COVID-19 Response Fund Grants

The COVID-19 Response Fund for Forsyth County was established to provide critical support to local nonprofits and charitable organizations assisting with the immediate needs of community members during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly those who were the most economically impacted.  

United Way of Forsyth County and The Winston-Salem Foundation launched the Fund in March 2020. From its establishment to its closing in late September, the fund raised $4,420,617 from corporations, groups, individuals, and local government, and it made 112 grants totaling the same amount to local nonprofits and charitable organizations.

Grants were made in three phases by evaluating the funds available, community needs, and government response. Applications were reviewed and grant decisions made by representatives from the City of Winston-Salem, Hanesbrands, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, the Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, Reynolds American, Truist, United Way of Forsyth County, Wells Fargo, and The Winston-Salem Foundation.

On behalf of the staff and boards of the United Way and The Winston-Salem Foundation, we thank the community for its generosity, local nonprofits for their extraordinary work in helping those most vulnerable, and the grants committee for its discerning work. COVID-19 will continue to impact the community in the coming year, and through our organizations’ grantmaking and community investments, we will continue helping our most impacted residents as they navigate these challenging times.

PHASES OF GRANTMAKING

Phase One

During the first phase of grantmaking in April, the COVID-19 Response Fund provided one-time general operating support to nonprofits to assist with the immediate needs of economically vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19.

In this phase, 52 nonprofits were awarded $2,563,000 from private contributions to the Fund. In a separate review process, the City of Winston-Salem awarded an additional $1,000,000 in grants to 23 local nonprofits. Phase One Grants >

Phase Two

Data has shown that Latinx households in Forsyth County have been disproportionately impacted by the novel coronavirus and its effects.  

In August, the Fund made a $121,000 proactive grant to the Hispanic League on behalf of a public/private partnership to help Latinx individuals meet financial needs that arise from testing positive for COVID-19 and needing to quarantine. Services include supportive housing and rent/mortgage assistance due to lost wages during the quarantine period. Phase Two Grant > 

Phase Three

The third and final grant round funded a total of $736,617.92 to 36 local nonprofit and charitable organizations to assist with the immediate needs of individuals impacted by COVID-19. In this phase, grant support was offered for programming to support housing, utility, and food expenses and for virtual learning assistance for public school students. Phase Three Grants >