Coalition launches fund for Rochester area nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

A coalition of community partners have joined together to create a new fund aimed at supporting area nonprofits through the COVID-19 outbreak.

On Monday, the Rochester Area Foundation, Mayo Clinic and United Way of Olmsted County announced they have raised more than $500,000 for the ‘TOGETHER: Greater Rochester Area COVID-19 Community Support Fund.’ Their eventual goal is to at least double that amount.

“The purpose of this fund is to provide financial resources more quickly and easily to local organizations than our normal granting processes,” Jerome Ferson, president of the United Way of Olmsted County, said in the announcement. “Our community is generous, and we invite those who are able to support the TOGETHER Fund and bolster this important work.”

The groups says there will be zero administrative fees, meaning 100 percent of donations will go toward nonprofits in need.

Nonprofits can begin applying for the funds by the first week of April. According to the announcement, a “distribution committee made up of funding partners will review, prioritize, and approve funding requests on a rolling basis. Local nonprofits may submit funding requests to support project-based opportunities, direct services, or general operating support.”

In addition to the founding partners, other donors include Think Bank, IBM, Pepsi Co., Lasker Jewelers, and Rochester Sand and Gravel.

Follow this link to learn more about the fund, or to make a donation.