Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund

Collaborating to address the unprecedented need among local nonprofits

The final round of grant distributions from the Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund, a collaborative fund with the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, was announced on September 3, totaling $271,000 to 13 organizations that responded to requests for proposals. This brought total distributions from the Fund to $1,272,997 for COVID-19 response across northern Colorado. Thank you to the generous donors over the course of the pandemic to help make this Fund so supportive to our community in need.

“This partnership and process demonstrates the ability of this community to quickly unite and activate – as funders, as agencies, as donors – and respond to immediate crises as well as long-term recovery needs. Having previously been an agency recipient of these COVID-19 Fund dollars supporting rent assistance and technology access for some of the most significantly impacted residents of our community, I have seen firsthand the direct impact of the funds and the coordinated distribution effort.” - Deirdre Sullivan, CEO & President, United Way of Larimer County.

Learn more about the final round of the Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund recipients:

A Little Help $20,000

To meet the increased need for immediate at-home grocery and medication delivery for older, at-risk adults by onboarding over 100 new volunteers and educating them on proper safety precautions.

Crossroads Ministry Estes $20,000

To help an anticipated additional 160 individuals and families with rent assistance as unemployment rates continue to rise due to COVID-19.

Foothills Rotary $40,000

To match dollars raised by Foothills Rotary to support La Familia and Teaching Tree with childcare fees.

Rotary Club of Loveland $4,000

To increase the weekly food bag count and provide a bridge of support to food-insecure students in the Thompson School District.

Respite Care $15,000

To provide short term, quality care for children from birth to age 21 who have been diagnosed with one or more developmental disabilities, giving respite to their families.

Salud Family Health Centers $25,000

To equip triage centers for patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms with necessary personal protective equipment, as well as offer telehealth options, to allow patients to continue to get the care they need as safely as possible during this time.

Thompson School District $20,000

To purchase 830 G Suite Enterprise for Education licenses to develop plans and materials for distance learning platforms.

The Warehouse $20,000

To manufacture and deliver safe, effective personal protective equipment (PPE) at no cost to nonprofits who are serving vulnerable populations through the Manufacturers COVID Designated Fund.

Be the Gift $20,000

To provide home repair assistance at no charge to single-mother homeowners and their children who struggle to pay for necessities (food, clothing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, etc.) making home repairs cost-prohibitive.

Vindeket Foods $20,000

To mobilize rescued foods from local grocers and charitably distribute them to students, individuals, families, and other nonprofits. Vindeket addresses food waste by educating and organizing our community around the waste issues in our food system.

United Way of Larimer County $30,000

To provide funding to support a community-based grant writer for nonprofits.

Friends of the Loveland Public Library Foundation $25,000

To support a technology project to increase access to laptop computers and classes during COVID-19.

Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County $12,500

To provide full-day school-age childcare in school sites across the county for parents who have to work while school is not in session.

To support long-term recovery efforts from the impacts of COVID-19, please consider a donation to the Community Emergency & Response Fund.

This fund will support both long-term COVID-19 recovery as well as support the community through other emergencies and disasters, such as the Cameron Peak Fire.

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May 26, 2020

Grant Funding, Round 3:

The third round of grant distributions was announced on May 26, totaling $466,875 in support of 31 projects addressing the needs of community members most affected by COVID-19. To date, the Fund has awarded over one million dollars to 55 agencies. Every grant is supporting nonprofits providing critical human services such as food security, rent and housing assistance, emergency assistance, and mental health.

Please continue reading to learn more about the third round of the Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund recipients:

Alternatives to Violence $14,000

To continue to compensate staff who can work overtime to offer additional crisis services, as well as increase advertisements to reach potential clients in different ways as safer-at-home orders impact traditional advertising.

America’s Kid’s Belong $24,000

To provide emergency needs to an additional 40 youth as a result of COVID-19 including food, medicine, toiletries, and shelter, as well as allow the potential for a newly created position to help maintain the 160% service increase.

Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County $20,000

To support summer programs at 12 Larimer County sites serving approximately 600 youth a day by adjusting to meet health and safety requirements including increased space, additional custodial staff, and increased time along with supplies for sanitation.

Break Free Inc. dba Free Our Girls $5,000

To support victims of sex trade and sex trafficking through mental health and communication support as mainstream pandemic relief efforts are not anticipated to reach them, but violence and abuse are anticipated to increase.

Catholic Charities $25,000

To provide grocery delivery services including food, paper, and household goods, cleaning supplies, and other essentials to low-income and vulnerable seniors who have not able to leave their homes due to increased health concerns connected to COVID-19.

CASA of Larimer County $10,000

To allow the continuation of the no-contact, virtual parent-child visitation program through the Supervised Exchange and Parenting Time at no cost to families through at least the end of June, in place of the typical in-person, parental visitation program.

ChildSafe $5,000

To continue to provide resources to clients during social distancing through a teletherapy model requiring additional technology, protocols, and increased staff time.

Crossroads Ministry of Estes $20,000

To help an anticipated additional 160 individuals and families with rent assistance as unemployment rates continue to rise due to COVID-19.

Crossroads Safehouse $14,000

To provide financial, rental, and housing-search assistance to victims of domestic violence who are exiting shelters and in search of private housing as domestic violence and abuse cases continue to rise affecting largely low- or no-income individuals.

Early Childhood Council of Larimer County $25,000

To support childcare programs with mini-grants to cover necessary operational costs as they remain open to support front line and necessary employees continuing to work during the pandemic.

Ensight Skills Center $5,000

To support technological infrastructure that allows patients to telecommute for virtual meetings and to access other important resources, especially those that are now homebound with additional health concerns.

The Family Center/La Familia $10,000

To grow their financial support program to include virtual programming and access to services through mobile technology.

Finally Home $9,225

To support kinship families (grandparents/other family members raising related children) who are now home with children full time, navigating working from home, and financial insecurity through online support family sessions.

FoCo Café $25,000

To provide food to vulnerable populations in the city of Fort Collins, working with other nonprofits in the area to specifically target those who are not already receiving meal delivery services provided by other organizations.

Foster and Adoptive Families $3,500

To provide food through a pickup site offered every other month to families with foster children, kinship households, guardianship, and adoptive children.

Grand Family Coalition $8,000

To provide elderly, at-risk caregivers with gift cards to stores where they can purchase basic needs for their families online without risking exposure.

Good Samaritan Society, Fort Collins Village $25,000

To ensure proper health and safety of staff and residents by allowing for increased personal protective equipment purchases and cleaning supplies, as well as implement a “resident concierge” service that allows for a full day of community communication and programming in a safe way.

Homeward Alliance $20,000

To provide approximately 300 meals a day, seven-days-a-week to those accessing services at the temporary congregate emergency shelter at the Aztlan Center through the end of the lease term.

House of Neighborly Service $25,000

To provide utility bill assistance to those affected by poverty and situational crisis in the Thompson School District prior to the prospective June 1 shut off date.

Light of the Rockies Christian Counseling $10,000

To continue to provide teletherapy “coping sessions” for those facing anxiety, emotional stress, or depression as a result of the pandemic, as well as longer counseling sessions for healthcare professionals and first responders through the new Light of the Rockies COVID-19 Mental Health Access Scholarship Fund.

McKee Wellness Foundation $25,000

To support front line medical staff at McKee Medical Center and Banner Fort Collins with quality childcare while they are serving the community during the pandemic.

The Nappie Project $14,150

To support the purchase of additional diapers, supplies, and inventory for the new Nappie Cloth Care Kits, protective equipment for staff and volunteers, and increased storage space as the ongoing diaper shortage continues.

Neighbor to Neighbor $15,000

To provide clients with eviction prevention assistance and direct assistance with emergency needs such as food, cleaning, and household supplies in order to continue to provide stable housing in financial hardship.

Outreach Fort Collins $10,000

To expand services throughout the city of Fort Collins, expecting to serve an additional 75-100 individuals in homeless and at-risk populations with the closing of the Aztlan Community Center congregate shelter.

Royal Family KIDS Larimer County c/o Timberline Church $7,200

To help host a virtual camp in place of an in-person experience for 46 children that provides each child with a tablet, pre-loaded with videos that mimic camp programming.

Salud Family Health Center $11,000

To equip triage centers for patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms with necessary personal protective equipment, as well as offer telehealth options, to allow patients to continue to get the care they need as safely as possible during this time.

Salvation Army of Fort Collins $7,000

To serve an increase in families and individuals reaching out for rent assistance due to emergency financial situations through the eviction prevention program.

Serve 6.8 $25,000

To provide food-distribution services, virtual finance care, rental payments, and other needs for approximately 700 families of those who are homebound during this time due to age or auto-immune issues.

Teaching Tree Early Childhood Learning Center $20,000

To provide childcare scholarships for low-income families (and families who have lost jobs) and help cover tuition loss and enable Teaching Tree to recover to full capacity over the coming months.

Warehouse Business Accelerator $25,000

To deliver safe, effective personal protective equipment at no cost to essential, non-medical human service providers who are serving vulnerable populations through the Manufacturers COVID Designated Fund.

Young Life Northern Colorado $4,800

To continue to provide support and care for 12 teen mothers by providing basic needs including food and baby supplies to be dropped off at their places of residence.

Please click here to see the press release regarding the third round of grant distributions.

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April 20, 2020

Grant Funding, Round 2:

On April 20, the Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund announced the second round of grant distributions totaling $334,497 to support 22 impactful projects. To date, the Fund has awarded over $530,000 through 37 separate grants. These groups are active across Larimer County, including Allenspark, Berthoud, Drake, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Glen Haven, Loveland, Wellington, Windsor, and unincorporated areas of the county. Every grant distributed went to a nonprofit seeking funding for critical needs that have emerged as a direct response to COVID-19.

Please continue reading to learn more about the second round of the Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund recipients:

A Little Help: $25,000

Funding will provide emergency grocery assistance for older adults living alone, a Community Response Coordinator position, and volunteer management expenses.

Alternatives to Violence: $15,136

Funding supports staff salaries who are working overtime (less staff and volunteers on-site) to help with families sheltering in their domestic violence SafeHouse.

America’s Kids Belong: $8,000

Funding will supply emergency needs (food, medicine, toiletries, etc.); assist with crisis educational interventions; help find/maintain employment for aging out youth in foster care.

CitiPointe Church NoCo: $10,000

Funding supports the purchase of food to make free ready-to-eat hot meals for those who need it most, around 200 meals three times a week, for two months.

Community DREAMer Fund: $11,000

Funding provides emergency financial assistance to undocumented high school and college students.

Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success (EVICS): $20,000

Funding provides childcare assistance for essential employees, financial support for low-income families with young children, recovery support for childcare providers.

Estes Park Health Foundation: $25,000

Funding helps create four inpatient Negative Pressure Retrofits for the Estes Park Medical Center. Negative Pressure rooms ensure that when a COVID-19 patient is admitted, the air in that patient’s room will not travel to the rest of the building, infecting other patients or staff.

Family Housing Network of Fort Collins: $5,200

Funding provides financial support for newly housed families, support for families in their shelter program, and additional staffing to help cover disinfection protocol and extra hours of operation.

Fort Collins Rescue Mission: $15,000

Funding supports the purchase and preparation of nutritious meals to their guests – people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness.

Front Range Community College Foundation: $15,000

Funding supports the Foundation’s Emergency Student Success Grant program in which students receive financial assistance for their rent/mortgages, laptops/other technology, food/groceries, utilities, car repairs, and more.

Homeward Alliance: $25,000

Funding will help re-establish safe and stable housing and provide eviction prevention to individuals and families currently experiencing homelessness or who have escaped homelessness within the last 24 months. Funding also supports case management for these families/households.

La Cocina: $10,000

Funding increases direct Spanish-language mental health and case management services for Latinx families, reducing the potential of child and partner abuse during the coronavirus pandemic.

Light of the Rockies: $10,000

Funding provides scholarships for those in our community experiencing both mental health and financial crises. Therapy sessions include 30-minute teletherapy “coping sessions”, and 30-minute intake teletherapy sessions for new clients/patients.

NOCO Dream Center dba Resurrection Fellowship: $8,421

Funding supports rent assistance for Larimer County families affected by poverty, addiction, exploitation, and homelessness.

Project Self-Sufficiency: $10,000

Funding supports the Healthy Families Program which brings essential resources to families to create and maintain stability. Funds will be used for emergency assistance, housing, transportation, mental health, childcare, and other living expenses.

Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY): $7,940

Funding provides trauma-informed services to support the emotional well-being and safety of children in foster care and families receiving family preservation services as the effects of trauma are escalated during times of crisis.

Salvation Army of Loveland: $9,600

Funding provides emergency, a non-congregate shelter for the medically fragile homeless at hotels in the area for up to 140 days with access to health care services, food, and transportation.

Serve 6.8: $25,000

Funding supports food-distribution services, virtual finance care, rental payments, and other needs for approximately 700 families of those who are homebound during this time due to age or auto-immune issues.

Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center (SAVA): $14,000

Funding enables the continuation of therapy services through the implementation of HIPPA compliance telehealth systems, staffing support, and hotline conversion costs associated with offering medical help virtually for victims of sexual assault.

Sunrise Community Health: $12,500

Funding increases access to COVID-19 screening for uninsured, underinsured, and low-income patients by screening and testing patients, purchasing viral media, swabs, alcohol, and appropriate PPE, as well as other necessary supplies for the separate respiratory clinic site.

Live the Victory, INC dba The Matthews House: $15,688

Funding will help shift case management services and programs to telephone and online platforms and increase staff capacity to continue to provide critical support for low-income youth and families in the Larimer County welfare and juvenile justice system.

Turning Point Center for Youth & Family Development: $13,707

Funding will support increased staffing and therapist hours to provide for an increasing number of referrals as well as support with basic family needs and crisis intervention work allowing clients with mental health issues to access services for free, even if they have lost their health insurance.

YMCA of the Rockies: $15,000

Funding provides emergency childcare to healthcare workers, first responders, and essential workers in the Estes Valley and providing scholarships to any family who is unable to pay due to unemployment or underemployment during this time.

If you are able, please consider joining these generous community donors and donating to the greatest need in our community here.

March 31, 2020

Grant Funding, Round 1:

On March 31, the first round of grant funding was distributed to 15 nonprofits within Larimer County. The Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund provided $200,125 in funds to organizations active across Larimer County, including Allenspark, Berthoud, Drake, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Glen Haven, Loveland, Wellington, and unincorporated areas of the county.

Due to the changing and unpredictable nature of this global pandemic, nonprofits are experiencing unprecedented strain on their programs and services. The grants distributed went to organizations to address critical community needs including food and housing insecurity, childcare for first responders, and check-ins for senior citizens.

Please continue reading to learn more about the first round of the Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund recipients:

Aspire 3D

To maintain stable housing, financial security, food security, hygiene products, and medical care. They will also use this funding for a new “check-in” procedure for elderly adults and at-risk individuals.

Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County

To be able to provide accessible, sustainable, school-aged childcare for first responders and health care workers using emergency childcare centers.

Crossroads Ministry of Estes

To meet the changing needs of public and human services including food assistance, housing, transportation, and case management as well as other emergency needs.

Crossroads SafeHouse

To provide emergency shelter, food, clothing, and necessities for victims of domestic violence and their children.

The Family Center/La Familia

To provide direct financial support and housing stabilization for approximately 20 families to prevent housing loss during economic troubles.

Food Bank for Larimer County

To meet the increased food needs for current and new clients through the Fresh Food Share program that has been converted to a drive-up food pantry model.

Genesis Project of Fort Collins

To provide sack lunches and rental assistance to over 70 residents living in the ParkLane Mobile Home Park.

Homeward Alliance

To supply onsite food, shelter, and services to those experiencing homelessness, offering social distancing in a safe environment at the newly established hub at the Northside Aztlan Center in Fort Collins.

House of Neighborly Service

To obtain food, toiletries, and grocery gift cards to create food baskets that can be accessed twice a month during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loveland Rotary Club Foundation KidsPak

To keep up with the demand for weekly food bags and provide support to students in the Thompson School District.

Meals on Wheels Fort Collins

To subsidize the costs of meals to senior citizens, preparing alternative options to meet emergency needs, as well as connecting volunteers with home-bound seniors and disabled adults through phone communications and video chats.

Neighbor to Neighbor

To provide emergency rental assistance as well as implement online software to ease client access.

The Nappie Project

To distribute two shipments of 30,000 diapers to various organizations, who will then give them to families in need.

Salud Family Health Centers

To change healthcare delivery models (with patient safety in mind) and to implement a triage protocol outside of clinics for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

UCHealth N. Colorado Foundation

To provide food to individuals in need for over a two-month period who often stop at the connected food pantry after a medical visit.

If you are able, please consider joining these generous community donors and donating to the greatest need in our community here.

March 18, 2020

Announcement of the Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund

The COVID-19 coronavirus has stunned the world and is taking its toll on every individual and organization, including our community’s nonprofits. To help respond to this unprecedented challenge, United Way of Larimer County has partnered with the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado to provide funding to local nonprofit organizations that work with people disproportionately affected by the consequences of COVID-19. Initially, recipients will include human service organizations that address food insecurity, especially for youth and older adults.

“This initiative reflects the core of why the Community Foundation exists,” said Ray Caraway, Community Foundation president. “We have the infrastructure, relationships, and experience to convene community resources and respond rapidly when action is needed.”

“This fund is designed to be nimble and will evolve to meet the greatest needs of the community as they unfold,” said Annie Davies, United Way of Larimer County chief executive officer. “We appreciate the opportunity to work collaboratively with the Community Foundation to connect generous businesses and individuals to a meaningful and local opportunity to help those affected by the pandemic.”

“The Food Bank of Larimer County is at the very front of this when it comes to food,” said Amy Pezzani, Food Bank of Larimer County CEO. “We serve over 1,000 families each day.”

“As a part of the emergency response plan, the Town of Estes Park is referring people who need assistance to Estes Park’s Crossroads Ministry,” said Brian Schaffer, the organization’s executive director. ”We will be delivering food boxes to those confined to their home as well as adding others to our Meals on Wheels list to receive a hot, nutritious meal."

As a basis for this initiative, the Foundation is contributing $50,000 dollars and United Way is contributing $100,000. Both organizations are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions from private foundations, corporate partners, and individual donors.

The Community Foundation and United Way of Larimer County will administer grants from the COVID-19 Fund with the assistance of community volunteers who will sit on the grant selection committee. Donations can be made to either organization.

CLICK HERE FOR THE GRANTMAKING PROCESS AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Grants will be distributed to nonprofit organizations throughout Larimer County through the course of the crisis. The goal is to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs. COVID-19 Response Fund expects to disburse an initial round of grants by March 31, 2020. Neither United Way nor the Foundation will charge an administrative fee for this fund.

“We all have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us from contracting COVID-19,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “We are all in this together, and we all have people we love who are particularly vulnerable — our parents, our grandparents.”

To assist in this critical work and become part of our generous community donors, you may donate to the Fund through either the Community Foundation or United Way.

How to Donate:

text LARIMERUNITED to 41444
Click Here to Donate
Send checks to United Way of Larimer County, 525 W. Oak Street, Suite 101, Fort Collins, CO 80521 with COVID-19 in the subject line.
To support United Way's ongoing efforts and programs, consider a donation to our general fund by clicking here.

The Community Foundation and United Way are both 501(c)(3) public charities so gifts to any of our funds provide donors with the maximum tax deductions allowed by law.

About the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado
The Community Foundation is a nonprofit, public foundation working for the benefit of charitable causes and organizations in Northern Colorado. It manages almost 550 individual charitable funds and over $120 million in assets, and it serves a unique leadership role by bringing people and resources together around important local issues. Over 75 local nonprofit organizations have their endowments housed with the Community Foundation, and many individuals and businesses have established donor-advised funds.

About United Way of Larimer County:
United Way of Larimer County (UWLC) is a one-stop resource for generosity in our community, ensuring that gifts of time, talent, and treasure address today's greatest needs - and reduce tomorrow's. UWLC encourages nimble and innovative human services and strengthens our community by supporting youth & education, financial stability, community engagement, and nonprofit excellence in Larimer County.