Local Foundation Receives Funding from Statewide Relief Efforts Amid COVID-19 Crisis

April 2, 2020
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Willmar, Minn. – The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) is pleased to announce that they, in partnership with CommunityGiving, have recently received a grant of $22,900 through the Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund (MDRF) for coronavirus relief.  This funding, along with contributions to the Willmar Area Response Fund, will be used to support local relief efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic which will include wide-scale initiatives to help meet critical basic needs as well as sustaining local organizations providing critical services through recovery. The Willmar Area Response Fund has raised $77,415 as of April 1st.  

Sara Carlson, Executive Director of the WACF stated, “The partnership of the MDRF funding and the Willmar Response Fund will support both the immediate and long-term community needs resulting from this pandemic.”

Grant opportunities through the Willmar Area Response Fund will be available starting this week. Eligible organizations must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit, school or governmental entity that serves Kandiyohi County. Initially, the Fund will focus resources towards efforts focused on helping meet basic needs for area residents and critical services. For additional information, visit https://www.communitygiving.org/grant/willmar-area-response-fund-grants/37.   

CommunityGiving and it’s partner foundations were awarded a total of $150,000 from the MDRF to support COVID-19 pandemic relief programming in the communities that they serve. Steve Joul, President & CEO of CommunityGiving stated, “Our partner foundations are working tirelessly to support their friends and neighbors during this time of crisis and we continue to be inspired by the donors and organizations stepping forward to help others.”

The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local Willmar area.  Since 1998, WACF has grown to over $19.1 million in assets and awarded $8.8 million in grants to nonprofits.  The WACF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a collaborative of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors.  Collectively, CommunityGiving administers nearly 850 funds totaling more than $150 million. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/Willmar.
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