Nearly every local non-profit responded to our 2021 Grantee Survey with the same message; “We’re struggling.” Staffing challenges, changes in demand for services, costs of alternative service delivery and lost revenue forced many non-profits to operate through short falls.
Much like our 2020 Small Business Support Fund, we heard the message loud and clear. We developed the Nonprofit Pandemic Support Fund to help Wapello County nonprofits continue to serve our community. And the response was overwhelming. “The applicants estimated their lost revenue to be approximately $2,330,624,” said Grant Program Manager Amy Nossaman. When the pandemic closed the doors on group gatherings, non-profits felt the repercussions in their operating budgets, in volunteer support and staffing changes. “Nonprofits had to figure out new ways to operate quickly. Imagine if the Food Bank didn’t respond to the 20% increase in food-insecure community members or Hospice not providing services to grieving families,” Nossaman continued.
In response to that need, we are excited to announce a total of $100,000 in support to 18 non-profits serving Wapello County through the Nonprofit Pandemic Support Fund:
- American Home Finding Association
- Blakesburg Historical Preservation Society
- Bridge View Center Inc
- Children & Families of Iowa
- Crisis Center & Women’s Shelter
- First Resources Inc.
- Food Bank of Iowa
- Friends of the Blakesburg Public Library
- Hospice of Davis & Wapello County
- Indian Hills Community College
- Main Street Ottumwa
- McHaffey Opera House
- Ottumwa Community Children’s Playhouse
- Seton Catholic School
- SIEDA
- STARR Workforce, Inc
- Wapello County Fair Inc
- YMCA of Ottumwa
To learn more about how each of these organizations has worked to sustain operations throughout the pandemic, check back for our Pandemic Support Fund Feature series over the coming months.
