November 2020
Strategic Response Team
Technical Assistance Working Group

The Strategic Response Team (SRT) launched in the wake of COVID19 to provide a rapid, informed, and coordinated approach to assessing community need and quickly allocating dollars to the areas of greatest need. Soon afterwards, the SRT spun out a Technical Assistance Working Group to ensure area non-profit organizations have the specialized resources, information, and support they need to continue operations and respond to rapidly changing community needs. The TA Working Group is a community collaboration consisting of representatives from funding organizations, local government, grassroots community organizations, health networks, community health and non-profit organizations who bring their varied perspectives to the table to create the most effective impact.
Please take our Nonprofit Survey

We all know that COVID-19 has dramatically impacted the non-profit sector, from financial stability and funder relations to a shift in program demand and virtual or socially distanced service offerings. The national focus on racial justice also shifted the priorities and cemented the values of many organizations. The Technical Assistance team was formed to help strengthen the nonprofit sector during this tumultuous time, and this survey will help to inform the trainings, webinars, and additional educational tools we roll out as well as access to resources needed. The data from this survey ensures your voice will be heard in setting the priorities for the Technical Assistance team. Respondents have the choice to remain anonymous, and all data presented to the public will be done as an aggregate, ensuring funders can be informed of your priorities without impacting your relationships with them.

Completing the survey should take approximately twenty minutes and will cover:
  • Numbers of staff and general organization details
  • Your experiences with COVID-19 recovery
  • What technical assistance needs you currently have
  • Your impressions on the nonprofit sector as a whole
  • Staff and board demographics

When all responses have been collected, we will create a report to share back with the nonprofit sector. This survey gives you the opportunity express your concerns, fears, and triumphs during this unprecedented time, and lets your experiences shape the future of the Lehigh Valley nonprofit community.
CARES Funding
CARES funding is unique by County as detailed below. Expenses paid for by CARES funding must be related to how your organization dealt with/is dealing with COVID-19 and reflect expenses that were not originally a part of your organization’s operating budget. The grant can cover expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020, but all funds must be spent by December 30, 2020.

o  Applications are under review with decisions pending for the CARES funding. Details and notifications will be forthcoming by the County in early November.
o  Not accepting any new applications, funds are currently being distributed to awardees.
o  Final round of grant applications have been submitted and preference will be given to applicants that did not receive funding in the first round. Decisions on grant recipients will be made by Dec. 12, and awardees will be posted on the grant portal. Checks will be sent out by mid-December at the latest. 
MaskUp Lehigh Valley
MaskUp Lehigh Valley was a marketing initiative that focused on spreading awareness of safety procedures and practices to protect against the spread of COVID-19. This collective effort between local nonprofits, health networks, county governments, and marketing agencies reached 10x more people than the organizations could have done individually. The campaign disseminated information on mask wearing, back to school tips, a guide to PA’s Green Phase (in English and Spanish), and other ways to protect yourself. The new campaign will begin in the coming weeks and will feature trusted messengers from the Lehigh Valley community advocating everyone to Mask Up and take precautions as the weather gets colder.