Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Teacher Heather Charity screens children and parents when they arrive at the Penquis Child Development Center in Bangor. Photo courtesy Penquis

COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund: When the pandemic hit in March 2020, MaineCF created the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund to support community-based organizations working with the COVID-19 outbreak and its consequences here in Maine. This fund supported nonprofit organizations involved in frontline efforts to serve the needs of those most affected by the virus and contain the spread of COVID-19. Such organizations included community action programs, area agencies on aging, homeless shelters, food pantries, and other organizations that address hunger, offer childcare to essential workers, support youth, and provide support for those with safety and mental health concerns. The grants were made proactively and not through an application process in order to disburse funds as quickly as possible and not add to the work of nonprofit organizations during a crisis.

A list of organizations that received a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund grant is available here.

These grants were possible thanks to donations to the COVID-19 fund, including seed money from a MaineCF unrestricted fund, grants from donor-advised fund donors, individual contributions, corporations, private foundations, and MaineCF’s endowed fund for food security. Ongoing grants are made possible thanks to continuing contributions from donors who have given to MaineCF’s Invest in Maine Fund.

Looking ahead with vigilance

MaineCF will continue to evaluate how we can provide more assistance and flexibility as we work with our partners to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.

If you have questions, concerns, or advice, please feel free to contact us at (207) 667-9735. Also, you may use our website to contact our staff.