By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
On April 2, the Madison County Rural Poverty Fund — a regional fund of the Central New York Community Foundation — announced that it is offering assistance to organizations working with residents who are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its economic consequences.
According to a press release from the organization, “The fund will rapidly deploy flexible resources in the form of one-time operating grants . . . to nonprofits whose operations support vulnerable populations stressed by the outbreak.”
Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the pandemic.
“As a local funder in Onondaga and Madison counties, the Central New York Community Foundation realized that the needs of the nonprofits that we serve were going to change greatly to accommodate the COVID-19 crisis,” said Frank Ridzi, vice president of community investment for the Central New York Community Foundation. “We decided it was necessary to offer these one-time grants to support COVID-19 relief efforts, which meet the basic needs of residents, and support the shift in work that the nonprofits are currently facing.”
The Madison County Rural Poverty Fund has made its own contribution to the effort and is encouraging individuals, institutions and companies to donate as well.
Grants are limited to 501(c)3 organizations, fiscal sponsors, or other charitable organizations able to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Eligibility criteria and information on the application process are available at cnycf.org/madisoncovid19.
“The goal is to aid those organizations serving the most vulnerable populations — residents who may require assistance with food, housing, childcare, healthcare, and basic needs,” Ridzi said. “This support is vital in Madison County to provide resources and capacity to the programs that are critical in times of crisis. Organizations serving the homeless, hungry, and sick will require additional aid to provide the resources needed to keep the community safe and cared for. Ultimately, we hope that these rapid response grants will allow organizations to continue to provide the necessary services to their clients and get them through to the other side.”
According to Ridzi, the Madison County Rural Poverty Fund is now in the process of “cutting checks” to the first round of grant recipients — Oneida Healthcare ($25,000), The Haven at Skanda ($10,000), and Clear Path for Veterans ($5,000).
Established in 1927, the Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity that collects contributions from private donors, manages them to grow over time, and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive.
Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $200 million in community improvement projects and become the largest charitable foundation in Central New York.
Donations can be made online at cnycf.org/madisoncovid19 or by check made payable to “CNY Community Foundation” with a note “for Madison COVID-19 support.” Mail checks to “CNY Community Foundation, 431 E. Fayette St., Suite 100, Syracuse, New York 13202,” or contact Thomas Griffith, vice president, development at 315-422-9538 or [email protected].
