By MADDISON MILLER, guest columnist
The local Community Organizations Active in a Disaster (COAD) task force is meeting, alongside community leaders from local businesses, nonprofits, government and service organizations, to formulate a communications and resource plan for residents and businesses in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We’ll be providing up-to-date information about resources and available assistance for our residents and businesses through our Facebook page. We’ve also set up a local hotline for residents with immediate needs like food and medication delivery, transportation, etc. (812-988-0001)
Regarding artists, musicians and those employed in the service economy, the community foundation is legally hamstrung in terms of what we can provide to individuals and for-profit entities. Per federal guidelines, we can only grant to those who the IRS identifies as a “charitable class.” We currently await legal guidance on whether the national emergency proclamation, in addition to Governor Holcomb’s executive order, means those now furloughed or unemployed qualify for that “charitable” designation.
We hope the federal government will recognize the changing economic and social precepts of a society in crisis and take the appropriate action. We’re already encouraged to see the federal government (within last Saturday’s economic relief bill) allowing state departments of workforce development the flexibility to respond to unemployment claims.
Working within permissible purpose guidelines, we can provide financial relief at this moment to existing Brown County organizations that are delivering meals and medications for the homebound, providing low-cost transportation services, or other local assistance during this outbreak. We remain open to possible collaborations with other funders and are actively discussing opportunities to coordinate relief efforts that will help us respond to our nonprofit partners and the broader community. I encourage any nonprofit in need of financial assistance to come speak to me.
Like others in our community, we look to Congress to pass coronavirus relief packages, helping families and businesses with immediate cash-flow needs to get through this crisis and provide a broader stimulus for our local economy. But we’re not waiting around. We’ve reached out to a local credit union to discuss the possibility of a partnership and Program Related Investment to create a low-cost loan pool to help bridge small businesses and individuals during this gap. This is something that has been done by community foundation during events such as government shutdowns.
At the same time, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) currently has the ability to offer America’s small business owners as much as $50 billion in loans to stay afloat during the widening economic shutdown. It remains questionable if the SBA has the manpower or infrastructure to distribute those dollars in a timely manner. Therefore, it’s possible they could delegate the underwriting to partners in communities.
We are also witnessing the rise of GoFundMe campaigns for the hospitality industries. Crowdfunding can be used to break down barriers between those in need and those available to help them, making it possible for people to offer direct support and emergency financial assistance in real time.
As far as internal business in our organization, we are closely monitoring this very fluid situation. We have reviewed the foundation’s Disaster Recovery Plan as it pertains to business continuity. While our office is closed to visitors, office staff remain accessible. Please do not hesitate to reach out by phone (812-988-4882) or email.
We are committed to protecting the community’s resources. We are monitoring our endowment carefully. While the market is struggling, our long-term investment model historically has protected our endowment from significant loss. We value diversification and hedged equity as strategies to maintain stable returns for our community long-term.
We will continue to award grants and scholarships. We will be able to seamlessly continue our grantmaking and scholarship processes, ensuring that our community organizations have the resources they need to continue operations and programming and our graduating seniors will have funds for college.
While it is not business as usual, the Brown County Community Foundation will make every effort to serve our community and enhance the quality of life for Brown County today, tomorrow and always. We ask that you remain calm, look out for your friends and neighbors, and look to credible sources for information about COVID-19 like the CDC and Indiana State Department of Health. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts as we face this together.
As we finalize additional strategies and partnerships to assist the community during this outbreak, we will let you know. Please know that all of our waking hours are being committed to the COAD and our community response plan.
Maddison Miller is the chief executive officer of the Brown County Community Foundation. She can be reached at [email protected] or 812-988-4882.
