Resources by Key Issue In Appalachia:

1. Broadband & Technology

2. Increasing Access to Federal Resources for Grantees & Partners

• Share this USDA Rural Development tool to help your grantees access federal resources.

Below you will see a selection of compiled resources for funders as it relates to COVID19. This list is constantly being updated.

Share Stories and Resources with the Network

Have you seen a funder or strategy on the cutting edge of response to the COVID19 Health Crisis? Articles that were helpful for your organization? If you have resources you would like to share with the Appalachia Funders Network please email alena@ruralsupportpartners.com.

Actions

• The Council on Foundations is calling on funders and other leaders in the philanthropic sector to join them in making these commitments and collectively holding ourselves accountable to them by signing this pledge of action. Learn more here.

Partner Webinar Round Up

• The Council of Foundations is hosting weekly webinars for funders. 
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy is hosting an interactive session on “COVID19, the Economy, and the Nonprofit World”. The session featured a panel of experts who will provide the latest on how nonprofits, foundations, and donors are responding to the emergency and adapting to new circumstances.
• National Center for Family Philanthropy is hosting a response meeting featuring sector leaders who will discuss the long-term philanthropic response to the crisis, how to support grantees with an equity lens, and ways that funders can bolster the long-term financial and organizational health of the sector. 
• G2G Consulting holds regular webinars on legislation in Ohio and the federal government. Learn more here. 

Reading & Resources

• Helpful Podcasts:
• Helpful Articles:
  • 6 Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover From Coronavirus Spread
  • That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief 
  • How Philanthropy Can Help Beat COVID19
  • Responding to COVID19: Low Carbon Investments Can Help Economies Recover
  • 100 Days in Appalachia compiled articles, from healthcare to electricity demands, on how the virus is affecting Appalachia.
• Appalachian Regional Commission released a map to track cases across Appalachia.
• Americans for the Arts compiling data on how COVID19 is impacting the arts economy.
• Artists Thrive published a resource page that has many ideas for artists and grantmakers alike to explore during the crisis.
• Free COVID-19 Open Research Dataset - a free resource of over 45,000 scholarly articles, including over 33,000 with full text, about COVID-19 and the coronavirus family of viruses for use by the global research community.
• Summary of CARES Act for Employers - provides specifics about:
  • Paycheck Protection Program - The Small Business Administration is authorized to make up to $349 billion in loans to cover payroll costs, contributions to group health coverage, mortgage payments, rent, utilities and interest on debt incurred prior to the covered period.
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance - Employees are eligible to use this insurance even for reduction in hours, not just termination or furlough. 
  • 10 emergency paid sick days for employees who are sick.
  • Extended FMLA (Applies to all employers under 500) - Employers are only obligated to pay employees up to a cap of $200 per day and $10,000 in the aggregate per employee. The first 10 days are unpaid, and the remainder of the leave is paid.
• Common Future released a resource list organized by theme.

Nonprofit partners & grantees

• We recommend directing your nonprofit partners and grantees to the Central Appalachian Network (CAN) for webinars, resources, and support.
• 84 Agency, based in Charleston, West Virginia, is hosting weekly Q&A webinars for communications and nonprofit fundraising. They also recorded their March 19th webinar which described how nonprofits can develop strong communication strategies during crisis.