COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund Created to Provide Funding in Black Hawk County, More Than $200,000 Committed to Response
CFNEIA
March 20, 2020
A collaborative of Black Hawk County funders has established a fund to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the county. The Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund has been established as a fund of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA). As communities and nonprofits serving the county’s most vulnerable populations face increasing challenges, the unrestricted fund will provide a flexible, responsive funding source.
CFNEIA has committed $50,000, the Otto Schoitz Foundation has committed $50,000, Cedar Valley United Way has committed $50,000 and the Guernsey Foundation has committed $50,000 to establish the fund. Other funders are continuing conversations regarding additional contributions to increase response dollars available through this collaborative community effort. The intent of the fund is to be responsive to nonprofits serving Black Hawk County that are providing basic needs services and organizations working with individuals and families who have been disproportionately impacted by the public health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This public health disaster is causing life-changing events for people across the globe and we are extremely concerned about the impact on our communities and the people who live here,” said Kaye Englin, CFNEIA president and CEO. “This fund is a commitment from this unique and powerful collaboration of funders to Black Hawk County, its residents and the nonprofits serving our communities.”
Grants from the disaster response fund will be administered in collaboration with organizations coordinating pandemic response efforts, including Black Hawk County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster). Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the COVID-19 disaster, making it possible to move resources quickly and to adapt to evolving needs in subsequent phases of the crisis recovery efforts.
The Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund provides an opportunity for the public to give in response to the local aspects of the disaster with the reassurance their donations will be used to quickly move resources to where they are most needed and to adapt to evolving needs. Gifts can be made to the fund by going to www.cfneia.org/bhcovidfund and clicking on the Give Today button. Gifts can also be directed to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 3117 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. Checks should be made out to Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund. Online gifts are strongly encouraged to have funds accessible for quick response to needs.
Cedar Valley residents seeking support due to the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic are encouraged to utilize Cedar Valley United Way’s 211 service by calling 1-866-469-2211 or visiting www.211iowa.org. This service is a free, confidential referral source helping connect people to health and human services.
For more information about the Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund, contact CFNEIA at 319-287-9106.
