Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Closes COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund

Recently, the remaining balance of the COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund was granted to local nonprofits responding to the pandemic. The fund will now be closed, and all future gifts and grants for disaster response—including the pandemic, derecho, or other disasters—will go through the existing Disaster Recovery Fund held at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

The COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund was established on March 17, 2020 to minimize the impact of COVID-19 in our community and to address human service needs for vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, and the homeless. This fund was originally established in partnership with United Way of East Central Iowa and The Hall-Perrine Foundation. Subsequent lead gifts were made by Alliant Energy Foundation, Collins Aerospace, MidAmerican Energy, and United Fire Group, as well as donors Loren and Patti Coppock and Duane and Laura Smith.

The fund raised and distributed nearly $400,000 for pandemic relief through 223 gifts made to the fund. Grants to 43 nonprofit organizations supported everything from basic needs and rental assistance to awareness-raising and educational technology.

“The pandemic and the economic crisis it caused created many hardships for our community,” said Les Garner, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “With so many people facing a wide range of needs, it was clear that philanthropy would need to play a role in filling the funding gaps. Fortunately, we live in a community that is both resilient and generous.”

After the derecho swept through Eastern Iowa in August 2020, the Disaster Recovery Fund was established to allocate charitable contributions to support Linn County communities during disasters to provide resources where they are needed most. So far, grants have supported derecho response and recovery; moving forward, all of the Community Foundation’s disaster relief gifts and grants will be made to and from this fund.

To view a list of grants made from the COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund, click here.

To view a list of lead supporters to the COVID-19 Disaster Response Fund, click here.

For more information on the Disaster Recovery Fund, click here.