Funding Amount

Total distributed: $750,000 across three phases (Phase 1: $250,000; Phase 2: $100,000; Phase 3: $400,000)

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Will County COVID-19 Response Fund

Administrators: United Way of Will County and Community Foundation of Will County (partnership)

Geographic Scope: Will County, Illinois and surrounding suburbs

Program Type: Emergency response fund (established during COVID-19 pandemic)

Program Overview

The Will County COVID-19 Response Fund is an extension of the Will County Disaster & Community Crisis Fund (originally created after the devastating Plainfield Tornado). The COVID-19 fund unites local funds raised by companies, individuals, and civic partners and disburses them to local nonprofit organizations serving Will County residents.

Purpose: Support nonprofit organizations serving the community's most vulnerable neighbors experiencing economic hardship due to the coronavirus outbreak.

    Total Funding Distributed

    $750,000 across three phases:
  • Phase 1 (4/15/2020): $250,000
  • Phase 2 (5/8/2020): $100,000
  • Phase 3 (6/4/2020): $400,000

    Funding Uses

    Donations supported increased access to:
  • Emergency food and basic supplies
  • Rent and mortgage assistance
  • Utility assistance
  • Direct financial assistance for household supplies
  • Nonprofit safety and operations assistance

    Funding Distribution Model

  • 100% of donations go to support services and supplies (except for minimal credit card processing fees)
  • Funds allocated to local nonprofit organizations who provide services and supplies
  • Nonprofit agencies awarded funds are announced as they receive grants
  • Individuals and families in need access support through participating nonprofit organizations

    Who Can Apply

    Direct applications from individuals and families: Not applicable
  • All funds distributed through local nonprofit organizations
  • Individuals/families in need should contact participating nonprofit agencies for services

    Grant Recipients (Phases 1-3)

    Phase 1 Awardees (24 organizations):
  • 4 KIDS Sake
  • Alicia's House
  • Bags of Hope
  • Bridges to a New Day, nfp
  • Community Service Council of Northern Will County
  • Crisis Center for South Suburbia
  • Easterseals Joliet Region, Inc.
  • Forest Park Community Center
  • G.W. Buck Boys & Girls Club
  • Hands of Hope of Illinois
  • Heart Haven OutReach
  • Illinois Partners in Hope NFP
  • Kuzma Care Cottage
  • Living Manna Food Pantry
  • MorningStar Mission Ministries Inc.
  • New Song Health Center/Bolingbrook Christian Health Center
  • Northern Illinois Food Bank
  • Senior Services of Will County
  • Spanish Community Center
  • Warren-Sharpe Community Center
  • West Suburban Community Pantry
  • Will-Grundy Medical Clinic

Phase 2 Awardees (15 organizations): Included organizations from Phase 1 plus new awardees including BAG Lady Outreach, Holsten Human Capital Development NFP, Loaves & Fishes Community Services, Prayer Tower Ministries, SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN IMMIGRANT PROJECT (SSIP), and The Salvation Army

Phase 3 Awardees (36+ organizations): Significantly expanded list including CASA of River Valley, Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet, Cornerstone Services Inc., Crisis Line of Will County, Guardian Angel Community Services, Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization (HERO), IL-WI Sertoma Regional Center for Communicative Disorders, Indian Prairie Educational Foundation, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, One Love Global Wellness, Providence Life Services, Respond Now, SOS Children's Villages Illinois, South Suburban PADS, St. Coletta's of Illinois, The National Hook-up of Black Women Inc., The South Suburban Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Trinity Services Inc., and VNA Health Care

    Response Fund Partners

  • Community Foundation of Will County
  • Meijer Stores
  • Friends of Pat McGuire
  • First Midwest Bank
  • IL COVID-19 Response Fund
  • 34+ individual donors

    In-Kind Partners

  • Magid Glove
  • Diageo
  • Koval
  • Wal-Mart
  • Bag Lady Outreach
  • Mary Kay

Contact Information

United Way of Will County 54 North Ottawa Street, Suite 300 Joliet, IL 60432 Phone: 815.723.2500

    Application Status

    Currently: Not accepting applications
  • Applications were processed during emergency phases in 2020
  • Fund distributed as of June 2020

    Additional Resources

  • COVID-19 Community Resource Guide available for download
  • Volunteers and in-kind donations accepted
  • List of critical supplies needed available

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

nonprofitshardshipfood-securityhousing

Categories

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