Today, we are pleased to announce that two grant programs are now open and accepting applications from CRA registered charities working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic: the Emergency Community Support Fund and the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Grants Program.
The Emergency Community Support Fund will provide over $545,000 to local charities working with vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded through the Government of Canada’s $350M Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), which was announced by the Prime Minister of Canada on April 21, this program is a partnership with the Community Foundations of Canada, the United Way Centraide Canada, and the Canadian Red Cross. The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta is one of more than 100 community foundations across the country participating in this much needed program.
Starting on May 19, 2020 the Community Foundation will begin accepting applications to the ECSF from CRA registered charities. Funding will be issued on an ongoing basis through July 2020.
The Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Grants Program will also begin accepting applications from local charities working on the frontlines of the pandemic today. Funded through the Community Foundation’s unrestricted funds and generously supported by several donors across the region, this program will focus on the community’s most urgent needs in response to COVID-19 through four priority areas: food, shelter, health care, and families with children. This is the second round of funding from this program, which announced $202,800 in grant funding earlier this month.
The COVID-19 Response and Recovery Grants Program will begin accepting applications May 19 from CRA registered charities. The deadline to apply to this program is 4:00 p.m. MST on June 12, 2020.
Charities interested in applying to either the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Grants Program or the Emergency Community Support Fund, are asked to contact our Grants Coordinator, Caitlin Gajdostik, at grants@cflsa.ca to discuss their projects and to ensure alignment to the appropriate program. For more information on either grants program, go to www.cflsa.ca/grants.
For anyone interested in supporting the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Grants Program, donations made up to May 31, 2020 are eligible for matching funds through the Government of Alberta’s Charitable Matching Donation Program. To make a donation, contact Executive Director Charleen Davidson at cdavidson@cflsa.ca or (403) 328-5297. All donations for the COVID-19 program will go directly back into the community. Gifts will not be subject to administration fees and will not be added to Community Foundation’s endowment fund. Donations are eligible for a tax receipt.
The Community Foundation expresses its sincere gratitude to those who have contributed to the COVID-19 program.
To learn more about the Emergency Community Support Fund and to find out if your organization is eligible to apply, please click the following link: ECSF Information
The Emergency Community Support Fund
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