The Evanston Community Foundation is seeking donations for a planned Rapid Response Fund it hopes will foster a unified philanthropic response to address the impact of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in the Evanston community.
Foundation CEO Monique Jones says several initial funders have already partnered in helping seed the fund, including the Finnegan Family Foundation, Northwestern Dance Marathon 2020 and Hagerty Consulting.
“We are working closely with community-based organizations to identify how to strategically use these funds to support community needs as they evolve,” Jones says. “We invite everyone who is currently able to give, to contribute to this community-based initiative.
“With your support, ECF will work to provide flexible resources to organizations working with community members who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the economic consequences of the outbreak.”
Jones says nonprofit groups are feeling the impact of COVID-19 and its effect on “our most vulnerable neighbors.”
The foundation, she says, is surveying nonprofit groups to better understand the specific implications of the virus and how loss of paychecks, lack of housing, and unmet basic needs will lead to the inability to maintain the health standards required to stay safe from the pandemic.
Donations to the Evanston Community Rapid Response Fund can be made online.