Community Foundation, United Way, Philanthropy Help Lead Local COVID-19 Response

On Monday March 24, 2020, Indian River Community Foundation (“IRCF”) joined the United Way of Indian River County and other community leaders to launch the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. 

During the past two weeks, IRCF has encouraged clients to help in the following ways:

1. Make 2020 charitable distributions from donor advised funds to local charities now, especially if accounts hold a significant cash position.
2. Make a gift to the United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund now, either directly or bundled with other client contributions to the IRCF COVID-19 Fund.
3. Make a significant gift to save or sustain a specific charitable organization, especially ones serving vulnerable individuals and families. 

Community Foundation Client Response

After just two weeks, IRCF’s clients have responded generously including the following:

• Distributions of more than $150,000 to the United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund, including $50,000 from the Community Enrichment Fund and additional support from the following accounts: A Caring Family Fund, Becker Family Foundation, Buffington Family Fund, Carole and Phil Coviello Charitable Fund, Forrester Family Fund II, Larry and Susan Salustro Fund, and two anonymous funds.

• Gifts of significance from IRCF clients to sustain individual charities identified by IRCF’s staff team as experiencing both an immediate increase in demand for services and a shortfall in earned income or contributions.  For example, one client family made a personal commitment of $90,000 to Childcare Resources to keep experienced preschool teachers employed while covering some of the tuition payments from working families for the next three months. Another client made her first gift of significance of $10,000 to the Humane Society to help with the increased demand for services. 

First Distributions from United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund

The United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund is being used to support local organizations working to meet community needs related to the health crisis. Priority needs include food, rent and utility assistance for low-income individuals and families.  In just two weeks, distributions from this fund have been coordinated by a committee made up of knowledgeable community leaders and grantmakers which includes IRCF. These include the following:

• $126,600 for rent, utility and food assistance to low-income families.
• $71,000 to help seniors.