FRONTLINE RESPONSE FUND PURPOSE
Front and Centered, a statewide coalition of grassroots organizations based in and led by communities of color, has created a Frontline Response Fund to provide immediate and direct assistance to groups working to respond to acute environmental challenges such as wildfires and COVID-19. It is intended to support groups which have been affiliated with Front and Centered as collaborators and partners and groups which may align with our vision and values, and may be interested in joining the coalition.
We recognize that there are gaps in the resources and services available to community groups of color, especially in areas where limited public infrastructure and environmental inequities exist. Employment, Transportation, Utilities, Eldercare, Access to Food, Housing and Child care are among the many needs resulting from this unprecedented humanitarian and global health crisis. While the first stage of funds focused on the emergent and immediate needs that community groups were responding to, the second stage of funding will strategically focus on increasing the capacity and impact of grassroots groups. Our funds are intended to fill the gap for community groups which may not otherwise have access to the mainstream grantmakers, and to support the larger set of COVID19 policy goals identified by our community coalition.
In order to move resources quickly and not further burden organizations on the frontlines of the pandemic, funding partners are not hosting a formal application process at this time. Instead, member organizations and groups WORKING AND BASED OUT OF WASHINGTON STATE that have pressing needs related to the COVID-19 crisis response can submit their requests online via our web portal or through email [email protected] to receive next steps in the process.
If you need help completing the form, please contact [email protected] or 206.487.4303.
Based upon the charitable structure of the COVID-19 Frontline Response Fund grants are limited to WASHINGTON STATE 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, groups or programs fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3 organization or other charitable organization, such as faith-based organizations and other public entities. In some instances, 501 (c) 4 organizations are eligible.
For now, the fund is designed to be fully distributed in 2020.
Generally, this round of funding will grant up to $15,000. We will consider larger requests and those which may be from organizations above the budget threshold on a case by case basis. Consideration will be given to grant requests outside of the general criteria if the grant aims to advance the broader COVID19 policy goals we recommend and if the grant proposal and community group requesting funds align with the mission and coalition of Front and Centered.
Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis. The Front and Centered Steering Committee, comprised of community member groups, will review and make decisions on a bi-monthly basis so that release of funds will be as quickly as possible. Applicants may apply more than once.
In this second stage of funding, applications will be reviewed with the following priority criteria in mind: groups in alignment with Front and Centered principles, such as those which have been organizational members, collaborators or partners; groups which are led by and serve Black Indigenous and/or People of Color communities; smaller, grassroots groups working with highly impacted communities of color with budgets of $500,000; groups which may be newly emerging and responsive to the unique needs of highly impacted communities who are predominantly Black Indigenous or People of Color. We will also consider grant requests outside of these general criteria in instances where the funding request aims to achieve the broader COVID19 policy goals aligned with the mission and coalition of Front and Centered.
We understand many people have already been affected by COVID-19, and more will continue to be affected. The Front and Centered COVID-19 Frontline Response Fund member organizations and groups are deploying resources to constituents that are directly affected who are at the highest risk for emerging health, economic and social impacts of the pandemic. The COVID-19 Frontline Response Fund will not provide grants to individuals.
In the beginning, the COVID-19 Frontline Response Fund will not be able to prioritize organizations that have lost revenue or are likely to lose future revenue due to canceled events or programs. The Steering Committee recognizes these challenges, and as the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, they will continue to assess and evolve funding strategies.
The Frontline Response Fund also seeks to award grants that:
- Lift up approaches tailored to specific cultural, historic and language needs of disproportionately impacted populations.
- Enhance projects funded with public dollars and/or projects that are complementary to other recovery efforts.
- Help establish a structure whereby grantees can collaborate, thereby leveraging new resources and maximizing impact (e.g. environmental organizations, public policy groups, and media outlets working collaboratively to address the pandemic).
- Support and encourage collaboration among grantees, public health entities, emergency management personnel, first-responders and long-term recovery group members.
