23 Mar 2020 Grants help with effects of virus

Posted at 4:45 PMh in News by

Three area organizations are teaming up to provide microgrants to area nonprofits who are working to prevent or combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the community.

The United Way of Central Arkansas, Faulkner County Community Foundation and the Conway County Community Foundation are partnering to offer microgrants of up to $500 to nonprofit agencies in Faulkner, Conway, Perry and Van Buren counties. 

Coronavirus Microgrant Applications are available now and can be completed online through Tuesday, March 31, at arcf.org/conwaycounty; arcf.org/faulknercounty and uwcark.org/. Funding decisions will be made each Friday and notifications will be sent via email each Monday through Monday, April 6, or until funds are no longer available. 

“Nonprofit agencies are supporting the most vulnerable populations in our communities during this unprecedented time and we recognize that the requests for those services and support are only going to increase,” said United Way of Central Arkansas Executive Director Jennifer Boyett. “Thankfully, the United Way has an endowment through the Arkansas Community Foundation’s Faulkner County affiliate that is allowing us to have this critical source of support.”

Each organization is using earnings from their endowments to provide funds for the microgrants. Endowments are gifts that are invested in perpetuity and generate investment earnings that support identified needs. 

“The Faulkner County Community Foundation is proud to offer citizens a way to invest in the community through our endowments and other various giving opportunities,” said executive director Shelley Mehl. “I am grateful that the boards of the Community Foundation and the United Way were able to see that we have an incredible opportunity to help our partners in the community serve those needs, and I am thankful for the donors to those endowments who planted the seeds for this source of support.”

Conway County Community Foundation Executive Director John Gibson said community foundations are important sources of support for area agencies – especially in critical times of need. “The Conway County Community Foundation is a reliable and trustworthy organization where citizens can proudly invest in their community and know those investments will be put to work right here at home,” he said.

In addition to the funds from the operating endowments, Central Arkansas Professional Surveying, Arvest Bank and Centennial Bank have also committed to provide matching contributions to this effort.