Overview
We are One Community – One County, and we face an emergency need to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Community Foundation of Otsego County (CFOC) has created the COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund for Otsego County. The Fund issues grants to qualified service organizations that address the most urgent needs of County residents. Once the crisis abates, the Fund will shift to support recovery efforts.
Community Foundation of Otsego County recognizes that as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to intensify locally, it will have disproportionate health, economic and social impacts on our most vulnerable neighbors. We also recognize that recovery from the pandemic will require significant investments over an extended time period. Therefore, we have two goals for the Fund: 1) relief from immediate shortages and impacts created by the crisis; and 2) assistance in recovery efforts once the crisis abates.
Our immediate concern is relief. We give awards to existing nonprofit organizations on the front lines of responding to these needs. Awards are issued to meet the following priorities:
- Support for medical workers, EMTs, police, firefighters and others working in essential industries who are risking their own health to serve the community.
- Prevention measures (education, sanitary supplies) that limit the spread of the virus.
- Support for vulnerable populations, i.e., older adults, people with compromised immune systems, and people who are unhoused.
- Practical needs, in case of disruption in services to vulnerable populations, such as meal delivery and daily living support for homebound older adults.
- Food access and other practical supports for people who may have lost wages or who are unable to stock up on food, specifically those who fall in the gaps of government-led structural responses.
- Support for workers, especially low-wage workers, to address lack of access to healthcare and paid sick leave, lack of proper safety equipment, economic impact of lost wages due to quarantines, cancelled activities, reduced hours/layoffs.
- Other emerging, immediate needs.
As we learn more about the impacts of the pandemic, our priorities may change. All changes will be posted on this site.
The fund has no deadlines or scheduled responses and will attempt to meet needs as they arise. To submit an application, click here.
At this time, awards are issued only to existing nonprofit organizations operating and located within Otsego County. No applications can be accepted from individuals.
The Foundation is working remotely; please, no phone calls. For questions, please email contact@cfotsego.org.
Thank you for all that you are doing for our area during this time of heightened concern.
COVID-19 Awards to Date
Helios Care | PPE for in home visits by care providers | $5000 |
Catholic Charities | PPE for child care providers | $5000 |
Bassett Medical Center | Gift cards for food/gas for furloughed staff | $7500 |
Fox Hospital | Gift cards for food/gas for furloughed staff | $3000 |
Cooperstown Food Pantry | Food vouchers for farmers market | $3000 |
The Brookwood School | Classroom thermometers and cleaning supplies | $2500 |
Friends of Recovery | PPE | $1200 |
Family Planning of South Central NY | PPE and cleaning supplies | $6000 |
The Storehouse | PPE and cleaning supplies | $2000 |
Otsego County Rural Housing Assistance | Substandard housing repairs and rental assistance | $8000 |
Oneonta Family YMCA | Cleaning supplies to re-open facility | $5000 |
Family Service Assn of Oneonta | Supplies of clothing, hygiene, and school materials to low or no income families | $7500` |
Yuntos | Gift cards to undocumented families for food, transport and medical | $10000 |
Rural Health Network of South Central NY | Transport to employment and healthcare | $10000 |
Catholic Charities | Summer food program | $3500 |
*Future for Oneonta Foundation | PPE and working capital grants to small businesses in Oneonta | $25000 |
*Cooperstown Foundation | PPE and working capital grants to small businesses in remainder of county | $25000 |
*Hunger Coalition of Otsego County | PPE and equipment for food pantries | $10000 |
CADE | Subsidizing local farm food to food pantries | $10000 |
Salvation Army | Medical co-pays, transportation and rental assistance | $5000 |
Oneonta Community Health Center | PPE benefitting uninsured and inadequately insured | $300 |
Springbrook | Air filtration system serving pre-school an day habilitation programs | $5000 |
Unadilla Community Farm Education Center | Support for the Veggie Box delivery program | $6000 |
Otsego 2000 Farmers Market | PPE and SNAP match | $6000 |
Pathfinder Village | PPE for staff and residents | $5000 |
*Starred organizations are accepting applications for further distributions.
COVID-19 Award Application Instructions to Applicants
- Please answer all questions.
- Applications must be submitted online.
- If an award is offered, your Board must formally accept it before funds are disbursed.
- We request a report be submitted on the use of award funds. Reports must include metrics on the success or failure of the program or activity that the award supports, evaluations of how the proposed program performed in comparison to expectations, and what changes will be made if the program continues. Reports are required before the Fund will consider follow-up second awards.
- Applicants must be existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating and located within Otsego County. Groups fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization are eligible but must submit evidence of the sponsorship (funds will be disbursed through that sponsor, which must also provide the identifying information requested in our application). Awards cannot be made directly to businesses or individuals.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY