As the impact of COVID-19 grows, many in our community are already feeling the effects of this unprecedented pandemic, and local nonprofits are just beginning to feel the strain of meeting the needs of local individuals and families experiencing job loss, school cancellations, health concerns, and mounting bills.

Today we announced the COVID-19 Response Fund for Forsyth County to support local nonprofits assisting the people most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The fund was launched at a joint news conference hosted by Mayor Allen Joines and is a partnership between United Way of Forsyth County , The Winston-Salem Foundation , the City of Winston-Salem , Forsyth County , and Community Organizations Active in Disaster

Flexible grantmaking will be provided for immediate, emerging, and long-term needs to organizations working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak. For nonprofits interested in applying for a grant , an application process will be available on our website no later than March 27 .  

The Winston-Salem Foundation has committed $100,000 to seed this effort, and within the past two days, we have received generous financial pledges from local governmental, corporate, and foundation partners.

We’re now accepting individual donations and we ask that you continue to give to your favorite nonprofits in addition to supporting this critical fund. Please consider making a gift if you are able to expand your giving.  

You can join this effort by giving by credit card at covid19forsyth.org  and visit our website for more information on the COVID-19 Response Fund, including other ways to give.

We hope to show our neighbors that we will work together not only to survive, but to thrive, as we emerge from this disaster working ever more strongly together.