COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund

Covid 19 Response and Recovery

Over the last few months, United Way of Northwest Illinois has seen an increase of needs in the communities of Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties. We have responded to this need by forming a COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund. This fund will be used to respond to the dramatic increase in need for services that include answering calls from those in crisis, the need for food delivery, pantry orders, financial assistance, and emergency childcare for first responders.

As always, we have witnessed our community come together to support our local businesses and community members as we go through this new and ever evolving landscape of this health crisis together. We ask that you consider helping us ensure that the organizations who provide community support to our most vulnerable, are able to continue providing their day to day services as well as meet the additional demand being placed on each of them throughout this trying time. Please note that 100% of your gift will go to support the local 501c3 social service agencies who have been operating in our area with the expertise to meet the basic and emerging needs of our community.

Thank you to our corporate donors Sentry Insurance, FHN, The Morse Group and all our individual donors

 
Ways to join the response & recovery effort to COVID-19
 
Make an online donation by clicking here
 
OR
 
Text NWILCOVID19 to 41444

Other ways to donate:

  • Call to make an over the phone donation with a credit card at 815-232-5184 ext 3
  • To make a donation by stock, wire transfers or other assets, please contact United Way of Northwest Illinois at director@uwni.org
  • To pay by check, please note COVID Response Fund on the check ad make checks payable to United Way of Northwest Illinois.
    Please mail to United Way of Northwest Illinois 524 W. Stephenson St suite 101 Freeport, Il 61032
 
I need help. Who can I call?
If you're in need of assistance due to hardships presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, you can call CONTACT at 815-233-4357 any time of day to be put in touch with local resources and assistance. Please remember that we are navigating this everchanging landscape together and we will provide you with the most updated information that we have available. 
 
 
 

NWIL COVID-19 Response Funding Announced

NWIL Covid 19 Response Fund Grant Recipients

List of Grant Recipients, Amity Society of Freeport, Boys & Girls Club, Childrens Hands on Museum, Contact of Northern Illinois, Elizabeth Food Pantry, Faith Community Food Pantry, Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois, Freeport Area Church Cooperative, Hanover United Presbyterian Church, Hearts that Care, Jo-Carroll Energy, Lena Area Historical Society, Midwest Medical Center, New Horizons Counseling, Northern Illinois Food Bank, NICAA, Public Health Foundation of Northern Illinois, Ramp, Riverview Center, Senior Resource Center, Stockton Chamber of Commerce, Rosecrance Foundation, The Workshop, Timberlake Playhouse, Voices of Stephenson County

NWIL COVID-19 Response Fund FAQ'S 

  1. Will an accounting of the fund be made available to donors at some point?
    YES! Both organizations will have this information published on their website, as well as sharing through email newsletters. Our goal is to be transparent and let the public and donors know the need, what is happening and what still needs to be done.
     
  2. How will money from the fund be dispersed?
    The NWIL COVID-19 Response Funds will be distributed as the needs arise and as nonprofits apply through our online process. Together, The Freeport Community Foundation and United Way of Northwest Illinois will be the ones to review the applications and grant the money.
     
  3. What is the plan for developing an allocation process?
    Local Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll County nonprofit agencies will be asked to fill out an online application. Together, the Freeport Community Foundation and United Way of Northwest Illinois Executive Directors and an AdHoc Committee of FCF and UWNIL Board Members will be the ones to review the applications.
     
  4. How does my nonprofit apply for funds?
    An application is available on the FCF’s website www.freeportcommunityfoundation.org. Applications are due by 4:00pm Wednesday April 15th.
     
  5. If our agency receives an allocation from the NWIL COVID-19 Response Fund will it affect future funding?
    The NWIL COVID-19 Response Fund, dollars are potentially available to any eligible 501c3 non-profit in our three county region. This is completely separate from our normal grant process.
     
  6. Are the funds available to individuals or businesses?
    No. The NWIL COVID-19 Response Fund is only available to current charitable organizations serving in our three county region. The region’s health and human service organizations are experiencing a surge in demand for services from neighbors and communities significantly impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak. It’s critical these nonprofits have the resources they need to continue to operate at the highest capacity and help those individuals who are most vulnerable.
     
  7. I’ve seen a lot of different funds popping up on my social media page. Why should I donate to this one?
    The FCF and United Way are grateful to see so many wonderful community members stepping up to help our friends and neighbors. The benefit of donating to the NWIL COVID-19 Response Fund is that our organizations pride ourselves on long and successful histories of grant making. Our staff members and volunteer committee members are able to quickly and accurately conduct due diligence to ensure funds are going where they will do the most good for our community. Also, contributions to this fund may be tax deductible for donors.

8.   Is there a fee to donate?
No. We will not charge any processing fees on gifts to this Fund. Also, we are absorbing all credit card transaction fees. 100% of your donation will go to nonprofits helping with COVID-19 relief.
 

9.   I want to donate. Can I restrict my gift to a specific organization?
To ensure we move resources as efficiently as possible and respond to the needs of communities most impacted, the Fund is not considering restricted donations at this time. The COVID-19 Response Fund was created in hopes of providing a way to coordinate as many resources as possible.
 

Where can I go to find out more about services in our community?
We suggest calling CONTACT at 815-233-4357 if you want more information on services or resources available. This is a United Way funded program available to anyone in Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties. CONTACT is a free, 24/7 call center that puts people in touch with health and human service related needs/questions, as well as emotional support.