Champlin Foundation awards additional $1M in covid-related grants

Posted

The Champlin Foundation has awarded emergency COVID-19 grants to 63 organizations totaling more than $1 million. The Foundation’s response to COVID-19 has now topped $2.6 million, including $1.6 million in new grants and $1 million in eased restrictions on previously awarded capital grants. In late March, Rhode Island’s largest private foundation announced a $600,000 grant to purchase testing equipment for the state’s nonprofit hospitals and launched a $1 million, emergency grant cycle to support organizations that are directly responding to the COVID-19 crisis and those organizations that have experienced a substantial loss of earned revenue. Additionally, the foundation provided funding for 150 homeless shelters to purchase thermal scan thermometers.

“The COVID crisis has created a great deal of uncertainty among the state’s nonprofit community. Organizations that rely on earned revenue are struggling to keep staff on payroll and those on the front-lines of the state’s public health and economic response are stretched thin. The Champlin Foundation is taking unprecedented steps to support Rhode Island’s public health response and core members of our state’s nonprofit community,” said Champlin Foundation Executive Director Nina Stack in a release. “All told, The Champlin Foundation has made more than $2.6 million, including $1.6 million in new grants, available to Rhode Island nonprofits that have been directly impacted by COVID. Widespread events like this require a full community response, and we’re proud to stand up with Rhode Islanders in every part of the state to do all we can to assist in this health and economic crisis.”

The liquidity grants awarded include gifts to support arts organizations like Trinity Rep, attractions like the Roger Williams Park Zoo, and childcare and afterschool providers that have been forced to close like the Boys and Girls Clubs. The grants also support direct service organizations like the Jonnycake Center of Westerly and Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island.

“The Champlin Foundation’s support, generosity, and leadership provide a bright spot in this uncertain time,” said Trinity Rep’s Managing Director Tom Parrish. “As a non-profit organization that is reliant on earned income like ticket sales and tuition, Trinity Rep has been deeply impacted by the health crisis, already losing $1 million in ticket and event revenue. There are two types of charities, those that save lives and those that remind us why life is worth saving. Thanks to the Champlin Foundation and many others, when the time comes for the stage lights to turn on again, we will be there ready to remind everyone what this current sacrifice was for and work to knit the community and local economy back together.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here