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News & Event

Our Response to Coronavirus

Our Response to Coronavirus

Overview
How you can help
Resources for nonprofits
Teleworking and event cancellations

MARCH 17, 2020 — Like you, the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond has been monitoring the rapidly evolving circumstances surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its potential impact for our community. It is times like this when philanthropy can lean into its leadership role and unite our community for the greater good. At the Community Foundation, we are responding to the uncertainty with proactive action and collaboration to better inform you about what is happening and how you can help.

We have established the Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund in partnership with the Emergency Management Alliance of Central Virginia and PlanRVA to support organizations that are addressing the immediate needs, longer term effects of the pandemic, and community recovery. The Community Foundation is seeding the fund with an initial $500,000. We welcome additional contributions from our donors peer foundations and corporate partners.

Additional contributors include: Altria, Atlantic Union Bank, Bank of America, The Cabell Foundation, Capital One, CarMax Foundation, Dominion Energy, Genworth, Jenkins Foundation, Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, Robins Foundation, VCU Health System, Wells Fargo and several individual donors.

Learn more 

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We not only face this challenge together, but we will also get through it together. Thank you to the countless individuals and organizations that make the Greater Richmond region a strong, resilient community. 


How you can help

1. Support the Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund

The Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund was launched with an initial gift of $500,000. The fund will provide flexible support for community-based organizations serving the most vulnerable in our community, and those facing hardship due to reduced revenue. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis to nonprofit organizations only; no individuals. See more details here

Donate Now

2. Support organizations through direct grants

Local Organizations
Repercussions of the pandemic have the potential to threaten the fiscal health and long-term sustainability of many organizations. Individuals with funds at the Community Foundation can make grant recommendations to organizations of their choice at any time. 

National and International Organizations
If you are interested in national or worldwide response, here are a few options:

Be alert to scams
This is a time to be cautious about emails and links that may be sent to you from organizations or people you do not know. These may be fundraising or phishing scams that attempt to take advantage of your generosity. If you are suspicious of a solicitation, please contact us first.

3. Volunteer your time

While many public events and volunteer activities in our region have been cancelled, our HandsOn Greater Richmond team is working closely with organizations to share their most immediate needs while dealing with coronavirus—from virtual volunteering to projects that ensure essential services can continue. In particular, we are partnering with schools, food banks/pantries, and homeless shelters.

4. Additional ways to support our community

  • Continue to wash your hands and practice social distancing to help slow the spread of the virus. Follow the latest guidance of the CDC and Virginia Department of Health. 
  • Be kind and be patient, particularly with those working in service industries.
  • If you have purchased a ticket for an event that has been cancelled, consider making this your donation.
  • Check in on your sick or elderly neighbors.
  • Consider buying a gift card to your favorite restaurant(s) or small business to help sustain them during this time of lesser demand. 


Resources for Nonprofits

Can my organization be considered for support from the Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund?
We understand the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting nonprofits in many ways. We are working hard to ensure that the grants awarded meet the greatest needs in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. To learn more about the priorities of the fund and how to submit your request, please click below to see our FAQ.

Follow latest updates and guidance on COVID-19

Resources to support nonprofit planning and response
We’ve compiled resources on ConnectVA, our nonprofit information hub, to give guidance to organizations on nonprofit emergency planning and response. You will find an abundance of information, and we will periodically add new information or tools as we learn of them.



Community Foundation Teleworking and Event Cancellations

The Community Foundation has temporarily closed its office at 3409 Moore Street in accordance with recommendations for social distancing. All Community Foundation hosted events and meeting are cancelled until further notice, while most nonprofit classes and trainings are postponed. 

During this time, the Foundation will remain fully staffed and fully operational. Staff will continue to be accessible by phone and by email as they would be if they were working from our building. We also will use virtual/video meetings when possible.



Ongoing Updates

We will continue to post updates to our website as more information is available. This may include the contributors to the fund, the grants that have been made, new volunteer needs, additional resources for nonprofits and updated guidance from public health officials. Please check back periodically as we continue to monitor developments, particularly those affecting residents of Richmond and Central Virginia.


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