County Non-Profits Get Boost To Make It Through Pandemic

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Food pantries, human services, and education are among the work nonprofits in Chester County are getting help with, as they keep operating despite the impact of COVID-19.

Through the Restore Chester County Nonprofit Innovation and Resiliency Fund, $3.5 million in COVID-19 relief has been awarded to help Chester County nonprofits recover with resiliency and innovation, Chester County announced last week.

Chester County’s Commissioners obtained $3.5 million in federal CARES Act funding and have passed it on through Restor Chester County's Nonprofit Innovation and Resiliency Fund, with the fund administered by the Chester County Community Foundation. The foundation receives input from regional funders, United Ways, and Chester County government departments.

In November and December, the Community Foundation awarded 134 grants ranging from $2,500 to $100,000 to Chester County-based nonprofits. The grant allocations by field of interest are:

• $2.5 million was awarded for human services
• $376,000 was awarded to art, culture, and history organizations
• $361,000 was awarded to education
• $176,000 was awarded for health services and
• $113,000 was awarded to environmental causes.

Geographically, $1.5 million was awarded to nonprofits in central Chester County; and approximately a half-million each to nonprofits located in northern, southern, eastern and western Chester County, according to a news release from the county.

"The COVID-19 outbreak is far from over. Nonprofits will continue to face immediate and long-term challenges while serving the public good. The public is urged to support the nonprofits through financial contributions, donations of supplies, and volunteering online and in-person," the county stated.

The Chester County Community Foundation is headquartered in West Chester's Lincoln Building. The Community Foundation holds nearly $75 million in trust and annually awards $6 million in grants and scholarships.

To apply for a grant through the Community Foundation go here.