantries, and to maintain Learning Zone programs at three locations across Greater Cleveland
  • United Way Services of Geauga County ($21,778): To hire part-time staff to help reduce the backlog and waiting times of 2-1-1 calls for help, serving primarily seniors and addressing basic needs in Geauga County
  • Vineyard Christian Fellowship ($27,500): To continue to partner with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the National Guard in order to meet the increased demand for the food pantry from residents in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties

Contributions to the second phase of the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund total more than $3.5 million. Funding partners urge other foundations, corporate entities, individuals and organizations to contribute to the Fund. Donations of any amount are welcomed, and all contributions are tax deductible.

Based upon the charitable structure of the Rapid Response Fund, the second phase is currently accepting grant applications from eligible organizations serving Cuyahoga, Lake and/or Geauga counties. The Fund is designed primarily to support human service nonprofits with operational budgets of less than $20 million. The Fund partners encourage collaborative proposals that involve multiple organizations within similar sectors or neighborhoods working on shared issues, with a focus on basic needs, family supports, PPE, testing and contact tracing.

Grants during Phase II of the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund are awarded every two weeks and will continue for one year. Awards range in size from $5,000 to $100,000, with a maximum grant amount of $100,000 for any nonprofit organization throughout the current cycle ending Oct. 31, 2021. Organizations that were funded during Phase I (between March-July 2020) are eligible to apply for additional funding. Grants are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution.

For more information or to donate, visit ClevelandFoundation.org/Response.

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