Critical Need Alert: Basic Needs Now

 

Real People. Real Needs. Right Now.

 

Our community's most vulnerable residents are faced with a growing list of challenges this winter. The economic downturn has had dire consequences for the individuals and families our organization serves.

 

In addition to taking a number of other actions to respond to this crisis, The Columbus Foundation's Governing Committee and several of their generous donors have committed $400,000 in matching funds to incentivize community support for basic needs at this critical time. Twenty nonprofits in the Foundation's online resource, PowerPhilanthropy, that provide specific emergency food and shelter services to individuals and families in our community are being included in the Foundation's special giving program called the Safety Net Fund. 

 

 

Our Organization is one of those 20 Eligible Nonprofits.

 

I am pleased to announce that our nonprofit is one of twenty eligible nonprofit organizations included in the Safety Net Fund. This means that you can make a gift to our organization for this Critical Need Alert and The Columbus Foundation will match your gift 50 cents for every dollar you give, while the matching funds last. Gifts can be designated to our organization or to the Safety Net Fund as a whole, in which case your gift would be allocated across all twenty of the eligible nonprofits.     

 

 

Foundation Matching Program begins Thursday, February 5 at 2:00 p.m.

 

The Matching Program kick off for donors with existing funds or planned gifts at The Columbus Foundation is on February 5 at 2:00 p.m. The Foundation will match all contributions from these donors to eligible nonprofits or to the Safety Net Fund in the amount of fifty cents for every dollar contributed, until funds are exhausted. There is no gift maximum per fund or organization. Up to $300,000 in matching funds will be available to Foundation donors, with matching funds that remain as of February 26 to be rolled over into the public match, which begins as detailed below.

 

 

Public Matching Program begins Thursday, February 26 at 2:00 p.m.

 

Beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, the public is invited to make gifts online through PowerPhilanthropy at the Columbus Foundation website. The Foundation is setting aside at least $100,000 (plus any remaining match funds from the Foundation donor match period) to match online credit card donations to eligible nonprofits or to the Safety Net Fund in the amount of fifty cents for every dollar contributed, until funds are exhausted. Anyone can give, with a minimum gift of only $20. There is no gift maximum per individual or per organization.

 

 

Take Action to Support These Critical Needs!

 

Visit the Columbus Foundation website and click on the Critical Need Alert banner to learn more about this special giving program and the specified organizations that provide food and shelter in our community, and to get your PowerPhilanthropy log in (required) for online giving, if you don't already have one. Then, beginning at 2:00 p.m. either on February 5th (Foundation donors) or February 26th (all others), visit PowerPhilanthropy and make your contribution. You may email the Columbus Foundation  with any questions about how to sign up or use PowerPhilanthropy.  

 

We hope that you will join with us and The Columbus Foundation to help our community's most vulnerable residents at this critical time of need. 

 

Thank you!