The Idaho Community Foundation, United Ways of Idaho and Idaho Nonprofit Center have partnered to create the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund for Idaho, a charitable fund that will provide philanthropic support to trusted organizations that provide support and services to low-income, vulnerable people and families. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 Fund cannot assist individuals directly.
Funding for the early rounds of grantmaking from the COVID-19 Fund for Idaho will be given to organizations that work with people experiencing housing instability and food insecurity, those who need physical or mental healthcare, and/or that provide domestic violence support and childcare. Funding decisions will be made with local input from around the state.
Statewide
East Idaho
Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, Oneida, Power and Teton counties
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North Idaho
Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce and Shoshone counties
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South Central Idaho
Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Elmore, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls counties
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Southwest Idaho
Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties
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The COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund for Idaho will provide immediate and long-term grants on a rolling basis to organizations that work with people disproportionately affected by the virus, including those who are enduring economic hardship as a result of lost work and economically vulnerable people affected by closures of services on which they rely.
The grants are meant to fill the gap not covered by efforts being put in place through public institutions, including cities, the state or the federal government.
A grantmaking process and selection criteria are being developed and will be announced later, once donations have begun to accumulate in the fund.
Checks can be mailed to: Idaho Community Foundation, 210 W State Street, Boise, ID 83702. Donations can also be made through a Donor Advised Fund or an electronic funds transfer (EFT).
For other types of donations, please contact us: info@idahocf.org
Frequently Asked Questions:
I am an individual affected by the COVID-19 situation. Can I apply for assistance from this Fund?
The Fund partners understand the challenges COVID-19 pandemic is causing and will that these challenges will continue to have a significant impact on individuals and families in Idaho. We will work to move resources as quickly as possible to community-based organizations that are directly supporting local families and residents who are most affected. But unfortunately, we cannot offer direct funds to individuals at this time.
My organization is interested in resources from this Fund. How can we be considered?
The Idaho Community Foundation, United Ways of Idaho and the Idaho Nonprofit Center will announce the process for requesting funding from the COVID-19 Response Fund for Idaho in the coming days, as capital is raised. Based upon the charitable structure of the COVID-19 Response Fund, our grants are limited to 501c3 nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501c3 nonprofit organization, or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution, such as schools, faith-based organizations, and other public entities. We are not able to fund individuals or businesses directly, labor unions, or other 501c4, 501c5, and 501c6 organizations.
Is there a geographic focus for this fund?
General operating grants will be awarded statewide to organizations serving Idaho by committees representing each of Idaho’s four respective regions (North, East, South Central and Southwest).
What will NOT be included in the first phase of funding?
We anticipate multiple phases of funding to address the both the acute needs now and the longer-term impacts of the outbreak and recovery. In this first phase, we are prioritizing community-based organizations that are serving communities and individuals who are immediately and disproportionately suffering from this crisis. In this first round, we are not able to prioritize organizations who have lost revenue or are likely to lose future revenue due to canceled events or programs, or larger public institutions that are strained by increased demand for services. We recognize these challenges, and as the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, we will continue to work with the Steering Committee to assess and evolve our funding strategies.
When will you announce funding decisions?
We expect grants from this Fund will be made on a rolling basis, beginning within the next few weeks. We will publish the names of grantees and more information on a regular basis.
May I target my donation to a specific organization?
To ensure that we can coordinate and share resources as quickly as possible, donors may not restrict their grants to an individual grantee. If you have a specific organization you would like to support, we encourage you to give directly to that organization.
Should I give to this Fund instead of making other donations?
No. This Fund is not intended to be the only vehicle to give funds to nonprofits working at the frontlines of the COVID-19 outbreak. You are encouraged to give directly to organizations you may have supported in the past or nonprofits you know are addressing needs in your community. This fund is another vehicle through which those needs will be addressed.
Is there a fee to contribute?
With a focus on getting resources out to the community in this critical time, there is no administrative fee for participating in the Fund. 100% of donations will go to community groups and leaders on the ground, except for normal credit card fees for online donations.
Other resources:
The COVID-19 Fund cannot assist individuals directly. Money raised by the fund will go to organizations throughout Idaho best equipped to help people and families. These websites may help individuals navigate the available resources:
Idaho 211
Live Better Idaho
Idaho Department of Health & Welfare
NeedHelpPayingBills.com Idaho Assistance Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration
State of Idaho Coronavirus Official Resources page
Connections Community Resources for North Idaho