Q: What is the Emergency Fund?
A: It’s a dedicated regional effort to raise money for people in immediate need for food, shelter
and utility assistance. The recent economic crisis has created a growing demand for services and
many nonprofits

Q: Isn’t it the same as the UW Campaign?
A: No, this is above and beyond United Way’s annual campaign. These funds will be directed where they are needed most and will only go to agencies and organizations supporting basic needs in central Maryland.

Q: Who will be receiving these funds?
A: Frontline organizations that serve one or more of the jurisdictions in central Maryland (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties and Baltimore City). Organizations must provide clients with one or more of the following services: rental assistance, utility assistance, supportive services (including transportation, case management, prescription assistance, etc.), housing first, shelter expansion, and mass food preparation (shelters and soup kitchens). The Emergency Response Fund excludes foreclosure assistance and food for pantries.

Q: How will allocations be determined?
A: The proposals will be reviewed by select community volunteers who are knowledgeable in resource distribution processes and will be guided by experts in the field of basic needs. Organizations applying for funding through the RFA process will be informed in writing of their award status. Organizations receiving funds will be required to submit a report at the conclusion of the expenditure of funds which will include client demographics, service outputs, service benefits, and budget expenditures.

Q: What is the goal?
A: The goal is to raise $1 million

Q: Can anyone apply for the funds?
A: Organizations may apply by invitation and who meet one or more of the following criteria: (1) current funded impact partner; (2) current contract partner; (3) current contract partner affiliate; and/or (4) recommended by the local Continuum of Care.

Q: What are the grant increments?
A: $10,000 - $25,000

Q: When will the money be distributed?
A: The first round of funds have been distributed. So far, the Emergency Response Fund has provided the following agencies with grants totaling more than $240,000: Arundel House of Hope; Congregations Concerned for the Homeless; Domestic Violence Center of Howard County; Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, Harford Community Action Agency; Health Care for the Homeless; House of Ruth; Human Services Programs of Carroll County; Jobs, Housing and Recovery; Prologue; Salvation Army; St. Vincent de Paul Sarah’s Hope.

Q: How much will be taken out by United Way?
A: Every dollar donated will be distributed. There will be no administrative fees rendered at all.

Q: Who is partnering with United Way on this fund?
A: Thanks to the generosity of Lord Baltimore Capital Corporation, Citi, CareFirst, France-Merrick Foundation, Baltimore Community Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation, the David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, JMT Engineering, J.J. Haines Foundation, Baltimore Community Foundation, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Ellin & Tucker, Clifton Gunderson, Bay National Corporation, LifeBridge Health, Howard Bank, the Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund, Black & Decker Corporation, PNC Bank, Stout, Causey & Horning, PA., Brown Advisory, The John J. Leidy Foundation, Inc., SECU (State Employees Credit Union), The Cordish Family Foundation, Inc., MECU (Municipal Employees Credit Union, Inc.), Rite Aid MACSC, GBMC (Greater Baltimore Medical Center), Baltimore Equitable Insurance Foundation, Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors Foundation, Northrop Grumman, DLA Piper, CB Richard Ellis, Comcast, Clorox, We Care Private Duty Services, Leonard and Helen Stulman Charitable Foundation, Matterhorn Travel Services, Inc., Carrollton Bank, LifeBridge Health WINGS, Luckie’s Tavern, Greene Turtle, Bank of America, The A.C. and Penny Hubbard Foundation, Inc., Procter & Gamble, Legg Mason, AFL-CIO, The Freedman Foundation, Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, AEGON/Transamerica Foundation, and individual donors, we have raised more than $680,000 – including $50,000 contributed by United Way itself from its Special Purpose Fund.

Q: How do I donate?
A: You can click here to donate online or you can mail a check (made payable to United Way Emergency Response Fund) to:

United Way Emergency Response Fund
Attention: Pamela Jackson
100 South Charles Street, 5th floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21201