Chester County's commissioners have stepped up to help local nonprofits recover from the impact of COVID-19. Through the Restore Chester County Nonprofit Innovation & Resiliency Fund, the commissioners obtained $3.5 million in federal CARES Act funding.

The Nonprofit Innovation & Resiliency Fund was administered by the Chester County Community Foundation with input from regional funders, United Ways and Chester County government departments. In November and December 2020, the Community Foundation awarded 134 grants ranging from $2,500 to $100,000 to Chester County-based nonprofits.

The grant allocations by field of interest included the following: $2.5 million for human services; $376,000 to art, culture and history organizations; $361,000 to education; $176,000 for health services; and $113,000 to environmental causes.

Geographically, $1.5 million was awarded to nonprofits in central Chester County, and approximately $500,000 was awarded to nonprofits located in northern, southern, eastern and western Chester County.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak continues, the commissioners urge the public to support nonprofits through financial contributions, donations of supplies, and volunteering online and in-person.

Details of nonprofit needs, as summarized in their COVID proposals, is available at http://www.chescocf.org/chesco-fund-grants. For more information about Chester County funders and their interests, readers may visit their respective websites.

For more information about the Community Foundation's response to COVID-19, readers may visit http://www.chescocf.org/covid-19. Those who would like to apply for a grant through the Community Foundation may visit http://www.chescocf.org/receive/apply-for-grants.