Montréal, July 30, 2020 – The applications portal for the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) closed this Monday. The Foundation of Greater Montréal (FGM), for its part, had already distributed all the funds it managed under the program. That distribution was completed a few weeks ago. In all, FGM supported 208 different community projects through the ECSF. They cumulatively represent an investment of $7.2 M to benefit vulnerable populations in the metropolitan area. Those people have been further placed at risk by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The projects supported are geographically distributed as follows. This breakdown proportionately reflects the populations in the areas in which FGM allocated the funds disbursed by the Government of Canada in April:

  • Island of Montréal: 96 projects totaling $3.2 M;
  • Laval and the North Shore: 44 projects totaling $1.6 M;
  • South Shore and the Montérégie: 68 projects totaling $2.4 M.

“We want to thank every organization that submitted a request in this difficult period.” noted FGM’s President and CEO, Karel Mayrand. “The speed with which a sizeable number of requests were sent in – and processed by our team – is a powerful indicator of the pandemic’s impact. We hope that every organization in our community, all of which have been working tirelessly for months to respond to the crisis, can get all the support they need. For its part, FGM will continue to be agile and to deploy its resources in order to be there for them in the best possible way.” he added. ECSF is the second emergency fund FGM has helped put into action. It launched the COVID-19 Collective Fund in the spring.

Projects in all sectors and for all groups

74% of the projects funded belong to the social development sector. This is where the level of need has skyrocketed due to the pandemic. In terms of issues addressed, food security is where the needs were the greatest. Support was also granted for providing social activities for isolated or vulnerable individuals. As well, grants helped to bolster recipient organizations’ hygiene and safety measures, and to create preventive and promotional initiatives in healthcare. At the same time, several grants helped these organizations initiate or speed up a digital shift. This allowed them to adjust, and sometimes even enhance, their services to the public in the current context.

Many of the organizations FGM supported provide services to the population at large. However, the projects funded through the ECSF had to specifically target groups that are hardest hit by the pandemic. Women are among those groups, as well as racialized individuals or immigrants, youth, disabled persons and caregivers, or the elderly. “We know that people in these groups are more likely to suffer the gravest effects of the pandemic. Just think of the social isolation, homelessness, poverty, or problems stemming from violence, addiction or mental health issues. The community organizations that assist them provide services that can prove to be vital for them.” Mr. Mayrand concluded.

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Source: Foundation of Greater Montréal
For more information: Simon Delorme, Project Manager for Communications – (438) 777-2776, simon.delorme@fgmtl.org

About FGM. The Foundation of Greater Montréal (FGM) helps individuals, families and organizations to get involved and support their community by creating funds for selected causes in all sectors. In addition to publishing the Vital Signs of Greater Montréal report, FGM manages the assets of about 650 funds, guides donors and supports community organizations. A member of the Community Foundations of Canada, a network of 191 community foundations, FGM encourages philanthropy as a major driver for well-being in Greater Montréal.

About the ECSF. The Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) is a $350 M emergency financial support program from the Government of Canada. Alongside the Canadian Red Cross, United Way Centraide Canada and Community Foundations of Canada, FGM is proud to participate in the distribution of these funds. The Fund aims to assist the most vulnerable populations in Canada, those less equipped to deal with the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19. In doing so, ECSF provides much needed support to front-line organizations.