
COVID-19 Relief Fund
The COVID-19 Relief Fund helped northern Nevadan medical professionals and nonprofits that adapted to offer services during the pandemic to strengthen our community or serve our most vulnerable residents.
Initial grants were intended to help front-line healthcare workers and their families in our area as they deal with stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. The subsequent grant rounds focused on supporting nonprofits serving those who are most vulnerable in our community. Grants have been made to organizations responding to community needs directly attributed to the pandemic and to nonprofits adapting to continue offering their programs in modified ways.
COVID-19 Grants through September 10, 2020
$5,077.80
to Holland Project
for K-12 programs including after-school opportunities for teens, in-home art and activity kits (geared towards three different age groups and focused on students from Title 1 schools), and virtual and in-person workshops.
$33,110.90
to Willow Springs Center
for educational materials needed to comply with the State of Nevada’s educational mandates on distance learning.
$2,500
to Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada
to support the Club as they provide in-house childcare, remote programming, and food programs.
$2,500
to Child Assault Prevention (CAP)
to help increase staff and budget to reach the children that missed the required CAP workshop during the 2019-2020 school year, as well as teach the new workshops for the 2020-2021 school year.

$12,500
to Education Alliance of Washoe County
to provide high-need students with technology for distance learning to help close the gap of 11,000 computers needed by WCSD.
$5,000
to Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada
to support the “Girl Scout at Home” virtual troop, virtual badge programs, and to conduct wellness checks-delivering food, toiletries, computers, and technical assistance.
$1,000
to Girls on the Run - Sierras
to support their community-based modified Fall program for girls in grades 3-5.
$2,500
to Northern Nevada Math Club
to cover the costs of going online, creating online support programs, and fund teachers who want their students to participate in Northern Nevada math contests.
$2,500
to Sage Ridge School
to provide laptops and internet access to lower-income families.
$1,300
to Sierra Nevada Journeys
for scholarship funding for weekend-based Family Camps this Fall for families in need.
$1,000
to Tahoe’s Connection for Families
to continue to provide parenting classes and toddler circle times through Zoom.
$2,500
to Alzheimer’s Association Northern Nevada Chapter
for Care, support, and education for N. NV, including the respite voucher program.
$1,000
to New Frontier Treatment Center
for produce/food for seniors and families.
$2,500
to Compassion Community Clinic
for general operating.
$2,500
to Immunize Nevada
for operational support.
$5,000
to Note-able Music Therapy Services
for PPE and instruments.
$1,000
to Veterans Guest House
for operational support.
$15,000
to English Language Learners In-Home Program
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, ELL In-Home Program’s English teaching community volunteer tutors are now assisting their learners via online programs and/or by telephone. ELL In-Home will use the grant to purchase laptops for learners who do not have the equipment to continue their lessons.
$6,000
to Feeding Pets of the Homeless
It has been a struggle for staff to find hospitals for clients with ill or injured pets. Feeding Pets of the Homeless is receiving $6,000 to cover approximately 15 emergency veterinary cases in Northern NV and to help cover the costs of sponsoring Wellness Clinic in Northern NV.
$5,000
to Great Basin National Park Foundation
The Great Basin Observatory is operated remotely from desktop computers, and students can continue research during school closures. GBO needs to raise $55,000 in 2020 to support the Reach for the Stars Education at Outreach program, including the development of a GBO web-based learning platform, Junior Ranger books and badges, 2 summer Park astronomy interns, and partial support of GBO’s Program Manager. This $5,000 grant supports the Reach for the Stars Education and Outreach program.
$5,000
to Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful
KTMB postponed all cleanup events through April and May to help prevent the spread of the virus, including KTMB’s Great Community Cleanup which typically engages 800+ volunteers. KTMB is now coordinating small cleanups with updated safety protocols. Due to increased incidents of illegal dumping during the COVID shutdown, there is an increased need for cleanup coordination and blight removal. $30,000 is needed for site logistics including volunteer recruitment and coordination, trash removal, and dumpster rentals. KTMB received $5,000 for this purpose.
$5,000
to Nevada Outdoor School
Nevada Outdoor School will still be offering a series of summer camp programs for K-10th grades in rural northern Nevada. Because many funding requests and grant applications are either on hold or have been denied due to COVID -19 concerns or restrictions, Nevada Outdoor School is currently working to secure $50,000 in financial resources to support summer camp expenses such as additional personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and sanitizing supplies to keep staff and campers safe and healthy, prepackaged snack foods, travel expenses, and staff and AmeriCorps Members time. Nevada Outdoor School received $5,000 for summer camp needs.
$15,000
to Northern Nevada Literacy Council
Northern Nevada Literacy Council (NNLC ) continues to provide Adult Basic Education classes both remotely and in-person at 50% capacity for those challenged with a lack of technology or computer skills to access classes remotely. NNLC was granted $15,000 for a technology scholarship fund that will award tablets and laptops to those seeking to complete their education, enter into post-secondary education/training, and move into the workforce.
$5,000
to Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation
Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation has moved its programs virtual in an effort to help improve the community’s mental and physical health during this stressful time. They were granted $5,000 to provide at-home kits for kids and families.
$5,000
to ALS Association
ALS patients are highly at risk due to the respiratory issues associated with COVID-19, so it is important to provide resources and services directly to their homes.$5,000 was granted to the ALS Association to help offset their $20,000 fundraising deficit due to having to hold the Reno/Sparks Walk to Defeat ALS virtually. Funds will be used to provide services and support in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Gardnerville.
$1,000
to Bristlecone Family Resources
This $1,000 grant purchased alcohol-free hand sanitizer and a continued supply of masks for Bristlecone Family Resources residential and outpatient services.
$10,000
to Community Services Agency
CHA is currently providing direct emergency assistance (rental, energy, work-related), in-home child education, limited workforce services (dependent upon employer availability), and employee advance skills training (virtual). This $10,000 grant provides additional technology to customers as well as direct emergency assistance.
$10,000
to the Hart Foundation
This grant helps continue caregiving services for clients, qualifying Veterans, and other seniors.
$5,000
to the Women & Children’s Center of the Sierra
Women and Children’s Center of the Sierra (WACCS) has enhanced its basic needs distribution, developed, updated, and distributed COVID-19 information packets, implemented assistance with signing up families for safety net programs, and helps people overcome barriers keeping them from accessing other services. The $5,000 grant helps to alleviate shortfalls due to the cancellation of its annual fundraising event.
$3,000
to Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce
$3,000 grant added to their payroll budget for two Chamber staff.
$5,000
to Arts for All Nevada
Arts for All Nevada is posting free art activities, weekly, on their website, and it is working to move classes to Zoom (remote learning). $5,000 will support program modifications.
$5,000
to Carson Valley Arts Council
$5,000 is given to the Carson Valley Arts Council for general operating support to help offset a $10,000 deficit from having to cancel concerts, events, and educational programs.
$1,000
to David J. Drakulich Foundation
The David J. Drakulich Foundation is continuing to employ veterans. $1,000 supports the program transition from arts and healing projects to making face masks.
$50,000
to Delivery with Dignity
Delivery with Dignity provides meals to families in need. The program has a “4 pillars” model:
- Restaurants/catering companies are paid $6/meal to help them keep their doors open/staff employed;
- Local nonprofits, coordinated by United Way of Northern Nevada, who identify clients who meet the Delivering with Dignity “triple threat” criteria to receive meals;
- Volunteers who pick up meals and deliver them to the doorsteps of identified families; and
- Mobile application to provide the restaurants with the number of meals they are required to make each day and with the number of volunteer drivers needed, as well as providing route sheets and driving directions to the volunteer drivers.
$10,000
to Arbors Memory Care
$10,000 provides PPE for staff and cleaning supplies to protect the staff and patients at Arbors Memory Care in Spark. Because facilities such as Arbors Memory Care are not considered a skilled nursing facility, they are not eligible to receive federal funds from the federal funds designated for COVID-19 support from the Department of Health and Human Services.
$5,000
to Lakeside Health and Wellness Suites
This grant pays for PPE and increased sanitary measures and cleaning for the staff, facility and patients at Lakeside Health and Wellness Suites.
$5,750
to Nevada Health Centers
$2,000 will be directed toward the purchase of PPE for frontline medical workers and patients for one month. $3,750 will provide food/utility assistance for Nevada Health Center’s Washoe County patients whose income has been disrupted due to COVID-19.
$10,000
to Community Health Alliance (CHA)
To rent screening tents for the parking lots of their four health centers and pay for equipment and increased cleaning services.
$10,000
to Northern Nevada HOPES
To buy PPE for the staff serving the dramatic increase in patients.
$30,000
to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada
This grant as part of the #GivingTuesdayNow $50,000 matching grant opportunity, will help the Food Bank cope with skyrocketing needs and disrupted distribution channels as they serve more and more individuals and families.
$200
to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Will pay for an annual subscription to Zoom to host mental health support group meetings.
$13,040
in restaurant gift cards
were given to area hospitals for front-line health workers through the COVID Kindness programs in partnership with Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, and $5,000 of healthy frozen meals were purchased for REMSA responders.
FAQ
I’m an individual who has been affected by COVID-19. Can this Fund help me?
We understand many individuals and families have been affected by the outbreak already, and more will continue to be affected. The Community Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund is working to move resources to Washoe County community-based health providers and nonprofits that are directly serving the most vulnerable in our community affected by emerging health, and social impacts. This Fund does not provide grants to individuals.
Can my nonprofit apply for a grant?
The COVID-19 Relief Fund is not accepting grant applications at this time. Nonprofit organizations can apply for a Small Business Administration disaster loan. Learn more
The COVID-19 Response Fund prioritizes healthcare professionals and nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable populations working in Washoe County.