The federal government is funding local charities and community organizations to the tune of $1 million to help weather a decrease in fundraising due to COVID-19 and the applications are open through the local United Way and Guelph Community Foundation.
Reached by phone on Wednesday, Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield said $1 million of the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) will be made available locally through the United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin and Guelph Community Foundation to funnel down to the organizations that need the funding.
“These are organizations that would normally be holding events and doing fundraising or auctions. All of that is being put on hold,” said Longfield.
The funding is intended to fill some of the fundraising gaps experienced by local charities and community organizations and will be issued through July 2020.
The application process is now open for local charities and community organizations, part of the $350 million Canada-wide ECSF program.
The grants can be used for a number of purposes, including staffing or resource needs, equipment purchases, technology and other uses.
The federal government was looking at the local branches of organizations like Community Foundations Canada, United Way Canada and the Red Cross as partners to distribute the funding.
“Those are organizations that are long-standing across Canada, well-governed, they know their communities and they have now opened up some funding portals for local charities to be able to access,” said Longfield.
“Canadian charities and not for profits are always there to help you in your time of need. But the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing real challenges to these important organizations,” said Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, in a press release. “The Government of Canada will be there for them so they can continue to be there for Canadians.”
United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin will support the investment of $675,000 in funding, whileGuelph Community Foundation will be in charge of $345,000.
Charities and community organizations can visit here and guelphcf.ca for eligibility and application details.
“We know that our community’s social service sector is experiencing great hardships right now, and yet, each and every day they are working harder than ever to ensure our community has access to basic needs and vulnerable populations are supported,” said Rick McCombie, executive director, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin, in a press release. “We are pleased to once again partner with the Guelph Community Foundation and the Government of Canada to ensure these valuable services continue to support our community.”
“This is a vital step in the fight against COVID-19,” said Chris Willard, executive director, Guelph Community Foundation, in a press release. “This additional funding will provide a much-needed boost to our community organizations. This announcement will strengthen the local partnership we’ve already built with the United Way and the collaborative COVID-19 Response Fund we launched together in March.”
Willard added: “with the support of our Board and volunteers, we’ll get these funds working in our community as fast as possible to make sure that no one in our community is left behind.”
