Posted on July 20, 2009

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Kresge Foundation Announces Programs to Help Mitigate Effects of Recession

In the fourth in a series of "open letters" detailing the foundation's response to the economic crisis, Kresge Foundation president and CEO Rip Rapson has announced several funding opportunities for emergency-service and health organizations working to help individuals and families most affected by the downturn.

In each of its fields of interest — education, community development, the environment, arts and culture, health, and human services — the foundation has taken steps recently to help alleviate some of the effects of the recession. The efforts include awarding operating support to Kresge capital challenge grantees that provide essential human services; a new focus on community-based organizations offering emergency assistance, including groups seeking support for new facilities; the creation of a Community Relief Fund that will award no-interest program-related investments of up to $500,000 to emergency-service agencies; and a project that encourages citizens to use arts and culture to raise hope within communities adversely impacted by the downturn.

Later this month, the foundation will provide details on two new programs for healthcare organizations: the Health Clinic Opportunity Fund, which will address the increasing number of adults losing their jobs and health insurance; and the Safety-Net Enhancement Initiative, which is designed to boost the services, relationships, resources, and capacity of community health centers, public hospitals, local health departments, and other segments of a community's safety-net system.

"We can't single-handedly right this out-of-kilter economy," said Rapson in the letter. "But we will, to the best of our ability, use our resources to provide maximum traction for our grantees, who work day-to-day to improve the life conditions of countless numbers of individuals."

“Kresge Takes Action to Alleviate Pressures of the Economic Downturn.” Kresge Foundation Press Release 7/16/09.

Primary Subject: Human Services
Secondary Subject(s): Health, Economic Crisis
Location(s): National

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