In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees has redirected its Unrestricted/Community Fund to meet emerging needs. The board met in a special session today via video conferencing. The Community Fund will provide grants for basic needs such as food and housing along with other essential health and human services on a rolling basis to nonprofit organizations in Richland County.
Whether seeking ways to expand current services or to minimize the consequences of curtailing services to reduce health risks to our community, the Foundation wants to alleviate financial burden in this current environment. Nonprofits may seek general operating revenue.
A Community Engagement Team made up of people working in the health and human services sectors will make grant recommendations. The Foundation is accepting online grant applications on a rolling basis. https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/65619-Richland-County-Foundation
To support this effort, we encourage donors to contribute to the Community Fund https://www.richlandcountyfoundation.org/donate. Any Community Fund gifts received throughout 2020 will be used to assist nonprofits directly impacted by COVID-19.
We know that many nonprofit organizations may be experiencing financial difficulties. In the next couple of weeks, we will relaunch Richland Gives as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Richland Gives traditionally is held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. However, many nonprofits need operating revenue now. The Foundation will pay for the four percent Mighty Cause platform fee. So now donors will only need to cover a credit card fee.