The Telluride Foundation has created a COVID-19 Response Fund that will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the frontlines of the outbreak and vulnerable individuals and families directly impacted in the Telluride region, including San Miguel, Ouray, west Montrose counties and Rico. The Fund will prioritize the most immediate public health needs and economic impacts of the new disease, focusing on vulnerable populations and the service providers that support them. The Foundation will allocate some of its reserves and planned 20th Anniversary Celebration budget towards meeting these unprecedented community needs.
Contributions to the COVID-19 Response Fund can be made online through www.telluridefoundation.org/responsefund. Donors who wish to speak with one of our staff or need help facilitating a donation by check, cash wire, or stock transfer can contact Katie Singer at 970728-8717 or katie@telluridefoundation.org.
About the COVID-19 Response Fund
Hosted by Telluride Foundation, the COVID-19 Response Fund will provide flexible resources to organizations and individuals working within our communities that are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. The Fund is designed to complement the work of public health officials and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible. The Telluride Foundation will administer grants to qualified nonprofits and emergency hardship grants to individuals.
In order to move resources quickly and not further burden organizations on the frontlines of the pandemic, we will provide simplified and flexible application processes. Funds will be released on a rolling basis as funds are raised, continuing throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis. Overall, the Fund will be managed so that we can respond rapidly to community demands and adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases.
The Fund will address to emergency tracks as follows:
One, in the near-term, one-time operating grants will fund organizations that have deep roots within priority populations and services, such as human service and health nonprofits facing unprecedented, unexpected situations due to the coronavirus. We anticipate that healthcare facilities, food banks, homeless shelters, as well as programs serving school-aged kids on free and reduced lunch or providing access to the internet for distance learning will need financial help.
Two, we are aware that many resident families and individuals may have short-term emergency financial needs due to illness, health care costs, lack of work, or having to care for children or family members. The Foundation has operated the “Good Neighbor Fund (GNF),” for 15 years; GNF is a one-time emergency hardship funding program available for the workforce in San Miguel, Ouray, and west Montrose counties. We will expand this resource and target GNF towards the most vulnerable individuals and families.
Please consider a donation to support our local community. Please go to www.telluridefoundation.org/responsefund
We will provide regular updates as the situation evolves. To stay up to date visit our web site or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or suggestions.
