Grant Professionals of Lower Hudson (GPLH) members have been providing critical support for nonprofits in their struggles to acquire essential funding throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Through GPLH, members have also donated their services to help the nonprofit community identify and respond to an array of new COVID related opportunities.

“Members of GPLH quickly rose to the occasion to navigate new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and to determine which CARES Act Programs were right for specific agencies. They also took up the task to try to close shortfalls that occurred when special event fundraisers (which many agencies rely upon for a significant amount of their overall fundraising revenue) had to be put on hold,” said GPLH Co-President Lisa Keogh. “We have heard from many GPLH members that the revenue secured through grant channels helped to keep the doors open at many local non-profit agencies.”

GPLH Co-president Nancy Keane pointed out that many charitable foundations in the region also provided extra support for financially challenged nonprofits: "The financial sustainability of the Hudson Valley non-profit sector is more critical than ever and we are fortunate to have a supportive network of foundation and corporate funders.” She added: “Amid a flurry of COVID related relief funding with short turnaround times, GPLH members were quick to lend a hand to secure funding for numerous trusted frontline community organizations hardest hit by the pandemic.”

GPLH members have been integrally involved with seeking COVID funds for nonprofits throughout the lower Hudson Valley in a number of different ways, including:

• Identifying and sharing COVID funding opportunities with members and clients
• Writing and submitting grants to mitigate the effects of COVID on nonprofit organizations
• Drafting reports for secured COVID funds
• Helping with PPP loan application preparation

Collectively, GPLH members have raised millions for our agencies. Some successes include:

• Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill: $87,500: For food and food distribution coordination in Peekskill, from Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.
  
• Cerebral Palsy of Westchester: $24,500: For PPEs, from Impact100 Westchester.
  
• Community Center of Northern Westchester: $125,000: For food, from the Mother Cabrini Health Fund.
  
• Greystone Programs: $11,626: Total received from several foundations including: Stewarts Foundation; Ulster Savings Foundation; Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley; Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan.
• Lifting Up Westchester: $30,000: For PPEs and food, from Wells Fargo.
  
• Poughkeepsie Farm Project: $9,900: From Dutchess County’s "Dutchess Responds" grant program.
• WestFair Rides: $1,425: Total received from two awards, from the Field Hall Foundation and the Gilbert Fund.
• YWCA White Plains and Central Westchester: $24,500: For PPEs, from Impact100 Westchester.
  

GPLH’s members also provided essential support for nonprofits in other regions, including Connecticut. GPLH member Terri Eberle Katz reports that her Connecticut based agency "successfully secured COVID-19 response grants from six community foundations in Western and Central Connecticut and several corporate funders. These grants are helping to ensure that a children's behavioral health nonprofit can provide secure, confidential telehealth therapy and other supports to kids and teens in this area who are struggling without the structure of school, sports and other extracurricular activities."

As an organization, GPLH quickly responded to the pandemic to assist members and their organizations. Over recent months, GPLH has:

• Provided support and guidance to nonprofits seeking assistance with PPP applications
• Donated 30 minutes of free consulting to nonprofits seeking COVID related assistance.
• Held monthly ZOOM sessions to share grant opportunities and strategies, and to support peers and colleagues struggling to obtain funding.

In addition, GPLH member Choice Words LLC partnered with the Ulster County Economic Development Office to host a free webinar on grant writing and research for nearly 60 nonprofit organizations.