Springfield Business Journal_2020-04-06

Steve Mullins: The $2 trillion package is the first step for U.S. economic recovery. John Everett : Maintaining payroll costs is the No. 1 issue for business owners. 2 · SBJ.NET APRIL 6-12, 2020 for services, particularly for food, is expect- ed to increase. However, Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, Missouri Inc. didn’t let a post- poned event deter its fundraising efforts. Its 15th annual Tool Belts and Bow Ties gala, originally set for March 27, still raised over $130,000 through committed sponsorship and ticket presales, said Development Director Abby Glenn. Nearly $30,000 of that total is connected to ticket sales for its annual Backyard Bundle raffle, which was moved online. Last year’s event grossed $134,000, roughly 5% of the nonprofit’s annual budget.  An additional $40,000 in night-of donations was anticipated this year, she said, adding a new date is yet to be secured. “We were walking in with the most money we had ever raised before,” Glenn said of do- nations to this year’s event. “That was the big- gest gut punch.” In demand While the coronavirus pandemic impact- ed Habitat for Humanity’s event, Ozarks Food Harvest took preemptive action in providing extra services. “We tried to get a little bit out ahead of this about three weeks ago,” President and CEO Bart Brown said March 30. “We had our member pantries start doing drive-by distributions. We asked them to really dou- ble up on the amount of food they were giv- ing people so folks wouldn’t have to come back as soon.” The organization serves 270 hunger- relief organizations in its 28-county coverage area and annually provides more than 18 million meals. Brown said he expects that meal number will increase this year by roughly 1 million, mostly in the next two to three months. That means the agency will need to provide around 2.5 million meals over that period, he added. “The good news is there’s a lot of food right now in the sys- tem and there’s a lot of food in the pipeline because of the federal legislation that was passed (March 27),” he said, in reference to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The $2 trillion act signed into law by President Donald Trump provides $24.6 billion for domestic food programs, with nearly $16 billion to improve access to Sup- plemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Anyone not working or generating income right now qualifies for SNAP benefits and emergency food, Brown said, adding that could include a lot of newly laid-off residents who have never used the services before. Meeting needs Aside from donations, nonprofits are seeking financial help through the Com- munity Foundation of the Ozarks. The agency in mid-March created the COV- ID-19 Response and Recovery Fund Grant Program, which received $1 million by the CFO, Missouri Foundation of Health and the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation managed by Com- merce Trust Co. CFO President Brian Fogle said $140,000 has been added to the fund through donations or com- mitments, with more expect- ed soon. Roughly 120 grant requests totaling $2.55 million have been made as of March 31, he said, noting grants will start being awarded this month. Agencies can apply for up to $25,000 in funding, or $40,000, if partnering with at least two other nonprofits. The grants target vulnerable populations, including senior citizens, the homeless and food insecure individuals. “We will literally be sending out checks every week for the coming months,” Fogle said. “Folks need that help now.” The Discovery Center’s Blevins said his organization is also seeking help, as he expects child care services will be needed into May. The center has about $35,000 in hand right now through community do- nations to offset expenses, with another $20,000 committed and asks out for an additional $40,000. Still, costs are mul- tiplying the longer services are required, which is complicated by the uncertainty of when the virus crisis will subside.  “I expected pretty much what we’ve been able to get,” he said. “There’s a lot of businesses that would typically be sup- porting us that are struggling financially. There’s not a whole lot of industries that haven’t been majorly affected by this.” A similar situation faces OFH, as Brown said its op- erational costs to meet the increased food demand are “through the roof.” He identi- fied $250,000 needed to gen- erate the 1 million meals over the next 90 days and essential- ly cover its costs. Fundraising efforts are on- going to meet that lofty goal, he said, noting OFH received $2.75 million in donations in 2019. “One thing that is different about this is that so many of our very generous donors are being affected by COVID-19,” Brown said. “Not everyone is in a position to help like they have in the past. That’s a pretty sobering realization.” Features Editor Christine Temple contributed. Member FDIC Build Growth. UMB.com/GrowSmart Business Loans • Commercial Card • Treasury Management Real growth takes time. And managing your financial needs in today’s complex economic conditions can be more challenging than ever. You need real advice you can trust, and our record shows stable, consistent growth for more than a century through thick and thin. We thrive on helping you think big picture when it comes to building your business. Nonprofits: CFO recovery grant program passes $1M in funding Continued from page 1 Bart Brown : Food need costs are “through the roof.” Brian Fogle : CFO will begin awarding grants in April. FROM THE COVER