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Greater CLE COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund awards more than $3 million in grants to local nonprofits

Posted at 11:59 AM, Apr 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-23 18:48:37-04

CLEVELAND — The coronavirus has undoubtedly shaken businesses, nonprofits and everything in between to their core.

The novel virus is leaving people without jobs and forcing them to ask their community for help.

"The need is so deep, so vast and it's hard to try and discern quickly," said Marcia Egbert. Egbert is a senior program officer with The George Gund Foundation.

That organization, in addition to the Cleveland Foundation, corporate, civic and philanthropic partners launched the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund to help nonprofits who are support their local communities.

To date, nearly $8 million has been donated to the fund. Egbert said all of the money donated will go back out.

"It's a big need, but we've got a big heart in Cleveland," Egbert said.

On a weekly basis, nonprofits located in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties are awarded money from the fund to help with expenses and purchases.

Grant awards vary in amount based on what the nonprofit needs and the money allotted for each week.

Egbert said while the virus has strained thousands of people across Northeast Ohio, this is also highlighting those who are giving back to their community.

"There's an enormous reservoir of both skill, compassion dedication in this community that is all being demonstrated in this epidemic and we are so truly humbly grateful to be able to be apart of this. It's really an amazing thing to witness," she said.

Grants will be given out on a weekly basis through May. After that time, the coalition will assess the need and give what they can.

Nonprofits who would like to apply for a grant can click here.