Kitsap Community Foundation: Unity in the Community COVID-19 Response Fund

About

As community leaders and philanthropists we focus on protecting and aiding those who are most vulnerable. With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting those among us, Kitsap Community Foundation and United Way of Kitsap are stepping up to help Kitsap and North Mason nonprofits and those who are impacted during this time.

Hosted by Kitsap Community Foundation and United Way of Kitsap County, the Unity in the Community COVID-19 Response Fund will rapidly deploy flexible resources to nonprofits and individuals in Kitsap and North Mason County. With an emphasis on increasing resiliency in disproportionately affected nonprofits and their associated workers in our community, this fund will address the economic impact of reduced and lost revenue and wages due to the broader COVID-19 outbreak. The Fund will help our local nonprofits respond to this epidemic and maintain their own resilience.
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Addressing the immediate needs of economically vulnerable populations caused by COVID-19 related closures, the increased demand for medical information and support, and fear and confusion about the outbreak among our most vulnerable residents are also top priorities of the Fund.
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The Fund expects to move an initial round of grants within the next few weeks, and is actively seeking investments from businesses and individuals. With a starting balance of $30,000, the impact of this fund could include:
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· Wage replacement for workers unable to work or receive unemployment, who would otherwise face homelessness or hunger;
· Revenue replacement for nonprofits unable to hold events or fundraisers, who would otherwise face closure;
· Increased staffing for agencies facing unprecedented capacity increase and working on COVID-19 preventative and response efforts.

The United Way of Kitsap County and Kitsap Community Foundation will administer grants from the Fund, proactively identifying potential grant recipients, soliciting guidance on potential recipients from community advisors, and recommending final awards. Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis, making it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases.​

The Unity in the Community COVID-19 Response Fund is funded by a coalition of philanthropy and business partners on the Kitsap Peninsula with the purpose of helping our local nonprofits respond to this epidemic and maintain their own Resilience.

About the Host

Kitsap Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, working to create an equitable, sustainable culture of philanthropy in our community.