NC nonprofits seek state help to continue helping families, communities hurt by pandemic

Nonprofits across North Carolina are asking lawmakers to set aside $75 million for them in the state's next pandemic relief package.

Posted 9:21 p.m. Jul 16, 2021 — Updated 11:28 p.m. Jul 16, 2021

Matt Talhelm

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Nonprofits across North Carolina are asking lawmakers to set aside $75 million for them in the state's next pandemic relief package.

Lawmakers have distributed billions in federal aid to schools, businesses and local governments in three separate packages over the past 14 months. Nonprofits said they likewise need assistance to survive and continue to serve after the pandemic.

"Without the nonprofit sector in force, the state would really be unable to provide essential services," said Jeanne Tedrow, president of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits. "We’re the second response team. So, after the first responders go in, we’re there alongside of them – but we stay."

Nonprofits are a $40 billion industry in North Carolina. Three-quarters of them say they took a loss early in the pandemic.

Tedrow said agencies could apply for grants from a nonprofit relief fund to replace revenue losses of at least 20 percent in a three-month period; cover payroll to add employees due to volunteer reductions of at least 25 percent; pay mortgage, rent and utility costs; and recover pandemic-related expenses not covered by other federal or state aid.

"Many organizations are taking stock of what just happened to them," she said. "This recovery fund could help with some of the revenue losses that were felt during the pandemic, to try to make up for some of that."

The Center for Nonprofits also is lobbying municipal governments to provide nonprofits with funding from the American Rescue Plan.

Dallas Bonavita, executive director of Raleigh-based Note in the Pocket, said state and federal assistance would help nonprofits meet the increased need over a long-haul rebound.

"This isn’t a short-term fix. We need long-term help and solutions," Bonavita said. "We’re the front lines. We help immediately. Without us, it’s harder."

Note in the Pocket provides clothes to homeless and impoverished students in Wake County

"The need is just growing tremendously," Bonavita said. "The families hit the hardest will take the longest to recover."

The nonprofit is seeing one sign of recovery, however, as 20 to 30 volunteers are working in person each day to help collect donated clothes and pack them in bags for partner nonprofits to deliver to children in need.

"Before the pandemic, we had 2,300 volunteers in a year. Last year, we had a significant drop-off," he said.

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