THIS IS NOT A CITY OF EVERETT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY; PLEASE READ BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION

$2 million COVID relief grant now open for nonprofits

Focus on organizations led by and serving communities of color seeks to address disproportionate pandemic impact

OLYMPIA, WA – The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on nonprofit organizations, with many experiencing increased demand for services and programs while at the same time dealing with disruption of services and programs, cancellation of contracts, funding losses due to canceled fundraisers, reduced donations and other issues affecting staff and volunteer capacity. The impacts are particularly hard on nonprofits led by and serving Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities.

Recent reporting shows historical inequities in funding for BIPOC organizations could deepen as they try to navigate their COVID response and recovery. This is at the same time recent data show communities of color in Washington state are experiencing disproportionately higher percentages of COVID cases and unemployment. Several groups have case and hospitalization rates from seven to 10 times higher than for white people, and death rates twice to over three times higher. Additionally, analysis by region indicates this is true across rural, urban and suburban communities of color.

The Washington State Department of Commerce is partnering with Philanthropy Northwest to provide $2 million of relief funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act with a focus on community-based nonprofits and Tribal organizations most impacted by COVID-19. 

MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAN BE FOUND HERE.