Washington County announces $5 million in emergency assistance grants for local nonprofits

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 02, 2020

Washington County is now accepting applications for a total of $5 million in emergency assistance grants for nonprofit organizations based in and serving County residents. Washington County has partnered with the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) to administer the grant program in support of qualified nonprofit agencies that have experienced economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations could receive up $100,000 in aid to maintain their businesses, workforce and services to residents.

The program will provide up to $5M from the County’s allocation of $104 million in federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and is intended to offset additional expenses and lost revenues due to COVID-19. Grants will be awarded through a competitive review process, managed by OCF. Funding opportunities will prioritize culturally-specific and/or culturally responsive organizations in Washington County. Other eligibility requirements include:

• In operation since at least March 1, 2019
• Registered as a 501(c)(3) with the IRS or a fiscal agent that is a registered 501(c)(3)
• No previously received grants or loans, to cover the same costs, from Washington County since March 1, 2020
• Experienced economic hardship during the economic shut down due to the pandemic, beginning in March 2020.

Awards will vary in size depending on the size of the organization. Granted CARES Act funds must be used by December 30, 2020, for COVID-19 related costs in alignment with allowed expenditures:

• Lost revenue due to Oregon’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order
• Any nonprofit-related operating expenses (including but not limited to payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, inventory, PPE and cleaning supplies)
• COVID-19 recovery strategies (including health and safety facility changes, supplies, and/or public education campaigns).

Applications will close on September 25, 2020, at 5 p.m. or when 1,000 applications have been received, whichever occurs first. Applications can be submitted online in English or made available in other languages by contacting [email protected].

For more information about submitting an application, the application review process or for a list of frequently asked questions, please visit www.oregoncf.org/WashingtonCoCARES.

For questions about the grant program, please contact Megan Schumaker at [email protected].    

For additional information about Washington County’s CARES Act allocation and spending priorities, please visit https://www.co.washington.or.us/Support_Services/Finance/GrantManagement/cares-act.cfm.

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