Covid-19 Response Fund Set Up to Meet Basic Human Needs

With the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and an increased strain on individuals and families in the Dayton Region, The Dayton Foundation and the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area, along with a coalition of philanthropic, government and other individual partners, have joined together to establish the COVID-19 Response Fund for Greater Dayton. Individuals, businesses, foundations and organizations may make charitable contributions to the fund, which will help provide flexible resources to nonprofits that are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 response. The Dayton Foundation is waiving all administrative fees and is paying all credit card processing fees so that 100 percent of all donations will be used to assist others.

Said J. Thomas Maultsby, president and CEO of the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area, “We are urgently aware of the difficulties individuals and families are facing as employers, organizations and our community do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the risk to our more vulnerable populations. As this public health emergency continues to unfold, the coalition will do its part to help provide assistance in meeting urgent basic needs.”

Other initial partners in the coalition include the City of Dayton, Mathile Family Foundation, Montgomery County, The Physicians’ Charitable Foundation of the Miami Valley and Sinclair Community College.

Grants from the fund will complement the work of public health officials and expand the community’s capacity to respond and assist effectively and efficiently in the outbreak. Grants will be awarded to vetted community-based and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations that are focused on:

• Immediate, basic human needs (food, shelter, safety, etc.);
• Mental health services; and
• Addressing the economic impact on individuals from reduced or lost work due to the outbreak.

The Dayton Foundation and the United Way will administer the grantmaking process with an oversight committee of funders. Contributions to the fund from public, private and educational partners currently total $550,000.

“Our community has shown time and again its resilience to rise above the challenges before us, and the coronavirus is no exception,” said Michael M. Parks, president of The Dayton Foundation. “We know the needs are great. This fund is an important part of the process and a small way individual philanthropy can help our neighbors in need.”

Contributions to the fund may be made online at www.daytonfoundation.org/ccgift.html, or by mailing a check to The Dayton Foundation, 1401 S. Main Street, Suite 100, Dayton, OH 45409. “COVID-19 Response Fund” or “Fund #1652” should be designated on the check or in the credit card form’s fund name field.

Nonprofit organizations may apply for a grant starting Wednesday, March 18 through the Foundation’s website at www.daytonfoundation.org and the United Way’s website at www.dayton-unitedway.org.

United Way’s 211 HelpLink also is available 24 hours for individuals needing information about community resources, basic needs assistance and other social services.