In Phase 1, which ran from March to June 2020, the Fund deployed $2,406,500 to 91 organizations on the front lines of the pandemic to help neighbors in need—organized into nine priority populations—through weekly, rapid-relief grants. Forty-five percent of funded agencies are led by executive directors/CEOs of color.
Click the plus signs at right to see grants below, organized by priority population served, and click here to see Phase 2 grants. Click here to learn more about the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund.
The elderly and other high-risk populations who are experiencing a COVID-19 impact, whether they are living at home or in group settings
Alliance Healthcare Services (May 29): $25,000 to provide mental health services to patients throughout Shelby County and West Tennessee during the COVID-19 outbreak
Apple Seeds, Inc. (May 8): $2,500 to provide pre-partum, post-partum, and birthing support to high-risk mothers through hospital referrals
Apple Seeds, Inc. (June 5): $5,000 to provide post-partum support for mothers and birth support at a time where hospital births are in flux during the COVID-10 outbreak
DeafConnect of the Mid-South, Inc. (April 3): $10,000 to provide Skype translation services for people in Memphis with family elsewhere, including immigrants
Families Matter (May 1): $10,000 to provide mental health support to families and children in ZIP codes with the highest number of administered tests and positive COVID-19 results
Just City (May 15): $25,000 to provide bail of $5,000 or less to inmates at 201 Poplar and Jail East to remove them from a highly contagious environment
Love Doesn’t Hurt (May 1): $1,500 to support LGBTQ+ victims of domestic violence with emergency services and case management
Memphis Area Legal Services (May 1): $50,000 to assist individuals who are unemployed due to COVID-19 avoid eviction or foreclosure, receive SNAP and unemployment benefits, and receive relief from COVID-19 related scams
Memphis Area Legal Services (June 5): $25,000 to assist individuals who are unemployed due to COVID-19 avoid eviction or foreclosure, receive SNAP and unemployment benefits, and receive relief from COVID-19-related scams
Memphis Artists for Change (May 1): $15,000 to provide food and short-term internet access for 300+ people in Whitehaven, North Memphis, and South Memphis, and to distribute PPE to high risk populations
Memphis Crisis Center (June 5): $15,000 to provide counseling and direct support for those in crisis during the COVID-19 outbreak 2. Low-income families experiencing short-term financial crises related to COVID-19
Methodist Le Bonheur Community Outreach (April 24): $7,500 to help provide high-risk diabetes patients receive the food they need to effectively manage the disease during the outbreak
OUTMemphis (May 22): $10,000 to compile and distribute food and hygiene kits to people in need for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Palmer Home for Children (April 17): $25,000 to provide emergency services and support to children and families dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak
SRVS (Apr. 6): $6,000 to provide food and supplies to the 55 residential homes they are serving during the COVID-19 outbreak
SRVS (May 8): $5,000 to provide food and supplies to the 55 residential homes they serve
Thistle & Bee (April 3): $15,000 to provide services to women who have survived prostitution and sex trafficking
Urban Strategies, Inc. (April 17): $25,000 to provide services to over 2,500 residents 38126, a hot spot in terms of positive COVID-19 cases
Women's Advocacy Center: $3,000 to support five women and families affected by domestic violence since COVID-19
YWCA Greater Memphis (April 3): $25,000 to provide services to victims of domestic abuse
YWCA Greater Memphis (May 22): $15,000 to provide increased services to victims of domestic abuse
Low-income families experiencing short-term financial crises related to COVID-19
Agape Child and Family Services (April 24): $25,000 to provide emergency assistance to families experiencing hardships as a result of the recent coronavirus outbreak
Christ Missionary Baptist Church (June 5): $5,000 to provide meals, supplies, and groceries to community members suffering in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak
JUICE Orange Mound (June 5): $10,000 to partner with the Orange Mound Street Assembly and others to provide food and hygiene items during COVID-19 outbreak
Knowledge Quest (April 3): $10,000 to provide food, utility, and rental assistance to neighborhood families during the COVID-19 outbreak
Knowledge Quest (May 29): $10,000 to provide food, utility, and rental assistance to neighborhood families during the COVID-19 outbreak
Le Dujour H.E.R.O Village (April 3): $5,000 to conduct outreach and intervention to distressed families in 38118 and 38125
Le Dujour H.E.R.O Village (June 5): $7,500 to conduct outreach and intervention to distressed families in 38118 and 38125 during the COVID-19 outbreak
Memphis Inner City Rugby (May 29): $2,500 to provide needed supplies to its 225 families in South City, Westwood, Frayser, Hickory Hill, and Orange Mound during the COVID-19 outbreak
Neighborhood Christian Centers (May 29): $10,000 to provide family support and food stability during the COVID-19 outbreak
New Direction Christian Church (April 17): $15,000 to provide food and supplies to community members impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak
Restoration Time Family and Youth Services (April 17): $7,500 to provide mental support, career coaching, emergency supplies, and referral services to 3,000 families in Frayser
RISE Foundation (April 3): $15,000 to provide financial support and connect 600 clients to social services, focused, in part, on seniors and healthcare workers
RISE Foundation (May 8): $10,000 to provide financial support and connect 600+ clients to social services, focused, in part, on seniors and healthcare workers
Urban Community Ministries (April 9): $5,000.00 to provide transportation services to families in 38126 that do not otherwise have access services outside of their neighborhood
Catholic Charities of West Tennessee (April 24): $25,000 to serve 4,000 individuals through its food services program and help connect un-housed people to resources during the COVID-19 outbreak
Catholic Charities of West Tennessee (May 29): $15,000 to serve 4,000 individuals through its food services program and help connect un-housed people to resources during the COVID-19 outbreak
First Presbyterian Church (April 3): $10,000 to accommodate the increased demand at weekly soup kitchen and increased costs of to-go meals
Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas (April 17): $25,000 to provide emergency food boxes and continue mobile pantry in 12 counties in east Arkansas
For the Kingdom (May 1): $10,000 to feed youths, seniors, and first responders Monday-Friday with a goal of expanding to three apartment complexes in 38128
Memphis Athletic Ministries (May 15): $5,000 to host weekly food drives in partnership with the Mid-South Food Bank to aid families suffering from food insecurity
Mid-South Food Bank (June 5): $50,000 to provide for the increased demand for food in the Mid-South community during the COVID-19 outbreak
One Family Memphis dba Memphis Rox (May 1): $10,000 to prepare and serve of 150 lunches Monday-Friday to the Soulsville community and families impacted by COVID-19
Hospitality Hub (April 24): $25,000 to work with Community Alliance for the Homeless, HCD, and MIFA to provide shelter-in-place, case management, and supportive services to those experiencing homelessness in three locations
Hospitality Hub (May 1): $15,000 to work with Community Alliance for the Homeless, HCD, and MIFA to provide shelter-in-place, case management, and supportive services to those experiencing homelessness in three locations
Hospitality Hub (June 5): $20,000 to work with Community Alliance for the Homeless, HCD, and MIFA to provide shelter-in-place, case management and supportive services to those experiencing homelessness during COVID-19
New Genesis Homeless (April 3): $5,000 to serve clients turned away from other missions
Room in the Inn - Memphis (April 9): $10,000 to provide medical respite for recently discharged patients seeking shelter and considered to be medically fragile
Room in the Inn - Memphis (May 22): $25,000 to provide medical respite for recently discharged patients seeking shelter and considered to be medically fragile
Welcome to Memphis (March 27): $30,000 to award emergency grants to restaurant and hospitality workers. If you would like to make an additional gift to Welcome to Memphis's emergency fund housed at the Community Foundation, click here.
Residents who are quarantined, either voluntarily or by the directive of a medical professional or the Shelby County Health Department, and who may not have sufficient support from their families and friends
Residents who face extraordinary childcare challenges as a result of school or daycare closures
ALLMemphis (May 22): $5,000 to provide learning packets and supportive services to kids at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis (April 17): $25,000 to provide meals to families and provide childcare services for essential medical and other first responder workers
Las Americas / Memphis Leadership Foundation (June 5): $ 25,000 to provide food, supplies, devices, education support and other services to 1,000+ families and 700+ who are out of school and unable to attend summer programming
University of Memphis Foundation (June 5): $5,500 to provide food and housing support to international students during the summer who are not able to work or return home due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak
