Update for our Nonprofits
Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties: Community Relief Fund
Dear Nonprofit Colleagues,
All of you have been in our hearts and minds as we weather the storm of the COVID-19 crisis together. Today, we want to provide you with an update on our Community Emergency Relief Fund.
Thanks to the generosity and compassion of our community members, fund holders, and businesses, we have raised $58,000 through our Community Emergency Relief Fund. Today, we announce our first grant from the Community Emergency Relief Fund: a $25,000 grant to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, in support of a collaboration between Catholic Charities’ Loudoun office and Loudoun Cares. Funding will provide monetary assistance directly to individuals in Loudoun County impacted financially by the COVID-19 crisis. A secondary grant of $25,000 from our Tourism and Hospitality Relief Fund, founded by the Visit Loudoun Foundation, also was made to support those individuals.
When we first established the Community Emergency Relief Fund, we anticipated holding an application process for nonprofits to request funds. As events unfolded we saw how scarce resources were. Our Board of Directors recognized that a first distribution would be best deployed and positioned to accept requests from individuals from across the community from one central source.
COVID-19 Emergency Fund and Helpline
In the first grant distribution of $25,000, Catholic Charities and Loudoun Cares will jointly rotate staff to respond to requests for financial assistance through a newly established COVID-19 Emergency Fund and Helpline. Loudoun residents who need help paying rent as a result of lost wages from the COVID-19 crisis can call the COVID-19 Emergency Fund and Helpline at 703-669-5040. Trained staff from Catholic Charities and Loudoun Cares will work together to complete an intake process and assess the needs of each caller. Eligibility requirements to receive financial assistance from the COVID-19 Emergency Fund and Helpline may be found at https://www.ccda.net/need-help/rent,-utility-assistance,-and-basic-household-needs/. Eligible callers may be able to receive up to $500 in financial assistance.
We encourage you to share the new COVID-19 Emergency Fund and Helpline number with the people you serve in Loudoun County who may be in financial need.
In addition to providing financial assistance to callers using the CERF funds, Catholic Charities and Loudoun Cares also will help callers identify additional government, nonprofit, and faith-based resources. Both organizations have extensive experience helping people in need access financial assistance and community services through Catholic Charities’ Emergency Assistance Program, and Loudoun Cares’ Information and Referral Helpline.
Future Grants from the Community Emergency Relief Fund
As we continue to raise funds for COVID-19 relief efforts and as events unfold, we will reassess needs as we strategize our next round of grants from the fund. We will keep you posted as soon as we have information to share with you.
Thank you for everything you are doing to serve our community.
Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties
Email: amy@communityfoundationLF.org
Website: communityfoundatonLF.org
Location: 714 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA, USA
Phone: 703-779-3505
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PiedmontCommunityFoundation
Twitter: @loudounfauquier