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Essex County Community Response Fund

ECCF’s collective effort to help nonprofits meet the moment

During times of crisis, Essex County’s nonprofits are first on the frontlines. The Essex County Community Response Fund is a collaborative effort to provide streamlined, flexible support to these organizations, which do the critical work of feeding, sheltering and protecting our friends and neighbors, and strengthening our communities.

Essex County Community Foundation is committed to being there for our local nonprofits, where and when they need us. By working with generous donors and our communities, we are ensuring that our vital nonprofits have the necessary resources to meet the current moment. And together, we are building a permanent mechanism to help them meet the moments of the future.

ECCF’s Community Response Grants are designed to help address acute community needs and establish mechanisms for longer-term recovery across the local nonprofit ecosystem. There will be multiple rounds of grants with special purposes that respond to evolving needs.

The first iteration of these grants can be used for two purposes:

Essential Needs: support for nonprofit organizations providing essential needs and related services in Essex County.
- Grant Range: up to $30,000 (over 1-2 yrs depending on grantee preference)
- Eligible Activities: essential needs including food, shelter, and clothing. Grants can be used for both general operating purposes and special projects.
Structural Support: funding for special projects that help nonprofits explore organizational changes as they navigate this uncertain funding and legal environment.
- Grant range: up to $20,000 (1 yr)
- Eligible Activities: structural support includes exploring reorganization, mergers, significant changes to business models and revenue streams, among other efforts.

Grant Guidelines

eligibility

Applicants must have 501(c)(3) tax status under the IRS tax code and provide services in Essex County.
ECCF is committed to non-discrimination. We support organizations that use all reasonable efforts to recruit, hire, train, promote, and serve persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law, except where such status is a bona fide qualification for the service being provided and is related to the organization’s mission.
Stand-alone programs applying through a fiscal agent may be eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- The fiscal agent provides the 501(c)3 status but not much more
- The program has a separate budget and raises its own funds to cover this budget. Note: If the program has only a small amount of administrative costs covered by the umbrella organization, they are still eligible to apply.
- There is a letter of agreement/understanding between the program and the umbrella organization
Grants will not be awarded:
- - To individuals
  - For sectarian or religious purposes. Programs sponsored by religious organizations are eligible, provided that enrollment is open to all and the program is free of mandatory religious instruction, worship, or other sectarian activities.
  - For political purposes
  - For debt or deficit reduction
  - For capital campaigns for buildings, land acquisition, or endowment

selection criteria

In addition to the eligibility criteria listed above, grant reviewers prioritize the following when considering funding:

Clearly defined acute or near-term need
Potential impact of the proposed work on Essex County communities
Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in organizational leadership, infrastructure, program design, and/or implementation
History of sound financial management

review process

The advisory committee will be made up of ECCF Staff and Board members, as well as representatives from the community. There will be no formal site visits. Decisions will be announced in August 2025.