Submitted by the San Juan Island Community Foundation
In the last three weeks, the San Juan Island Community Foundation has raised $145k for the newly established SJICF Community Emergency Response Fund. The fund was created to meet the increasing community needs as a result of COVID-19 response.
In March, a goal was set to raise $100k in the first few weeks and an additional $150k to continue to provide emergency funding to nonprofits offering financial assistance and other services to residents in need. The SJICF board voted to transfer $45k from the foundation’s General Endowment and an additional $100k has been donated by generous SJICF fundholders and community members.
To date, nearly $46k has been granted out of the Emergency Fund to help nonprofits meeting the soaring demand for services. This includes $42k to the SJI Family Resource Center and $3.8k to the SJI Agricultural Guild to help get the locally grown food hub up and running.
Nonprofits can request funds on the SJICF website via a shortened emergency funding request application. Priority is given to nonprofits in the health and human services sectors.
In addition to the Emergency Response Fund, community members and SJICF fundholders have contributed more than $18k to nonprofits since the COVID-19 quarantine began. These funds went to donor-specified nonprofits to boost a wide variety of services, including the Friday Harbor Food Bank, the SJ Community Home Trust and Safe San Juans.
The collective response of nonprofits, businesses and community members came together quickly and continues around the clock to meet the evolving needs of islanders. A collaborative weekly call hosted by SJICF draws 35-40 nonprofits, schools, county and faith leaders to give updates, highlight emerging needs and coordinate outreach.
If you wish to donate to the SJICF Emergency Response Fund, you can contribute securely online at sjicf.org. You may also make a donation to a specific nonprofit via our Pass-Through Fund. If you prefer to mail a check, you can send it to SJICF, PO Box 1352, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.
No fees will be charged, and SJICF will cover the costs of online donation fees. 100% of your donation goes directly to nonprofits.
SJICF is dedicated to improving and enriching the quality of life on our island by encouraging philanthropy, growing an endowment for purposeful grants to community charitable organizations, and building partnerships that effectively connect donors with island nonprofit organizations and their projects.
For more information, call Carrie Unpingco at 360-378-1001 or visit sjicf.org.
