With local nonprofits facing an uncertain future, the Community Foundation of Broward used the power of collaboration to deliver fast answers to important questions about new federal coronavirus relief opportunities.
It happened quickly too. Just days after the $2 trillion CARES Act was signed into law, the Community Foundation joined forces with the region’s other major philanthropic organizations for an exclusive webcast. It connected local nonprofits to financial experts who could help them navigate complicated rules for getting federal loans to fill budget shortfalls and keep people employed.
More than 1,000 people participated in the first-of-its-kind webinar, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Broward, The Miami Foundation, The Jewish Federation of Broward County, United Way of Broward County and United Way of Miami-Dade.
The partners teamed up with Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and CPAs to produce the webinar, which was the first large-scale effort to mobilize help for South Florida nonprofits. The firm’s experts explained how to apply for paycheck protection program loans, and how to ensure loans are forgivable through the CARES Act. The partnership also launched a telephone hotline nonprofits can call for help applying for federal relief.
“Within 72 hours, an idea came up and we had the thing put together. We accomplished much more than I could have ever dreamed,” said Richard Berkowitz, Berkowitz Pollack Brant’s founding and executive chairman, who is also a former Board chairman of the Community Foundation of Broward. “This funding means everything. It means the difference between nonprofits staying in existence or not during this terrible time.”
South Florida nonprofits can still call the Berkowitz Pollack Brant Hotline at 305-377-3900 for answers about the CARES Act requirements. Also, future webinars are being considered to help nonprofits apply for more relief opportunities.
“Nonprofit organizations are key to lifting our community out of crisis,” said Linda B. Carter, President/CEO of the Community Foundation of Broward. “We helped them get powerful advice from leading experts, which will give them all a better shot at getting an infusion of much-needed federal support.”
The webinar and hotline are examples of how the Community Foundation creates bold impact through collaboration and partnerships.
“We’re all in this together,” Carter said. “And together we’ll help Broward through this crisis and beyond.”
Click on the image below to watch a recording of the webinar about CARES Act help for nonprofits:
To learn more about how your philanthropy through the Community Foundation can help Broward during this crisis and beyond, contact Vice President of Philanthropic Services Nancy Thies at nthies@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503.
