United Way of Western Nebraska is launching a relief fund, the COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund, to help organizations and individuals most in need of assistance.
This fund was made possible by a very generous $10,000 lead grant from First National Bank of Omaha, and United Way of Western Nebraska is now accepting additional donations to this fund.
An Ad Hoc Advisory Committee will be formed with community leaders that will work with United Way to advise on the direction and implementation of support to address the needs in the community. The committee will administer grants from the fund in phases to help address immediate needs and short-term and longer-term impacts of the outbreak and recovery. Grants will be released on a rolling basis as the situation unfolds, making it possible to move resources as quickly as possible and adapt to evolving community needs. The process overall will be dependent upon available dollars. Our goal is to notify applicants of granting decisions as expeditiously as possible.
This fund provides nonprofit organizations with flexible resources to address the impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis on our community or other publicly declared crisis, including immediate basic needs, gaps in service, and operational challenges. Preference will be given to the provision of direct services in this context.
The COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund is able to support organizations meeting the following criteria:
- Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or community-based groups, governmental bodies, municipalities, or schools fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the
- Directly serve the people of the United Way of Western Nebraska’s service areas.
- Conduct business without discrimination with regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, political beliefs, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, or any other category protected by
Throughout this process, United Way of Western Nebraska is committed to:
- Developing a central pool of funds nonprofits can access for support throughout the
- Listening to our community partners to help determine the most pressing emergency needs and their
- Working cooperatively with other organizations to help assess and help to address immediate needs and longer-term needs beyond the
- An expedited process for the distribution of COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund
- Reporting how and where COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund grants are utilized, using the same level of diligence as we do with all of our granting
- Grants from the COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund will be made possible by generous donations from foundations, community partners and donors starting with a very generous $10,000 lead grant from First National Bank of Omaha.
All funds must be spent within the United Way of Western Nebraska service areas.
Donations can be made to the funds in the following ways:
- Online: www.unitedwayofwesternnebraska.com/covid
- Text: UWGIVE to 313131
- Checks can be sent to: United Way of Western Nebraska, COVID-19 Community Compassion Fund, 1517 Broadway Suite #106 Scottsbluff, NE 69361
All questions about the application process should be directed to Steph Black at director@unitedwayofwesternnebraska.com or (308) 635-2522; and Karen Benzel at bbc@unitedwayofwesternnebraska.com or (308) 763-8031.
Together we can make a difference in our community.
