Southwest Montana COVID-19 Fund FAQ

A photo in greyscale of a family holding hands around a heart, photo text is Southwest Montana Covid-19 Response Fund, Serving the Region Throughout Crisis and Recovery

Below are frequently asked questions about the SW MT COVID-19 Response Fund. If you would like to know more information about the fund, click here.

Is there a geographic area of focus for the Fund?

This fund will support crisis response efforts targeted towards residents of Southwest Montana, specifically in Gallatin, Park, Madison, and Meagher Counties.

I’m an individual who’s been affected by the COVID-19 health and/or economic crisis. 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. On behalf of the Fund’s partners, the COVID-19 Response Fund is working to move resources to community-based organizations that are directly supporting local residents and families who are most affected by emerging health, economic, and social impacts.

While the Fund is not able to provide grants to individuals, we will be funding community-based organizations that have experience and history of providing people and families with services and support.

As we begin to award grants, we will post them on this page. Please check back for a list of the organizations that may be able to assist you. If you are looking for resources now, please call 211. The 211 hotline is a resource-and-referral and crisis response call center answered by Bozeman Help Center for calls made in the Southwest Montana region.  Referrals to the appropriate source(s) of assistance will be made.

My organization is interested in resources from this Fund. Can we be considered?

We understand the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting nonprofits in many ways, including increased demand for their services, lost revenue due to closures and cancellations, as well as other challenges. Greater Gallatin United Way (GGUW) and the One Valley Community Foundation (OVCF), formerly Bozeman Area Community Foundation, are working closely together to ensure that the grants awarded meet the greatest needs in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.


If you are a community-based organization that has experience and history of providing people and families with services and support, click the button below to apply for funding.


You may email us at covid19@greatergallatinunitedway.org OR covid19@onevalley.org to make sure we are aware of your organization’s work supporting economically vulnerable residents and families.

Who decides how the funds are distributed?

Greater Gallatin United Way (GGUW) and One Valley Community Foundation (OVCF) have significant experience in vetting organizational and community needs. To responsibly address our community’s diverse needs for funding related to COVID-19 health and economic crisis, GGUW and OVCF convene with a Donations Steering Group (DSG) comprised of representatives from relevant nonprofit, and government sectors, as well as representatives from the geographic areas within Gallatin, Park, Madison, and Meagher Counties. GGUW and BACF will coordinate with Southwest Montana Community Organizations Active in Disaster (SW MT COAD) and local emergency management leaders and health departments to ensure funding allocations are aligned with identified prioritization of needs.

For more information about the Donations Steering Group and how funding decisions are made, click here.

I want to donate. Can I restrict my funding to a prioritized grantee?

To ensure we move resources as efficiently as possible and respond to needs of communities most impacted, we are not accepting restrictions to donations. The COVID-19 Response Fund was created in hopes of providing a way to coordinate as resources as efficiently and with as much impact as possible. 

Should I give to this Fund instead of making other donations?

The Southwest Montana COVID-19 Response Fund was not created to be the only vehicle resourcing community funding during this crisis. Rather, Greater Gallatin United Way (GGUW) and One Valley Community Foundation (OVCF) will be working closely with  Southwest Montana Community Organizations Active in Disaster (SW MT COAD) and local emergency management leaders and health departments to ensure funding allocations are aligned with the most critical, prioritized, identified needs of communities within Gallatin, Park, Madison, and Meagher Counties. 

We are working to facilitate getting resources into the community where it’s needed most. If the COVID-19 Response Fund priorities align with your values, please consider making a donation that feels generous to you. However, this is a critical time for so many, including the nonprofit organizations who’ve benefited from your giving in the past, as well as those who’ve had to cancel their annual fundraising events or depend heavily on public gatherings. Please continue to give to organizations you regularly support, and those that need your help at this crucial time. Now is the time to double down for our community as we have a greater awareness of the depth and scale of the long-term ramifications of the pandemic.

What will NOT be included in the first phase of funding?

We anticipate multiple phases of funding to address both the acute needs now and the longer-term impacts of the outbreak and recovery. In this first phase, we are prioritizing community-based organizations that are serving communities and individuals who are immediately and disproportionately suffering from this crisis. In this first round, we are not able to prioritize organizations that have lost revenue or are likely to lose future revenue due to canceled events or programs. We recognize these challenges, and as the crisis and long-term impacts continue to unfold, we will continue to work with the DSG to assess and evolve our funding strategies.

When will you share who you fund?

You will find a list of awards made to date by the Donations Steering Group by clicking here.

Is there a fee to contribute?

With a focus on getting resources out to the community in this critical time, there is no administrative fee for participating in the Fund. 100% of donations will go to community groups and leaders on the ground, except for a credit card fee for online donations, which is 3.75% + $0.35 per transaction. Greater Gallatin United Way (GGUW) and One Valley Community Foundation (OVCF) are covering the cost of approximately 13 staff leading this effort.

How will the Fund shift gears if needed?

The Fund priorities may evolve as our region adapts to the COVID-19 outbreak. We will continue to prioritize communities most impacted, recognizing deep and historic inequities that are likely to be magnified in times of crisis. Crisis philanthropy recognizes the need to provide immediate resources for triage, as well as the importance of recovery resources to ensure community resilience.

If you would like to donate to the cause, click the button below.

Donate button, click here to donate

 

Checks may be sent to:

"COVID-19 Response Fund"
c/o Greater Gallatin United Way
945 Technology Blvd., Suite 101-F
Bozeman MT 59718

Or

“COVID-19 Response Fund”
c/o One Valley Community Foundation
1627 W. Main, Box 404
Bozeman, MT  59715

 

We are accepting financial donations (no physical goods) through online giving, checks and stock gifts. For questions about stock donations, grants, or significant donations we welcome you to contact GGUW staff at covid19@greatergallatinunitedway.org or call (406) 587-2194 - requesting Danica Jamison or Sylvia Drain.  You may reach OVCF staff at covid19@onevalley.org or (406) 587-6262 - requesting Bridget Wilkinson.