2020-2022: Responding to needs in Jeffco resulting from the pandemic

COVID-19 Response Portfolio

Download the COVID Response Impact Report

Nobody imagined the lingering impacts of the pandemic continuing as long as they have.

When Community First Foundation started the new decade in 2020, we were excited for all we had planned to make good happen in Jefferson County. Then, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020 and the impact was felt around the world and more personally, here at home. With remarkable speed and efficiency, we took action by responding to urgent needs like cash assistance to keep nonprofit lights on and doors open, personal protective equipment, and food and housing support.

As the pandemic evolved, so did our response. Isolated families and individuals struggled with remote learning and work. Childcare was difficult to find, making it difficult to work. Domestic violence and substance abuse surged to new levels. As the community foundation serving Jefferson County, we listened and responded, providing remote learning assistance, creating childcare resource tools, supporting prevention and intervention for substance use/abuse and domestic violence prevention, and investing in vaccine access and equity.

Our initial goal? Provide immediate and emergency relief for Jeffco residents experiencing impacts from the pandemic. Now, three years later we look back. While our lives and communities are forever changed, one constant that remains is our deep commitment and connection to our community.

Looking Ahead

The need for unrestricted and multi-year funding remained as 2022 came to an end and nonprofits continued efforts to rebound from lost fundraising revenue and increased service delivery. As we sunset our COVID-19 Pandemic Response, we recognize our partners’ needs are ongoing and intend to continue supporting these important social and public health issues.

We’ll do this through:

Responsive 2023 Grantmaking
Ongoing community listening
Reducing the administrative burden of grantmaking by simplifying application and reporting requirements
Unrestricted, flexible dollars to advance mission

Grantee Highlights by the Numbers

Vaccine Equity

We combined forces with 14 other funders and nonprofits to launch a vaccine equity program called Together We Protect.

Collectively funding partners provided $6.8M over two years (2021-2022) through 167 grant awards
to 132 community-based organizations.

96,960 youth and 308,721 individuals – a majority of whom represented BIPOC and marginalized communities were served.

Our commitment of $50,000 to Together We Protect was in addition to vaccine & PPE funding through Jeffco Hope Fund grants.

Domestic Violence

We granted a total of $360,000 to PorchLight, Jeffco’s Family Justice Center serving victims of violence. PorchLight collaborates with 75+ partner agencies representing nonprofit, medical, mental health, law enforcement, government, and legal services.

Funding will support work through 2025 focusing on providing navigation services to
1,000+ guests annually.

Remote Learning & Childcare

82 Jeffco families were supported with a hybrid model of in-person & remote learning. Students also received breakfast, lunch, and a snack every day when in person.

Jeffco Schools Foundation teamed up with The Action Center to support students and families during the summer literacy program (JSEL) with food support during the summers of 2021 and 2022, serving a total of 3,000+ students.

COVID-19 Response