Support COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Restore Hope

United Way of Greater Chattanooga has designed and mobilized a new Restore Hope Fund to support our community’s response and resilience efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this fund is to support individuals and households experiencing lost wages or other adverse circumstances due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

We have partnered with a group of nonprofit agencies that are working to meet the most pressing, on-the-ground needs. These local agencies have a history of successfully supporting our community and are prepared to adapt their services and rise to the challenges presented by this time of crisis. The Restore Hope Fund will financially enable these agencies to assist individuals with their specific needs on a case-by-case basis. 

FIND ASSISTANCE

If you are in need of assistance with rent, utility payments, or other areas of financial strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact our 211 team to learn more about what local resources are available to you. For other key areas of need including food, family care and more, visit our get help page here.

To make a donation that directly impacts your neighbors in immediate need, give now using the this link or the button below, text “RestoreHope” to 40403, or send a check or money order made out to the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and in the memo section put “Restore Hope Fund” to 630 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402.

If you are a community-based nonprofit organization providing services related to the local COVID-19 crisis and would like more information about becoming a Restore Hope partner, please reach out to Abby Garrison at [email protected]

FAQ

I want to donate. Can I restrict my funding to a specific Restore Hope partner?

To ensure we move resources as efficiently as possible and respond to the needs of communities most impacted, we are not considering restricted donations at this time. The Restore Hope Fund was created in hopes of providing a way to coordinate as many resources as possible.

I’m an individual who’s been affected by COVID-19. Can this Fund help me?

Yes, the Restore Hope Fund is designed to provide assistance to individuals and families through community partner agencies. We understand many individuals and families have been affected by the outbreak already and more will continue to be affected. On behalf of the Fund’s partners, United Way is working to move resources to community-based organizations that are directly supporting local residents and families who are most affected by emerging health, economic and social impacts. You can find Restore Hope Fund partners and other resources here

How can my nonprofit or business receive operational or capacity assistance?

Right now, the Fund is focusing on making sure individuals and families receive the assistance they need to meet their basic needs during this difficult time—this includes employees of local business who are experiencing lost or reduced wages. United Way has identified local community-based organizations that can provide direct assistance to these individuals and families, you can view them and other agencies here. The Fund will allocate assistance to those organizations as quickly as possible. We recognize that the closures and reductions are significantly impacting local nonprofit organizations and businesses as well. We are working closely with the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, the Mayor’s Office, and state and federal governments, to identify and share resources and support available. In the meantime, nonprofits and business owners can contact the Small Business Administration to learn more about their disaster relief options.

What are the criteria for Restore Hope Fund partners?

During this initial response phase, we have identified Restore Hope partners that allow us to move funds quickly to households in need. This will allow us to continue fundraising throughout the immediate term and move dollars quickly to front-line emerging and evolving needs.

Initial partners were selected using the following criteria:

  • Proven capacity to serve individuals in financial strain and demonstrated current ability to maintain expanded service in COVID-19 response
  • Capability to serve a variety of populations and demographics (Latinx, persons with disabilities, etc)
  • Location of various agencies to ensure largest geographic service area possible


If you are interested in becoming a Restore Hope Partner, please reach out to Dominique Brandt

Where can employees who have lost their jobs or have reduced incomes turn for help?

Visit our Get Help page and the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s employee and employer resource page for more information on how to find help if you are recently unemployed.

Should I give to this Fund instead of making other donations?

This Fund was not created to be the only vehicle resourcing critical community activities during this outbreak. Rather, it is working to facilitate getting more targeted resources into the community where it’s needed most. If the Restore Hope Fund priorities align with your values, please consider making a donation. However, this is a critical time for so many, including the nonprofit organizations who’ve benefited from your giving in the past, as well as those who’ve had to cancel their annual fundraising events or depend heavily on public gatherings. Please continue to give to organizations you regularly support and those that need your help at this crucial time. Now is the time to double down for our community as we have a greater awareness of the depth and scale of the long-term ramifications of the outbreak. As other complementary funds and efforts develop, we will be sure to keep partners informed.

Can I donate by check?

You can donate by sending a check or money order made out to the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and in the memo section put “Restore Hope Fund” to our address at 630 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. You can also donate online by going here or texting “RestoreHope” to 40403.

Who is eligible for funding?

Based upon the charitable structure of the Restore Hope Fund, our grants are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution, such as schools, faith-based organizations and other public entities. We are not able to fund individuals or businesses directly, labor unions, or other 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), and 501(c)(6) organizations. We are working closely with specific partner agencies to ensure that the funding meets the greatest needs in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Please reach out to Dominique Brandt via email with any questions.

Is there a fee to contribute?

There is no administrative fee for participating in the Fund. 100 percent of donations will go to individuals and families in the community through nonprofit agencies that are working to meet the most pressing, on-the-ground needs except for a credit card fee for online donations, which is 2.5 percent. Donors have the option to cover this fee while making a donation and United Way of Greater Chattanooga is are covering the costs of administering this Fund.

You can donate online by going here or texting “RestoreHope” to 40403. You can also send a check or money order made out to the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and in the memo section put “Restore Hope Fund” to our address at 630 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402.

How will the Fund shift gears if needed?

The Fund priorities may evolve as our region adapts to the COVID-19 outbreak. We will continue to prioritize communities most impacted, recognizing deep and historic inequities that are likely to be magnified in times of crisis. Crisis philanthropy recognizes the need to provide immediate resources for triage, as well as the importance of recovery resources to ensure community resilience.

You can donate online by going here or texting “RestoreHope” to 40403. You can also send a check or money order made out to the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and in the memo section put “Restore Hope Fund” to our address at 630 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402.

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