Financial assistance available for northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan
nonprofits negatively affected by Coronavirus

TOLEDO, OH (March 18, 2020) — The Greater Toledo Community Foundation announced today that it has established a COVID-19 Response Fund to support northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan nonprofit organizations as they assist in responding to the spread of COVID-19 in the community and experience financial challenges in doing so.

The Foundation will seed the COVID-19 Response Fund with a $100,000 contribution from its unrestricted funds (aka Community Funds) to respond to immediate needs, and will continue to raise additional funding for ongoing expenses incurred by nonprofits.

“The Foundation is prepared to leverage its resources to support sudden and unexpected needs that arise in our community," said Keith Burwell, president, Greater Toledo Community Foundation. “Just as in the 2008 Great Recession and the 2014 Water Crisis, we are responding with grant opportunities to support any unexpected expense incurred by our local nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Local nonprofits can request funding directly through the Foundation’s online grants system. The Foundation staff will also seek recommendations from local agencies such as the County Health Departments, School Districts, the United Way and others to identify nonprofit organizations that can most efficiently deploy funding resources for the greatest impact, while continuing to work with the State of Ohio through Philanthropy Ohio and State Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, formerly with the Columbus Foundation.

Guidelines and funding priority areas for this competitive grant process have been announced on the GTCF website: www.toledocf.org. Due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Response Fund will not operate on a definite timeline. In order to move resources quickly, Greater Toledo Community Foundation will distribute grants on a rolling basis. As conditions change, Foundation staff will coordinate with the Grants and Distribution Committee (a sub-committee of the GTCF Board) to determine when funding considerations should cease, or if alterations should be made to the distribution process.

“Community Foundations across the U.S. have been stepping up their response to COVID-19 – creating new funds to support those affected and partnering with local governments and health organizations to help contain its spread” “As our community’s philanthropic first responder, Greater Toledo Community Foundation has activated our rapid response fund to collect donations to aid in coronavirus relief. One hundred percent (100%) of donations to this fund will be granted to nonprofits working in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Those who wish to contribute to the COVID-19 Response Fund may do so here.

About Greater Toledo Community Foundation
Greater Toledo Community Foundation is a public charitable organization created by citizens of our community to enrich the quality of life for individuals and families in our area. In existence since 1973, the Foundation has more than 900 funds with assets of approximately $304 million. The Foundation provides philanthropic services for individuals, families, businesses and corporations to meet their charitable giving needs. For more information about Greater Toledo Community Foundation, visit www.toledocf.org or follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.