Standing with our community means being ready to listen and ready to take action. In early 2025 as funding patterns to the social sector began to dramatically shift, ECCF took steps to provide a new bridge between nonprofit organizations working to provide essential needs and donors interested in making an immediate impact.

The Essex County Community Response Fund, launched in June 2025, is designed to support the work of our local nonprofit sector with fast, flexible funding to meet the most critical needs of residents, today and in the future.

The initial focus of this program is on grantmaking to organizations expanding access to food, clothing and shelter — the foundation of thriving communities. Grantmaking is also focused on offering structural support to nonprofits exploring reorganization and mergers or anticipating significant changes to business models and revenue streams. Future rounds will continue to be shaped based on the evolving needs of our community.