The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan is fortunate to be part of a caring, generous, and resilient community. The health and safety of our partners, staff, and neighbors is always our top priority. We know that many in our communities will experience increased hardship as schools are temporarily closed, hours are reduced, or people stick closer to home.
We encourage you to support local nonprofit organizations who are on the front lines of helping our region manage this crisis. You can also make a donation to the Community Foundation's Urgent Needs Fund which will be put to use in the coming days and weeks to help those most vulnerable to the outbreak and its economic consequences. Grants from this fund will be used to provide vital services such as access to food and basic hygiene, caring for senior citizens, supporting utility and rental assistance, and overall basic needs.
The Community Foundation is not able to help individuals directly, but supports partners who can.
In times like these, philanthropy can make a big difference close to home.
Donations can be made online here. Donations by check are also welcome and may be made payable to Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan with "Urgent Needs Fund" on the memo line. Checks should be mailed to CFNEM, P.O. Box 495, Alpena, MI 49707.
If you are a nonprofit and are interested in applying for a grant from the Urgent Needs Fund, please contact Patrick Heraghty (pheraghty@cfnem.org) or Christine Hitch (chitch@cfnem.org) or calling our office at 877-354-6881.
NEWS
Fifth Round of Urgent Needs Grants Announced
Fourth Round of $25,000 in Urgent Needs Grants Announced
Third Round of $25,000 in Urgent Needs Grants Announced
Second Round of $25,000 in Urgent Needs Grants Announced
First Round of $25,000 in Urgent Needs Grants Announced
URGENT NEEDS FUND TO MAKE GRANTS TO HELP NEIGHBORS IMPACTED BY COVID-19
There are many needs right now. They are likely to continue for some time. By supporting local nonprofit organizations, community members can help meet some of those needs for individuals and families who are experiencing loss of income caused by COVID-19.
Food pantries and human services organizations that provide help with utilities and other necessities will see community needs increase in the weeks ahead. Donations to those organizations will ease the burdens faced by many who are unable to work due to necessary social distancing.
In response to this situation, the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan has created the Urgent Needs Fund and funded it with an initial $40,000 of its unrestricted funding and an additional $40,000 commitment from DTE Foundation, bringing the fund’s starting total to $80,000. The first round of grants will immediately put $25,000 into our communities where needed, with additional funds to be released soon after.
CFNEM’s service area includes Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle Counties, as well as its three affiliate foundations serving Cheboygan (Straits Area Community Foundation), Crawford, Ogemaw and Oscoda (North Central Michigan Community Foundation), and Iosco (Iosco County Community Foundation). All nine counties will be supported through the Urgent Needs Fund.
“Our goal is to gather resources for our entire region, and make them available to our local nonprofits who will work to address needs of those affected by this crisis.” said Patrick Heraghty, CFNEM Executive Director. “We hope that through this fund, we can get funding where it needs to go swiftly and efficiently.”
To provide resources to nonprofits over the next weeks and months, and to help ensure funding will be available in the longer term, CFNEM encourages community members who want to help to donate to the Urgent Needs Fund.
“We recognize that the needs in northeast Michigan are, and will continue to be, substantial,” said Heraghty. “Along with providing support, this fund provides donors with an avenue to support northeast Michigan’s communities through this incredibly trying time.”
