More than 20 nonprofits serving South Jersey are receiving grants aimed at helping these critical organizations weather the devastation caused by COVID-19 and serve families across the region. The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) today announced its first round of grantees since launching the COVID-19 Response Fund in late March.
The grants total $100,000 for nonprofits serving: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem Counties. These grants address only the first 15 percent of requests received by the Community Foundation to date. Additional rounds will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
“This pandemic is devastating South Jersey communities, with the brunt of impact on our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Andy Fraizer, executive director. “South Jersey neighbors and organizations responded quickly to our call for help in meeting the growing need.” The Community Foundation has commitments and pledges for more than $800,000. Requests for funding total more than $1.5 million, with new requests arriving daily.
The Fund is the only such effort focused solely on the eight-county South Jersey region. It was established by a coalition of local residents, business and philanthropic partners to rapidly deploy flexible grant dollars to the nonprofit sector serving South Jersey.
Nonprofit organizations—the backbone of our communities—are on the frontlines of fighting back. They provide food, healthcare, and other crucial services where and when people need them most. “But our nonprofits are getting slammed too,” Fraizer said. “Many are laying off key staff and bleeding resources—a one-two punch that threatens the organizations and the people they serve. That’s why it’s time to help the helpers.”
The Fund is making grants in multiple rounds based on three categories.
Phase one: Triage – Immediate response to increased demand for services to meet economic security needs from South Jersey nonprofits.
Phase two: Treatment – Grants for nonprofits forced to modify their delivery modes due to COVID-19 and needing assistance to do so.
Phase three: Recovery – These grants will fund nonprofits facing extreme difficulty because of lost revenue due to closures and event cancellations, as well as other business model challenges resulting from the pandemic.
For more details on making donations, funding priorities and how to apply, visit southjerseyresponsefund.org.
In our region, the following organizaation have been awarded grants:
• Arc of Salem County – Salem: Still operating group homes, they will purchase personal protective equipment for their employees to continue to deliver services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Gateway Community Action Partnership – Bridgeton: Designated as the Community Action Partnership (CAP) for Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, Gateway CAP will replenish food banks emptied due to increased demand and continue to distribute food to individuals, families and seniors throughout South Jersey.
• Help & Hope Ministries – Millville: A partner of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Help & Hope Ministries will purchase additional food to meet increased demands for food from families who have lost jobs due to COVID-19.
• Revive SJ – Bridgeton: Observing an increase in unemployment experienced by families from the Hispanic immigrant community in Cumberland County, Revive SJ will provide emergency relief funds to families affected by COVID-19. These funds will help cover the costs of medication, food, gas and transportation and other necessities.
