COVID relief fund’s third round provides $4M to Marion County groups

Fifty-six not-for-profit groups in Marion County have been awarded a total of $4 million from a new community economic relief fund launched to help individuals affected by the coronavirus crisis.

The grants announced Tuesday range from $20,000 to $125,000 and were targeted to organizations that help minority communities and marginalized populations such as immigrants, refugees and LGBTQ residents. The round of funding focused specifically on helping provide for basic needs such as shelter, food, utility assistance, childcare and transportation.

Eight organizations received grants of $125,000: Catholic Charities Indianapolis, Community Alliance of the Far Eastside Inc., Edna Martin Christian Center Inc., Flanner House of Indianapolis Inc., Hawthorne Community Center, Indianapolis Urban League, Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center and Shepherd Community Center.

The grants announced Tuesday are unrestricted, which gives not-for-profits flexibility in how to spend the money.

This is the third round of funding from the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund, which was established earlier this year by the United Way of Central Indiana with support from philanthropic groups including Lilly Endowment Inc., Central Indiana Community Foundation, Eli Lilly and Co. Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation.

Combined with the first two rounds of grants made since March 24, C-CERF has now distributed more than $15.8 million to 100 organizations in central Indiana.

Since its establishment, the fund has raised nearly $23.5 million.

UWCI is preparing to announce a separate round of grants to community organizations in Boone, Hancock, Hamilton, Hendricks and Morgan counties, as part of a $3.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment. Like the C-CERF grants, the funding will be aimed at people in need due to the pandemic.