The Community Foundation of the Ozarks awarded nearly $100,000 Friday to nine regional nonprofit agencies in the initial grants made from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.
Groups in this area are expected to also seek funding.
The grants from this fund are focused on agencies providing support to vulnerable citizens during this pandemic emergency across the CFO’s 58-county service region of central and southern Missouri, which includes Texas County.
The grant proposals are reviewed by a committee of community volunteers supported by CFO staff members.
On March 20, the CFO announced an initial $1 million commitment for COVID-19 response and recovery needs, supported by the CFO’s discretionary grantmaking funds, the Missouri Foundation for Health and the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation managed by Commerce Trust. Since then, funders making commitments of $25,000 or more include White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Delta Dental and the Darr Family Foundation. The fund also has been supported by generous individual donors. Gifts can be made at cfozarks.org/donate.
“We are eager to see these funds start working to address the needs of our most vulnerable citizens during this crisis,” CFO President Brian Fogle said. “Unfortunately, the requests coming in already are exceeding our current funding capacity. Our experience shows us that our region’s nonprofit community, especially in the rural Ozarks, can make these dollars go a long way. We are working to build our resources for both these immediate needs and many more coming.”
Grant applications are being accepted on a rolling basis with announcements anticipated weekly for the near future. Locally, the Houston Community Foundation is working with its affiliates.
The application process is open to nonprofits and IRS-equivalent organizations like faith and civic agencies. The CFO does not make grants directly to individuals.