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Looking for COVID-19 resources? View the Innoweave guide
This page will be updated regularly. Please check back here for more information regularly.
May 1 : New Emergency Fund and SIF Granting Stream in Response to COVID-19
Today the Foundation is announcing two sources of support for the sector: a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to assist with immediate needs not covered by government programs, and a new stream of the Social Innovation Fund, Organizational Rebuilding, to help in the rebuilding period which will be required in the coming months. This complements funding of $2 million announced last month.
May 1 : Spotlight on new grants (April 2020)
At a recent meeting, the Trustees of the McConnell Foundation approved new grants that respond to the COVID-19 crisis and help Canadians transform the systems we will need to be more resilient in the future.
April 30: Helping Those Who Help: the Social Sector’s Three Urgent Calls to Action
The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has disrupted Canada’s charitable sector like no other challenge in living memory. Those working in the sector — whether for non-profits, charities, foundations, social enterprises or other organizations devoted to a social purpose — know first-hand the anxiety and stress of striving to provide vital services and support while facing uncertainty about their own financial future.
April 13: On Storms, Blueprints and Collaboration: Re-Code, Post-secondary and the Pandemic
Over the past month, the Re-Code team has been supporting and amplifying innovative and empathic responses to the pandemic from the post-secondary sector, while also planning for the longer-term rebuilding and recovery.
Learn more about what the Re-Code team is up to
April 10: Innoweave platform adaptations: Responding to the COVID-19 crisis
The COVID-19 crisis is rapidly and deeply impacting the ability of community sector organizations to deliver urgently needed support across the country. To help community organizations respond to this demand, Innoweave has launched new coaching opportunities, mentorship, and resources.
April 2: Innoweave Crisis Leadership Resources
Innoweave and the McConnell Foundation are continuously scanning the field for best practices and publicly available resources for nonprofit emergency response and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 31: Spotlight on new grants
At its recent meeting, the McConnell Foundation Trustees prioritized response to the COVID-19 emergency. This included short term funding for front line organizations; social innovations designed to support civil society organizations and small businesses; and an extension to a societal transition initiative in development.
March 30: COVID-19: Increased flexibility and resources for McConnell grantees
Building on our communication of March 16,2020, we would like to assure all grantees and investees about our commitment to support you:
- Despite the decline in the value of our endowment the Foundation is increasing its grant budget for the year ahead.
- We will make all scheduled payments to grantees, investees and collaborative partnerships and can advance future payments ahead of schedule to help you avoid cash-flow problems.
- We are also open to your re-purposing our grant or investment to support emergency response, core operating costs, or to implement a COVID-19 related idea. Please contact your Program Director for assistance.
- We invite you to participate in peer learning about responding to COVID-19 on this platform. Innoweave will also be announcing a new webinar series with online mentoring on managing in an emergency in days to come.
March 16, 2020: Update regarding McConnell’s COVID-19 preventative measures
In alignment with the Quebec government’s preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, all McConnell Foundation staff will be working remotely. Please rest assured that our operations will continue as scheduled during this period: we will continue to accept applications via our online portal, make new grants, process progress reports and make payments in keeping with current agreements.
March 12, 2020: Letter to Grantees, Investees and Partners Regarding COVID-19 Measures
For the next three months most group convenings organized by the Foundation will be postponed, cancelled or reorganized as virtual gatherings. Modest local meetings where little or no air travel is involved may go ahead, with the understanding that any individual may decide to attend virtually instead. We will review and revise this policy as necessary on an ongoing basis.