Community First Foundation created the Jeffco Hope Fund to strengthen and stabilize community organizations responding to and impacted by COVID-19. With a $1 million contribution to seed the fund, the foundation welcomes donations from the Jeffco community. The fund’s primary purpose is to provide financial support to Jefferson County nonprofit and government agencies responding to and impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide a vehicle for individual, corporate and other donors who want to support Jeffco communities.
“As a community foundation, we are here to support our local community,” said Kelly Dunkin, Community First Foundation’s CEO and President. “We recognize the challenges COVID-19 is putting on the community and we hope this fund can help nonprofits continue to serve our neighbors through the recovery efforts.
Grant opportunities will open soon with two rounds of priorities. The first round of applications opens March 26 and awards will made in the following weeks. This round provides support for organizations providing direct services to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 (examples include but are not limited to health care and mental health providers, senior service providers, food banks, housing service providers, workforce development centers) and those who are leading a coordinated community response to the impacts of COVID-19.
A second round of grant opportunities opens April 15. This second round provides support for nonprofits who may not be providing direct services but have been negatively impacted due to suspended programming, canceled fundraising events and/or shrinking or lack of resources to continue their work during this period of social isolation. Future rounds of funding are likely as the Fund grows from community donations.
Learn more and donate on the Jeffco Hope Fund webpage.