NEWS

In the six weeks since the launch of Davidson Community Foundation (DCF), the founding Board of Advisors has raised nearly $250,000 in Emergency Funds to support local non-profit agencies and houses of worship to meet the needs of our most vulnerable and financially-distressed community members who have faced job loss or other significant hardship due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

Through the end of May, DCF has awarded over $190,000 to seven non-profits to support emergency needs including rent/housing, food, medications, utility service, and transportation for our neighbors in financial crisis and unable to pay for these basic expenses. These non-profits include the Ada Jenkins Center, Davidson-Cornelius Child Development Center, Davidson Housing Coalition, Gethsemane Baptist Church, Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region (for Davidson homeowners and critical repairs clients), Reeves Temple AME Zion Church, and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church La Escuelita San Alban mission.

DCF Emergency Funds have reached 102 families in our community – 340 individuals – and provided critically-needed financial support through the end of July. The families served are primarily from Davidson, but also include those from nearby communities. In addition to suffering the economic impact of job loss and significantly reduced work hours, some of the families are also trying to cope with disabilities and serious illnesses.

Prior to DCF’s launch, board members worked closely with local non-profit agencies and houses of worship to assess and understand the number of families in economic crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to quantify each family’s specific needs for financial assistance. Additionally, DCF encouraged our non-profit partners to communicate among each other to help ensure that needy families were neither double-counted or missed. Based on the number of families and each family’s specific financial needs, the DCF board set the Emergency Fund goal of $250,000 and committed to raise the needed funds. Each grantee organization – all 501(c)(3) designated – submitted a formal grant request and is required to adhere to specific outcomes measurements and reporting.

DCF understands that the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis will likely extend beyond the summer, and will consider additional non-profit grant requests for Emergency Funds to support the families of our community. Local non-profits that serve individuals and families in need are encouraged to contact DCF to obtain a Grant Application and instructions. Please contact Ellen Donaldson, DCF Grant Committee chair, at [email protected].

DCF, an all-volunteer organization, is led by a Board of Advisors and is affiliated as a field of interest fund with Foundation For The Carolinas.

To make a tax-deductible donation to DCF Emergency Fund to help our neighbors in need, please donate online at www.fftc.org/Davidson, or send a check payable to Foundation For The Carolinas, ATTN: Davidson Community Foundation, 220 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. For questions or additional information please contact Dave Cable at [email protected] or Ellen Donaldson at [email protected].

 

About Davidson Community Foundation

Davidson Community Foundation’s mission is to enhance the lives of Davidson residents, now and for generations, by working with local leaders and donors to build and distribute a community fund to address Davidson’s most pressing needs. This citizen-driven initiative is designed to substantially expand local philanthropy and direct it to where it’s most needed. The Fund provides both transformative grants to local non-profit organizations to address long-term, high-impact needs, as well as pressing needs through the DCF Emergency Fund. Through grants to local, non-profit charitable organizations, the Emergency Fund will augment the ability of the Davidson community to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.