The Republic Community Foundation is encouraging eligible Republic agencies to apply for funding to a new COVID-19 response grant established by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The CFO established the fund for nonprofits serving vulnerable citizens affected by the coronavirus outbreak in southern and central Missouri.
You can donate online to the COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund here.
Agencies may apply for up to $25,000 in funding, and partnerships that involve at least three collaborating organizations may apply for up to $40,000. Lead applicant agencies must be nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, government entities, school districts, or tax-exempt faith-based organizations. Grant applications that include a plan for matching dollars from other organizations will receive preference.
“We encourage Republic area non-profits to apply for these grants once you have a need,” said Republic Community Foundation President Chris Replogle. “This grant money is made available specifically to assist area communities in the COVID-19 recovery.”
Organizations can get more information about eligible funding on the CFO website here. Replogle said local agencies that need more guidance can also email republiccommunityfoundation@gmail.com.
The CFO has already handed out nearly $100,000 out of its $1-million commitment from the fund. It plans weekly grant rounds for the foreseeable future.
“In the first two weeks, we’ve had well over 100 applications with about $3-million in requests,” said CFO Vice President of Affiliates Alice Wingo. “I think people are very open to collaborating and that’s very good to see, because it’s so big and so unprecedented that none of us really has the answers. It’s going to take everybody working together.”
Initial funding priorities include “vulnerable seniors, kids, homeless, (and) domestic violence,” Wingo said.
The sudden shift in priorities has also caused a wait-and-see attitude in Republic, with the annual grant-making round for the Republic Community Foundation on hold. The RCF annual banquet is usually held in April.
“The Republic Community Foundation is reassessing its own round of grants for 2020,” said Replogle. “We are anticipating needs for the community we have not seen in decades. We want to make sure we address those needs in the most impactful way.”