June 21, 2021, Bloomington, Ind. – United Way of Monroe County is pleased to announce that it will receive a second COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative grant for $615,960 from Indiana United Ways, the state professional association of which United Way of Monroe County is a member. The grant will be used to support our community in meeting basic human needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The grant is one of 47 grants that Indiana United Ways is making to member organizations and community foundations through the initiative, which was made possible by funding Indiana United Ways received from Lilly Endowment Inc.
“United Way of Monroe County has been a key convener and coordinator of our community’s response to meet human needs for decades. Even before this crisis, we knew that nearly half of our local households were struggling. 1 in 5 were in full-blown poverty and an additional quarter of families in Monroe, Owen, and Greene counties were teetering dangerously above the poverty line. In the wake of COVID, those needs became even more dire. Thanks to the generous, continued support of Lilly Endowment to our State Association, we can continue to help our community, through nonprofit partners, deal with and hopefully resolve the impacts of this trying time,” said Jerry Sutherlin, Board President for United Way of Monroe County.
The second COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative grant again calls for United Ways that receive funding to leverage partnerships and relationships to better meet COVID-related basic needs aligned with the social determinants of health as defined by the CDC. Specifically, United Way of Monroe County will open funding to nonprofit organizations who have demonstrated the capacity to directly support individuals during the pandemic as well as the capacity to collaborate effectively.
United Way of Monroe County will accept funding requests from area human and social service nonprofits whose IRS designation is in good standing beginning August 2. Monroe County organizations can fill out the COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative Grant Interest Form to receive email updates with information about the application process.
From the second COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative award, United Way of Monroe County is allocating $22,658 to the Brown County Community Foundation, $95,209 to the Greene County Foundation, and $62,008 to the Owen County Community Foundation. Agencies located in these counties should contact their local Community Foundation to apply for funding.
In April 2020, Lilly Endowment helped Indiana United Ways establish the COVID-19 Economic Relief Initiative with an initial $30 million grant. Lilly Endowment made an additional $15 million grant in March to Indiana United Ways to support the initiative. Both grants are part of Lilly Endowment’s overall grantmaking to help organizations meet COVID-related needs. Since March 2020, Lilly Endowment has made grants totaling more than $210 million to organizations working in Indiana and across the nation as they respond to the pandemic.
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United Way of Monroe County is a nonprofit organization that improves people’s lives by addressing critical needs today and working to reduce those needs tomorrow. Through its Community Action Fund and grant initiatives, United Way works with 24 member agencies and community partners to ensure families have opportunities and everyone can meet basic living needs.
Indiana United Ways is the state professional association for United Ways in Indiana and supports a thriving United Way system through capacity building, shared services, and network collaboration opportunities. For more information, contact Tonja Stokes, Vice President of Organizational Development at tonja.stokes@iuw.org.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.