Weathering the Economic Storm

AT THE START OF 2009, THE GREAT RECESSION HIT HARD

• 95%: the increase in individuals filing for unemployment in Ohio
• 88%: the increase in individuals filing for unemployment in Kentucky
• 40%: the increase in requests for heat assistance money
• 35%: the number of first-time food assistance applicants

GREATER CINCINNATI FOUNDATION TOOK THE LEAD

• Convened local funders and nonprofits to identify urgent needs
• Created “Weathering the Economic Storm” fund for which funders – suspended normal application processes and procedures

THE IMPACT AMPLIFIED INVESTMENTS FROM 2009-2011

• 26 funders joined the collective fund focused on strategic awards
• $4.5 million in grants awarded to 127 nonprofit organizations
• 95,000 children, adults and seniors impacted
• Leveraged $99,000 of additional funding to support grant writing, which resulted in $5.5 million in federal and state funds to the region