Most non-profits operate on an already thin budget with no buffer, no cushion, no room for error and no lifeline. The coronavirus pandemic has taken a tremendous human and economic toll on many non-profits. While it has brought more demand for their services, it has presented a logistical nightmare for the vital services many non-profits provide for their communities. There is a potential relief lifeline available for these nonprofit groups through emergency grant funding, The New Mexico Humanities Council (NMHC) is currently accepting and approving grant applications up to $7,500 for local New Mexico non-profit organizations effected by the COVID-19 crisis.Hit particularly hard are organizations providing humanities-focused programming that have to operate and adjust their programming to comply with the Governor’s emergency health orders for the coronavirus. The funding for the non-profit grants is New Mexico’s portion of the National Endowment for Humanities’ (NEH) $75 million in supplemental funding, provided by the $2.2 trillion CARES Act economic stabilization plan. The funding is to be distributed to states to help alleviate financial stresses faced by humanities-focused programs and organizations. NMHC is acting as a pass-through entity for the NEH in New Mexico.NMHC recently funded 37 non-profit organizations around New Mexico though the CARES Act supplemental funding, for a total of $257,700 being disbursed across the state in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Belen, Carlsbad, Roswell, Santa Fe, Silver City, Las Cruces and many other towns in between. Applications will continue to be accepted until the Federal funding is exhausted. Applicants must complete and submit the application for up to $7,500 in funding, depending on their individual needs and remaining resources.Economic damage from COVID-19 has caused people and businesses to forego donations, impacting charitable organizations across the U.S. that provide essential services and assistance. “New Mexico’s cultural non-profit organizations provide so much to our communities, and NMHC is ready to lend support as we all face a new reality,” said Brandon Johnson, NMHC Executive Director.Humanity-focused groups impacted by the Coronavirus that are eligible for the grants include: cultural organizations and humanists affected by the coronavirus, applicants for regular FY20 NEH funding opportunities, and current NEH grant and cooperative agreement recipients seeking administrative flexibilities and supplemental funding.NMHC CARES Act Grant information and FAQs are available on the NMHC website: www.nmhumanities.org/NMHC.php?p=233
Covid-19 Lifeline Grants For Non-Profits
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