Nonprofit organizations that serve Maine people most affected by the coronavirus pandemic have been awarded $1.2 million from the Maine Community Foundation 's COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and a fund for food security.
The 130 grantees include community and statewide organizations providing basic support such as food, shelter, child care, mental health and domestic violence services. Recipients are determined proactively based on needs around the state; there is no application process. [See attached list.]
“Maine’s demographics and economic makeup place many residents in extremely vulnerable positions during this pandemic,” said Steve Rowe, MaineCF president and CEO. “The generosity of our donors has allowed the Maine Community Foundation to expeditiously support community-based organizations on the front lines of the crisis. Our latest round of grants provides resources to food pantries and homeless shelters as well as other social service organizations across the state.”
The COVID-19 fund began with a $500,000 transfer from an unrestricted MaineCF fund and has grown substantially due to transfers from donors with advised funds at the community foundation and contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations.
A complete list of COVID-19 Fund grantees is on available on the foundation’s website, www.maincf.org. [https://www.mainecf.org/initiatives-impact/covid-19-response/covid-19-grants/]
In addition to the $1.2 million issued from the funds for COVID-19 relief and food insecurity, donor giving through MaineCF has increased threefold compared to this period last year: Donors with advised funds at the community foundation have stepped up by making more than $6 million grants since mid-March.
