We’re tapping the strength of collective giving to alleviate the public health and economic consequences of the coronavirus in southwest Washington.

About the SW Washington COVID Response Fund

Managed by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, this fund will provide flexible financial support to trusted nonprofit partners across our region who are responding to increasing needs as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

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Grants will sustain and develop vital community services for residents who stand to lose the most from this unfolding emergency:

    • Children and families, elders and those with compromised immune systems
    • Healthcare and nonprofit employees
    • Residents without health insurance and access to sick days
    • Communities of color and residents with limited English language proficiency
    • Economically vulnerable people, or those impacted by reduced and lost work

Immediate Nonprofit Needs

Most immediately, our staff has identified the need for unrestricted grants to organizations seeking assistance with or providing the following support:

    • Housing stability efforts, services for people facing homelessness, physical and behavioral healthcare, emergency food programs and childcare support
    • Community service delivery barriers, particularly around volunteer recruitment, retention and safety, and contingency planning
    • Health and safety measures that range from basic cleaning and healthcare supplies to technology solutions for day-to-day operations

Adaptable and Rapid Grantmaking

In its initial phase, a proactive grantmaking approach will allow the grants committee to respond quickly to the evolving situation. Grants will be distributed on an ongoing basis throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis and our strategy will adapt accordingly. Any remaining funds will be directed toward future community health and disaster preparedness efforts.

To learn more, please check out the Frequently Asked Questions below, which answers many common questions we are hearing from the community.

Contact Us

    • If your nonprofit is facing challenges that align with the fund’s purpose, please send your organization name, contact information, amount of request and description of need to [email protected].
    • Interested donors and funding partners can contact Chief Development Officer, Janie Spurgeon at [email protected] or 360.952.4313.
    • For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Senior Communications Officer, Maury Harris at [email protected] or 360.952.4306.

Funding Partners

Early funding partners include the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, Cowlitz Education and Arts Fund, Firstenburg Foundation, Goodwin Family Charitable Fund, Hatton GIBO Charitable Fund, Lematta Family, Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, David and Patricia Nierenberg, Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund, Joe B. Pauletto Charitable Fund, Lee and Connie Kearney, Wells Fargo Bank, Corwin Family Fund, Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health, and many other generous contributors.

Recent Grants

Martha’s Pantry – $4,200
Longview Public Schools – $5,000
Youth and Family Link – $9,000
Stephen’s Place – $10,000
BG Adventist Community Services – $13,000
Council for the Homeless – $14,000
Cascade AIDS Project – $15,650
Community House on Broadway – $20,000
Community Home Health and Hospice – $25,000
Clark County Latino Youth Conference – $25,60
CDM Caregiving Services – $40,000
SHARE/VHA – $50,640
SHARE – $70,000
Meals on Wheels – $100,000
Educational Service District 112 – $150,000

Needs encompassed emergency food assistance, daycare for essential employees,
support for elders, cleaning and PPE supplies and shelter and housing supports.
Learn more about COVID Fund grantees here.

Frequently Asked Questions

My organization is interested in resources from this fund. Can we be considered?
We understand the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting nonprofits in many ways, including increased demand for their services, lost revenue due to closures and cancelations, as well as other challenges. To reduce the burden on organizations like yours, we are not opening a formal application process or requiring grant reports at this time. You may email us at [email protected] to make sure we are aware of your needs and can keep them in mind as the granting process progresses and needs become more clear.
How are grantee organizations identified and selected?
A grant committee comprised of community volunteers and Foundation staff will select recipient organizations. This committee will follow local developments on a daily basis and rely on an extensive network of community partners and public officials for on-the-ground information and perspectives.
I’m an individual affected by COVID-19. Can this fund help me?
We understand many individuals and families have been affected by the outbreak already, and more will continue to be affected. On behalf of the fund’s partners, the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington is working to move resources to nonprofit organizations that directly support local residents and families most affected by the emerging health, economic and social impacts. While the fund is not able to provide grants to individuals, it is funding nonprofit organizations that have experience and history of providing people and families with services and support. As we begin to award grants, we will post them here. Please check back for a list of the organizations that may be able to assist you. If you are looking for resources now, please consider 211 or your county health or human services departments.
I want to donate. Can I write a check or gift other assets such as stocks?
Yes. Checks noted for the fund can be sent to: Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, 610 Esther Street, Suite 201, Vancouver, WA 98660. Please include “COVID-19 Response Fund” in the memo line. If you would like to contribute a gift of stock or other assets, please contact Pam Cabanatuan at [email protected] or 360.952.4304. All gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the IRS.
Can I restrict my donation to a prioritized grantee?
To ensure we move resources as efficiently as possible and respond to needs of communities most impacted, we are not considering restricted donations at this time. The SW Washington COVID Response Fund was created in hopes of providing a way to coordinate as many resources as possible.
Should I give to this fund instead of making other donations?
This fund was not created to be the only vehicle for getting needed resources into the community, but to help facilitate getting more targeted resources into the community. This is a critical time for so many, including the nonprofit organizations who’ve benefited from your giving in the past, as well as those who’ve had to cancel their annual fundraising events or depend heavily on public gatherings. Nonprofits are going to have an increased need for unrestricted funds immediately and long after this crisis subside. Now is the time to double down for our community.
What will not be included in the first phase of funding?
We anticipate multiple phases of funding to address the both the acute needs now and the long-term needs through the recovery. In this first phase, we are prioritizing nonprofit organizations that are serving communities and individuals who are immediately and disproportionately suffering from this crisis. In this first round, we are not able to prioritize organizations who have lost revenue or are likely to lose future revenue due to canceled events or programs, or larger public institutions that are strained by increased demand for services. We recognize these challenges, and as the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, we will reassess our funding approach. Based upon the charitable structure of the SW Washington COVID Response Fund, our grants are limited to 501c3 nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 nonprofit organization, or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution, such as schools, faith-based organizations, and other public entities. We are not able to fund individuals or businesses directly, labor unions, or other 501c4, 501c5, and 501c6 organizations.
Is there a geographic area of focus for the Fund?
The SW Washington COVID Response Fund will prioritize nonprofit organizations that reside or operate programs in Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania Counties.
When will you share who you fund?
We anticipate making a first round of investments before the end of March and will publish the list of selected grantees on the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington website, along with short descriptions of the services and support they are providing. We hope that this will help the community navigate available resources.