St. Croix Foundation for Community Development announced today that it has been awarded a $65,000 grant from the newly-formed Momentum Fund to advance its COVID-19 relief work. The grant will support nonprofit organizations serving communities of color, low-income populations and other groups disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. As one of 129 grants totaling $8.5 million that were awarded by the Momentum Fund to 501(c)(3) organizations around the country, St. Croix Foundation’s grant will be regranted, providing direct support to St. Croix-based nonprofits.
Launched in May 2020 with a vision of ushering in a new model of philanthropic giving, The Momentum Fund unapologetically centers racial equity and explicitly prioritizes the needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The National Fund is managed by United Philanthropy Forum.
Through the Momentum Fund’s award, St. Croix Foundation will open an invitation-only grant cycle through its CARE Fund to award up to $5,000 in capacity building grants to local non-profits serving populations that have been impacted by COVID-19. Organizations eligible to apply include those active in the Foundation’s Nonprofit Consortium, a 25-member coalition of local non-profits serving the community in the areas of health care, youth and education, environmental preservation (built and natural), and arts and culture.
Nonprofit Consortium members are invited to submit a proposal beginning Nov. 2. Applications are due by Nov. 9, and awards will be announced on Nov. 16..
Due to the risks surrounding COVID-19 and the annual threat of hurricanes, in June, St. Croix Foundation relaunched its CARE Fund as a permanent fund to support immediate and long term needs relating to mitigating risk from crises while nurturing community resilience.
The CARE Fund’s priority areas include:
(1)Open Door Operating Support for Essential Nonprofits,
2)Programmatic Support for Frontline Responders,
(3)Data Collection for Strategic Recovery, and
(4)Support for Community Resiliency and Systems Innovations.
In this phase of grantmaking, the Foundation will be focusing on grants to support priorities No. 1 and No. 2 to ensure local nonprofits remain operationally strong enough to deliver services to residents in need.
Deanna James, president and CEO of St. Croix Foundation, said, “Today, despite the dire circumstances facing our territory, indeed the world, philanthropy is being afforded an unparalleled opportunity to build innovative global models for isolated, rural communities. Our priority at the Foundation is to fortify and innoculate vulnerable populations by ensuring that those social impact organizations serving on the front lines are sturdy and resilient.”
To date, the CARE Fund, established in 2017 immediately following hurricanes Irma and Maria, has invested $1.8 million into the territory, providing direct support to front-line relief efforts as well as holistic, long-term recovery strategies.
“We are witnessing an historic and unprecedented level of suffering and need that must be addressed before this nation falls even further into a state of absolute humanitarian crisis,” said Amanda Misiko Andere, CEO of Funders Together to End Homelessness and chair of the Momentum Fund Advisory Board.
“It is essential that the philanthropic sector continues to dedicate itself to this work, which includes addressing the devastating and deadly human health, economic and social impacts that are befalling millions of people of color and vulnerable families across the nation every day,” said Misiko.
To view a complete list of Momentum Fund grantees, visit www.momentumfund.org. For more information on the CARE Funds 2020 Open Door Grant opportunity, please contact staff@stxfoundation.org
