Group hopes to raise $10 million to meet needs of KC region during COVID-19 pandemic
A coalition of charitable, business and governmental organizations have formed an alliance to raise $10 million for a Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, the group announced Tuesday.
The fund is looking to address the urgent needs of those in the greater Kansas City area in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and will focus on where the needs for urgent health and human services are the highest in the community, according to a news release.
The alliance is led by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Kansas City, Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Greater Kansas City and Mid-America Regional Council.
While an initial goal of $10 million has been set, the alliance hopes to exceed that amount if needed to meet community needs. Fund leaders also said they may expand the scope as new needs surface.
The Hall Family Foundation and the Sunderland Foundation have partnered on a challenge grant to match donations to the fund up to $5 million in hopes of encouraging those who have the the means to donate to the fund.
“As we work to meet the challenge grant, generous givers throughout the Kansas City region will play a vital role in addressing unprecedented needs in our community,” Debbie Wilkerson, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation said in the release.
“The Community Foundation is prepared to lead the philanthropic response alongside United Way of Greater Kansas City,” she said. “and asks donors of all levels to give what they can to help our community’s most vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19.”
The fund will support relief efforts throughout the Greater Kansas City area, including Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri and Leavenworth, Miami, Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.
The fund will award grants to public charities and organizations. The initial round of grants, which will be awarded as soon as possible, will go to support operations and services that focus on critical needs like housing, food insecurity, health care and other human services.
It will also support charitable organizations to both maintain their operations and expand their capacity to serve those impacted by the disease. This would include addressing economic impacts on those affected by job interruptions and reductions in income and benefits.
“Our region is pulling together in an extraordinary way,” David Warm, MARC executive director, said in the release. “This fund is a powerful tool to combine philanthropic generosity, the capacity of vital community service providers and the goodwill of the public at large to help everyone in Kansas City endure this challenge.”
Businesses and organizations that wish to donate are asked to contact Denise St. Omer with Greater Kansas City Community Foundation at stomer@growyourgiving.org.
Individuals wishing to donate can donate here.
Nonprofits seeking a grant to fund needs can complete this form.
Individuals seeking help can contact the United Way 211 by calling 211 seven days a week, 24 hours a day, or visiting 211.kc.org.
Founding funders include: Black & Veatch, Bukaty Companies, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, George K. Baum Family Foundation, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, H & R Block Foundation, Hall Family Foundation, Health Forward Foundation, JE Dunn Construction, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Southern, Mallouk Family Foundation, Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, Mazuma Credit Union, Menorah Heritage Foundation, Mike and Linda Lyon, Patterson Family Foundation, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Richard and Annette Bloch Family Foundation, Sherman Family Foundation, Sosland Foundation of Kansas City, Stanley H. Durwood Foundation, Sunderland Foundation, UMB Bank, United Way of Greater Kansas City, and William T. Kemper Foundation.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 12:42 PM.
