With the rapid escalation of COVID-19 and its many impacts, we are reaching out to you as a member of our grantee community. We are committed to doing everything we can to support people in the community who desperately need our help. We also know that the organizations we support will have their own challenges as they adapt to rapidly changing events. As part of that, we want you to know the following:
Your grant
If you have specific grant requirements that you feel you won’t be able to meet, please let your contact at the foundation know and we will do whatever we can to adjust. We are open to extensions for deliverables or reports, and to having our grant resources cover costs associated with canceled convenings or other COVID-19 related impacts on your work. Again, please be in touch with your contact at the foundation. If you are not sure of your contact, please email us at programs[at]sff.org and we will connect you to the appropriate staff person.
SFF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
We’ve established a special COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which will provide quick assistance to organizations in the community that are working directly with individuals, businesses, and others who are most in need of our help. For more details on funding priorities and how to apply for an emergency grant, see this post.
Working with colleagues from the foundation
We have shifted to a reduced-staff presence at our offices, and much of our staff is now working remotely. This is aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus as much as possible and to limit exposure to staff to the extent we can. This will occur through at least April 7. During this time staff will be available during business hours by phone and email. We will reassess during that time and will post any additional information on our website.
We have put a plan in place to maintain core business functions to ensure that grantees will continue to receive their funding in a timely manner.
Of course, if you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to your contact at the foundation, or you can email programs[at]sff.org.
Thank you so much for your dedication to our community. It is during moments like these that I am reminded what a privilege it is to serve the people of this region and how lucky we are to be able to support and work with partners like you.
Judith Bell
Chief Impact Officer
