April 16, 2020
Essex County Creative Nonprofit Resiliency Grant Program

Danvers, MA — In the first week of the Coronavirus crisis, Massachusetts’ nonprofit cultural organizations reported a loss of $55.7 million from event cancellations, layoffs, and venue closures. As this health crisis continues, the future of these organizations – which helps bring our communities to life – is becoming direr. Today, to support the nonprofits that inspire and lift us up, Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) is announcing the creation of the Essex County Creative Nonprofit Resiliency Grant Program (the program).

Seeded with $100,000 from ECCF’s Creative County Initiative, the program will provide one-time grants to the Essex County cultural nonprofits that anchor our vulnerable and vitally important cultural communities. The program will target small and mid-sized arts and cultural organizations with deep roots in their communities, that serve the economically vulnerable and are taking a long view towards recovery and sustainability.

“Arts and culture are so vital to the health and well-being of our communities,” said Karen Ristuben, ECCF’s Creative County Initiative program manager. “This grant program – meant to provide short-term relief and inspire longer-term resiliency – will support those arts and culture nonprofits that are anchors in our communities.”

“Our local arts and cultural nonprofits need us now more than ever – and we need them,” said ECCF President and CEO Beth Francis. “For many of us quarantined at home, the online classes, free programming, and virtual performances they are offering are helping us stay connected and make it through challenging days.”

“The goal of this grant program is to help provide initial relief for these organizations so they can survive this pandemic and support their vital role in helping our communities rebuild when the crisis is over,” Francis added.

Help Us Build Support for Arts and Culture

During this time, ECCF encourages donors to continue their direct support of the arts and cultural organizations they have supported in the past. The Essex County Creative Nonprofit Resiliency Grant Program provides an additional opportunity to make a systems-based, countywide impact, and we invite philanthropic partners to join us in providing short-term relief and inspiring long-term sustainability.

You can help us sustain our vital nonprofits by making a donation here.

Grants from the Essex County Creative Nonprofit Resiliency Grant Program will be made as long as there are available funds. Essex County nonprofit organizations whose mission is to support arts and culture – and that have been directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis – may apply for awards, which range from $2,000-$5,000.

For complete guidelines and to apply, click here.

Individual artists are not eligible for The Essex County Creative Nonprofit Resiliency Program but may be eligible for a grant from The Essex County Artist Fund. For more information, visit eccf.org/creative-county.

“ECCF is committed to helping our arts and cultural nonprofits navigate these challenging times,” said Ristuben. “And it’s a collaborative process that requires all of us to come together. Thankfully, we live in a region that places a high value on the role arts and culture play in our cities and towns.”

A Community Foundation is Born

A Community Foundation is Born

By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF COMMUNICATIONS WRITER Like many origin stories, the story of how Essex County Community Foundation came to be is filled with challenges and opportunities, obstacles...

ECCF Logo in White Overlay

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