Community Foundations responses to Covid-19

Eleanor Cater
CFNZ
30 March 2020

This year, we know that our local communities will face increasing hardship. While the medium to long-term effects of Covid-19 are unknown there is some good news:

• our government has allocated $27m to go to frontline charities for the short-term
• funders across NZ are collaborating and developing very flexible approaches to funding, and many are making commitments of ongoing support to their communities, despite difficult times
• we are already seeing acts of thoughtful generosity, with many people wanting to give to help to ease the pain to communities

The government’s response package will help many charities working with those who are already facing increasing hardship - including care of our elderly, protection of our most vulnerable who might be living in unsafe situations or facing poverty and extreme financial hardship.

Community Foundations are looking further ahead and working to channel a region’s generosity to where it will be needed most. Some have started Community Response Funds for this very purpose.

If you’d like to make a difference and you’re not sure how to go about it, you can talk with your local Community Foundation today about channeling your thoughtful giving into the greatest needs in your community.

Community Foundations are responding to their unique situations and in their own regional way. We would like to thank all the wonderful people, businesses, councils and community collaborators who, alongside us, are already looking out for and planning for their communities. Your thoughtful support and strategic vision this year will make a difference more than ever.

Aroha New Zealand.