Fayetteville Today

Nonprofit agencies in Cumberland County that found themselves in a financial pinch as they tried to keep up the same level of service during the COVID-19 pandemic will receive some relief.

The county will be allocating up to $50,000, hoping that the relief will strengthen employment options and boost efforts from women and minority-owned organizations.

"Many times nonprofits put out more resources than they're really taking in,” Tye Vaught, chief of staff of Cumberland County, told WTVD. 

This Nonprofit Fiscal Recovery Assistance Program calls for $3.5 million of the county's funding from the American Rescue Plan to be disbursed to nonprofits. That will go toward paying back the organizations for major expenses such as wages, payroll taxes, office space and utilities.

Officials wanted to put nonprofits on a par with small businesses that saw resources strained during the COVID-19 shutdown and recovery.

"Nonprofits took a hit during COVID as well, and they may have lost donations, revenue and that type of thing,” Vaught said. “This is really an effort from the Board of Commissioners to make sure that we were assisting them in the best way that we could." 

Applications are available on the county website and organizations classified as 501(C) 3s and 501(C) 19s can apply, particularly those that operate under a mandate to keep low- to moderate-income people employed. Vaught said the funding should protect jobs and leadership roles for people from marginalized backgrounds.

"Many of the nonprofit organizations that suffered or had hardship are minority-owned and women-owned,” he said. “We really want to reach out to that community. The policy, and in the framework of the program, was really written with those who are truly in need being able to benefit." 

The county has yet to set a deadline for completed applications but those interested should go to the county website. The money could be handed out starting as early as January.