VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County nonprofits who have been immediately affected by the fires and are assisting those in urgent need can apply for relief funding through the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Sudden and Urgent Need Fund for grants of up to $5,000.
“Disaster response relies tremendously on the nonprofit community, and while they provide aid, there are often costs and expenses that were not budgeted and can really strain already stretched budgets. With that in mind, we launched the SUN Fund,” said Vanessa Bechtel, president and CEO of the VCCF.
The purpose of the SUN Fund is to avoid the loss of critical safety net services provided by nonprofits and to respond to immediate or unexpected needs or special funding opportunities where a small investment will make a big difference. The SUN Fund provides a quick funding response where other funding sources are not available, Bechtel said.
The new grant program has already funded a power generator for Interface Children and Family Services to operate the 211 community services hotline during power outages.
Other examples of fundable projects include emergency repairs on a building or mechanical systems that failed while providing emergency services, and providing resources to augment the work of the organization, such as training on post-traumatic stress disorder for school guidance counselors supporting children severely impacted by a disaster or traumatic event.
Organizations can apply for funding online at www.vccf.org. For details, contact Breanne Foster at bfoster@vccf.org or (805) 988-0196. People wanting to contribute to the fund can donate or get details about sending donations at the VCCF website, www.vccf.org.
About VCCF: The foundation was established in 1987 and endeavors to build philanthropy in the region and to give generously for the well-being of all in Ventura County. VCCF invests in the future through scholarships, grant making and collaborative partnerships. For more information or to donate, visit www.vccf.org.