Aid available to nonprofits and governmental agencies

Nonprofit and governmental agencies now have access to emergency funds to meet financial needs during the current COVID-19 health crisis.

The fund, named the ND COVID-19 Community and Nonprofit Response Fund, was set up by the North Dakota Community Foundation (NFCF).

The NDCF seeded the COVID-19 fund with $50,000 in grantable dollars from the foundation’s Greatest Needs Fund 2020, according to an announcement on the NDCF website.

Government organizations and nonprofits serving communities and areas in North Dakota are eligible to apply for the grants.

The NDCF website said the foundation assigns priorities to applicants.

Topping the list of priorities are nonprofits or governmental agencies serving the community in fields such as healthcare “that were already vulnerable before the pandemic or are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the impact of the resulting public health measures on finances and service availability.”

The website gives “senior citizens and rural communities” as two examples of vulnerable groups.

Other priorities include “nonprofit organizations or governmental agencies providing any services to such vulnerable or disproportionately affected populations as described above,” and “other nonprofit organizations or governmental agencies experiencing challenges due to following public health recommendations, with a focus on those that need support to implement remote work or that are at high risk of staff reductions, as in the healthcare industry.”

Although the application period for the first round of grants closed April 2, the website said decisions would be “issued on a rolling basis.”

Information on grant applications and qualifications can be found at ndcf.net at the COVID-19 tab.

The NDCF website encourages individuals and businesses wishing to provide financial assistance to organizations needing help to donate directly.

“If these entities aren’t able to accept donations, if the donor wishes to make a larger impact statewide or if the donor prefers a tax receipt for his/her gift, donations may be made to NDCF’s ND COVID-19 Community and Nonprofit Response Fund,” the website said.

– Sue Sitter,

Pierce County Tribune