A Pittsburgh nonprofit has tapped funding from the Hillman Foundation to provide loans and grants to organizations in Allegheny and Beaver counties that are experiencing economic distress during the covid-19 pandemic.
New Sun Rising announced Thursday it has used $100,000 in seed money from the Hillman Foundation to create a Crisis Mitigation Relief Fund. The crisis fund is providing technical assistance and up to $5,000 each to 24 area nonprofits, small businesses, social enterprises and cooperatives that are challenged with unemployment or underemployment because of the pandemic.
Funding priority was given to organizations that plan to use the money to meet basic human needs such as food, shelter and mental health support, while assisting vulnerable populations such as immigrants and youths, and ensuring an equitable response to the pandemic.
The funding is meant “to help as many leaders as possible to endure this crisis, and mobilize them to build vibrant communities together,” said Scott Wolovich, executive director of New Sun Rising.
Recipients were given the option of repaying the funding over three years, with no interest charged and no payments for six months. Full loan forgiveness was offered to recipients that made a one-month to three-month commitment to use the money in efforts that address urgent community needs.
The recipients reflect New Sun Rising’s interest in community development based on culture, sustainability and opportunity.
They include Barrels to Beethoven, Coraopolis Youth Creations, Hello Neighbor, Hill District Consensus Group, Kitchen of Grace, Inside Our Minds, Latino Community Center, Love Rocks Cafe, Protohaven, Revival Relief, Zellous Hope Project and Triboro Ecodistrict Food Relief projects in Millvale, Etna and Sharpsburg.
Applications for the crisis relief fund are now closed as money has been depleted.
Those interested in donating to the fund should contact vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org or visit newsunrising.org/ways-to-give.
