Coronavirus: Dayton Foundation, United Way partner to assist non-profits

The Dayton Foundation and the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area, along with a coalition of philanthropic, government and other individual partners, have joined together to establish the COVID-19 Response Fund for Greater Dayton.

Individuals, businesses, foundations and organizations may make charitable contributions to the fund, which will help provide flexible resources to nonprofits that are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 response, according to The Dayton Foundation’s website.

“We are urgently aware of the difficulties individuals and families are facing as employers, organizations and our community do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the risk to our more vulnerable populations. As this public health emergency continues to unfold, the coalition will do its part to help provide assistance in meeting urgent basic needs,” said J. Thomas Maultsby, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Dayton.

Other groups joining the response fund include City of Dayton, Mathile Family Foundation, Montgomery County, The Physicians’ Charitable Foundation of the Miami Valley and Sinclair Community College.

Grants will be awarded to vetted community-based and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations focused on:

• Immediate, basic human needs such as food, shelter, safety, etc.
• Mental health services
• Addressing the economic impact on individuals from reduced or lost work due to the outbreak

The Dayton Foundation and the United Way will administer the grant-making process with an oversight committee of funders. Contributions to the fund from public, private and educational partners currently total $550,000.

"Our community has shown time and again its resilience to rise above the challenges before us, and the coronavirus is no exception," said Michael M. Parks, president of The Dayton Foundation. "We know the needs are great. This fund is an important part of the process and a small way individual philanthropy can help our neighbors in need."

Nonprofit organizations may apply for a grant starting Wednesday, March 18 through the Foundation's website at www.daytonfoundation.org and the United Way's website at www.dayton-unitedway.org.