Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird today announced that $78,000 from the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund was awarded to six nonprofit organizations serving those affected by the pandemic. This is the fourth round of grants from the Fund, and a total of $595,000 has been granted to 42 nonprofit organizations so far. The grants are a coordinated response to help support the basic needs of vulnerable and newly vulnerable Lincoln residents, including access to food, housing, medical information, childcare, and other support.
The Fund, hosted by the Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF), was announced March 20. To date, the Fund has received $958,000 in contributions, including $500,000 from strategic partners. The Fund was created to provide grants to nonprofits that support people disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
“I’m grateful for the nearly $1 million in contributions to the Fund that we’ve received to date,” said Mayor Gaylor Baird. “The impact of these resources cannot be understated-people are getting food, telehealth, childcare, and other critical support as a result of these life-saving funds.”
The fourth round of grant recipients was identified by a committee including the City, LCF, the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County, the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED), the Community Health Endowment (CHE), and other philanthropic and business partners. The committee is led by a committee chaired by Bryan Seck, Director of Workforce Development for LPED. Meagan Liesveld, Executive Director of the United Way serves as Vice Chair.
The fourth round of grant recipients are:
- Fresh Start
- India Association of Nebraska Lincoln
- Lincoln Medical Education Partnership
- Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach
- Nebraska Kidney Association
- Visiting Nurse Health Services
“The needs of our community continue as our friends and neighbors lose their jobs or are forced to stay at home,” said Barbara Bartle, LCF President. “Local nonprofits are besieged with requests to help, and it’s up to us to be there for them with our support. We are all in this together.”
To make it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs, the Fund will continue to award operating grants on a rolling basis as fundraising continues. The Fund is designed to complement the work of public health officials and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the pandemic as efficiently as possible.
Individual donors, institutions, companies, and other funders are encouraged to contribute to the Fund at LCF.org. More information, including details for nonprofits on requesting resources, is also available at the website or by calling 402-474-2345.
Strategic partners include Abel Foundation; Acklie Charitable Foundation; Allo; Ameritas; CHE; Cooper Foundation; Greater Lincoln Chamber Foundation; Harbor of Dreams; LCF; Nelnet; Rhonda Seacrest; The Sherwood Foundation; Susan Sehnert Stuart; Union Bank & Trust Company, Inc.; and J.A. Woollam Foundation.
More information on the City’s response to COVID-19 is available at COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov.