The Robin Hood foundation is still accepting applications from nonprofits for its COVID-19 Relief Fund for immediate response grants in key priority areas, as confirmed on Dec. 31.

 

Speaking to Norwood News by phone, Kevin Frederick Thompson, managing director of communications at the foundation, said that the usual source of funding for many nonprofits across the city has dried up or is temporarily unavailable. The foundation’s COVID-19 relief fund aims to bridge the gap in helping to support nonprofits which typically serve vulnerable populations, including low-income children and families, low-wage workers, individuals and families who are homeless and immigrant communities.

 

The foundation’s COVID-19 relief fund will provide assistance to those nonprofits which expand their regular services to include emergency assistance such as providing food, shelter, and other basic needs to individuals and families, and support such nonprofits which have a track record of administering emergency cash grants to these populations.

 

To date, 81 grants have been awarded to nonprofits across the Bronx, while Manhattan received 90, Queens 69, Brooklyn 94, and Staten Island received 16. In terms of emergency cash assistance, to date, the fund has paid out $29,139,710.

The fund will support such nonprofits which are at risk of underfunding due to the interruption or suspension of their usual service contracts with local government or other entities. For example, if a nonprofit is typically appointed under contract by local government or by other entities to provide health, human or other critical services to the community, and their contract is suspended due to lack of funding by the government or by another entity, the foundation will step in to provide that funding.

 

Due to the unprecedented year that was 2020, many nonprofits providing critical services have run out of money, due to being overwhelmed by demand, and because their usual source of funding was based on a typical year’s needs. Robin Hood’s fund will therefore provide help to those nonprofits and organizations which have incurred, unexpected expenses like overtime pay or technology costs which are likely due to having to go virtual this last year.

 

Robin Hood will only fund 501(c)(3) organizations providing services in New York City, and cannot fund individuals directly. Thompson said there is currently no deadline to apply and the fund is still accepting applications for relief efforts due to COVID-19. “The relief committee of our board continues to meet regularly to review and approve applications for funding,” he said. “We continue to raise money for our relief efforts, and as long as we have that money, we will continue to make those disbursements from the fund. There is no expiration anticipated at this time.”

 

The foundation’s offices are closed on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, but will reopen for regular business on Monday, January 4, 2021.