[Wabash] – Wabash County United Fund is pleased to announce that it will receive a second COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative grantfor $89,491 from Indiana United Ways, the state professional association of which Wabash County United Fund is a member. The grant will be used to support our community in meeting basic human needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant is one of 47 grants that Indiana United Ways is making to member organizations and community foundations through the initiative, which was made possible by funding Indiana United Ways received from Lilly Endowment Inc.
“Wabash County United Fund has been a key convener and coordinator of our community’s response to meet human needs for decades. Even before this crisis, we knew that nearly 1 in 3 families in Wabash County struggle to make ends meet – despite working. In the wake of COVID, those needs became even more dire. Thanks to the generous, continued support of Lilly Endowment to our State Association, we can continue to help our community, through nonprofit partners, deal with and hopefully resolve the impacts of this trying time,” said Cathy Wolfe, 2021 Board President for Wabash County United Fund.
The second COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative grant again calls for United Ways and Funds that receive funding to leverage partnerships and relationships to better meet COVID-related basic needs aligned with the social determinants of health as defined by the CDC. Specifically, Wabash County United Fund plans to support key local programs that are being developed to address community needs. Examples of issues that may be priorities include addiction treatment, quality/affordable childcare, homelessness/affordable housing, and adult education/certification. United Fund will release application information in the coming days, and anticipates accepting funding requests beginning June 21, 2021. Eligible organizations include area human and social service nonprofits whose IRS designation is in good standing. Interested organizations should consult Wabash County United Fund for guidance on funding intent and application instructions.
In April 2020, Lilly Endowment helped Indiana United Ways establish the COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative with an initial $30 million grant. Lilly Endowment made an additional $15 million grant in March to Indiana United Ways to support the initiative. Both grants are part of Lilly Endowment’s overall grantmaking to help organizations meet COVID-related needs. Since March 2020, Lilly Endowment has made grants totaling more than $210 million to organizations working in Indiana and across the nation as they respond to the pandemic.