Recovery Grant Opportunity for Public Serving Organizations affected by Ice Storm

The Otsego Community Foundation (OCF) is pleased to announce a grant opportunity for public serving organizations (including nonprofits, schools and government entities) affected by the 2025 Ice Storm. This grant program aims to restore and strengthen the capacity of local public entities, ensuring they can continue serving the community effectively in both immediate recovery and long-term preparedness. 

“Over the past five years nonprofits and other community organizations serving Otsego County have stepped up to respond to challenges from Covid, the 2022 tornado and now the Ice Storm.  The OCF recognizes the heavy lift and while the available funding may not single handedly be the answer, it is our goal that it will help make them whole again.”  Dana Bensinger, OCF Executive Director. “In the first few weeks following the Ice Storm the focus was awarding grants to organizations so they could help others with basic needs such as shelter, heat, and food.  Now it’s time to help the helpers.”  

This is made possible by the many generous donors who have contributed to the Disaster Response Fund of the OCF. The DRF provides a centralized opportunity for donors to invest in disaster response efforts and a support mechanism for nonprofit organizations responding to the crisis. Grants are awarded to organizations addressing emergency relief, intermediate recovery, and long-term rebuilding. The fund was established in June of 2024, by the OCF board of directors as part of disaster preparedness efforts. Since March 31, 215 individual donors have graciously contributed a total of $395,000 which has allowed the Disaster Response Fund of the OCF to award $90,500 in emergency grants and allocate additional funds to partners for the intermediate phase to assist with debris clean up, small business support, unmet needs for individuals and other disaster related challenges. 

Grant application details:  

Funding Details and Priorities: Public serving organizations may apply for grants ranging from $500 to $5000, based on demonstrated need and impact. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, school, or government entities 

• Must serve Otsego County and demonstrate how the storm has affected operations. 

• Funding may support operational needs, program expansion, infrastructure repairs, staff support and other unexpected costs incurred as a result of disaster. 

Application Process: 

• Application Opens: June 10 

• Deadline to Apply: June 25, due to limited funding, the OCF reserves the right to close the application early. Additional funding may become available during later grant cycles.  

• Award Notification: July 21 

Selection, review and feedback process: 

Successful grant proposals will succinctly articulate the impact on operations as a result of disaster and how these funds will support the organization’s capacity and recovery efforts. Applications are reviewed by a committee composed of OCF board members and volunteers. To continue developing and sharing community stories to understand disaster effects, success stories of funding use will be expected within six months. 

Commitment to collaboration and capacity building 

Recovery is a long road, and a team effort. Countless partners have shared their time, talent, and treasure. Learning from Covid and the Tornado, progress has been made to enhance community partnerships. At the center is the START (Services, Tools, Assistance, Resources, and Talents) Collaborative , a program of the Otsego County United Way with grant support from multiple OCF funds that ignited Ice Storm recovery to function with holistic efforts. 

Advancing the community and being best prepared for any circumstance requires more than just funding; it involves training, partnerships, and continued leadership. OCF is proud to offer multiple capacity initiatives beyond disaster response for organizations to connect with, including:  

• Leadership Learning Lab, a 10-month program investing directly in leaders as a way to strengthen their organizations and the communities they serve.  

• Capacity Advisory Pool, a program of Rotary Charities that connects organizations with a challenge to a consulting coach who can help guide them through with tools, recommendations, and resources.  

• Nonprofit Exchange, a monthly meeting opportunity to connect with other nonprofits, share, and learn.  

Interested organizations can visit https://www.otsegofoundation.org/apply/grants/ to apply. For questions or assistance with the grant or to learn more about capacity support opportunities, please contact DeLayni Brown at delayni@otsegofoundation.org or 989-731-0597.