Season of giving: Virginia G. Piper Trust gives more in 2020

The end of a tumultuous 2020 brings forecasts of continued public health, economic and social stresses in the new year.

It’s abundantly clear that meeting this ongoing moment, filled with extraordinary challenges for individuals and communities, means doing more than the usual, and it often means doing things differently. Here’s what responsiveness looks like at Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust:

Since January 2020, the Trust has awarded $27.7 million in total grants — with $24.4 million of these funds being grants initiated by the trust to support nonprofits during the COVID-19 crisis.

Typically, the trust’s annual grantmaking is between $20 million and $22 million, according to a press release.

For the first time in its 20-year history, trustees support dipping into Piper Trust’s endowment to help meet more need.

The trust designated its COVID-19 emergency response grants as unrestricted, meaning grantees had discretion and flexibility to use the funds however they needed.

Piper Trust made a commitment to being  more intentional and strategic in incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion in grantmaking decisions.

“Our trustees see how nonprofits are adapting and working differently to meet the challenges of the pandemic and believe the trust must as well,” said Mary Jane Rynd, president and CEO of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. “We are inspired by the drive and determination of our nonprofit community, always, but particularly this year. The Trust will continue to listen to what the community needs as we work together to make it to the other side of this health and social crisis.”

In October and November, Piper Trust awarded $7.3 million in unrestricted COVID-19 emergency response grants to nonprofits in the human services and arts and culture sectors. The trust applauds the resolve and ingenuity of these organizations for how they are addressing COVID-19-related challenges.

New efforts by nonprofits, such as onenten and TheaterWorks, hold great promise for helping individuals and families long after the coronavirus pandemic ends. These nonprofits are doing more, and they are doing things differently with innovations that build community resilience, trust officials said.

In the spring, a $20,000 Piper Trust emergency response grant became the seed money for a new onenten COVID-19 emergency relief fund that grew to nearly $90,000. This new program fund helped onenten, a nonprofit that serves LGBTQ youth and young adults, support individuals struggling with housing, food insecurity and utility payments, the press release stated.

“The grant enabled us to very quickly assist our youth in a way that was dramatic and critical for them,” said Nate Rhoton, CEO of onenten. “Because we were able to say that Piper Trust had contributed to this and helped us launch (the emergency fund), I think it really added a level of credibility, as well as showcased the need. Donors were very responsive to it after that.”

Helping onenten members navigate government programs, negotiate with landlords, and then create plans for their continued stability is part of the Phoenix nonprofit’s emergency assistance service.

“We were able to step in and be there for them,” Mr. Rhoton said. “I would like to say with all of our programs we are walking beside our young people and empowering them. We’re not doing the work. They’re doing it with us. It is a team effort, and they are so resilient and capable. But there are times when they need someone to lean on, and that’s what we’re able to do.”

Because of its success in assisting members through tough times during the pandemic, onenten plans to continue offering emergency help as part of its regular array of services when the public health crisis ends.

Piper Trust’s October and November grants focus on investments in arts and culture and human service organizations, with a priority to award funds to those serving children, youth, and marginalized communities. The ripple effects of the pandemic coupled with various socioeconomic issues have put enormous stress on children and families.

“Youth-focused nonprofits across all sectors — human services, arts and culture, faith-based, etc. — play a critical role in fostering health and well-being as we navigate the months ahead. Piper Trust feels strongly about its role to proactively invest in these nonprofits as they have such a heavy lift on their shoulders,” said Ms. Rynd.

In October and November, 100 organizations received grants totaling $7,342,500 to support their missions as they respond to COVID-19-related challenges. These grantees are largely categorized within the human services and arts and culture sectors.