A Message to our Grantees About COVID‑19

March 16, 2020

Dear friends and partners,

In accordance with guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the State of Michigan to mitigate community spread of COVID-19, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has closed its physical office in Detroit effective today.

As the coronavirus situation unfolds we will continue to review potential reopening on an ongoing basis, which would happen, at earliest on April 6th. In addition, the Foundation is imposing a ban on travel and all in-person meetings through April 20th, at which point we will reassess.

During this time our staff will remain active and committed to our work and communities, and will be accessible via email, phone and remote meeting technologies. We will also continue to process grant payments through our usual means, and organizations may continue to apply for grants through our Fluxx system. Grantee updates related to report deadlines and other related adjustments can continue to be shared via the Fluxx system for active grants.

We want to assure each of our grantees that we understand your work will undoubtedly be affected during this time, including, but certainly not limited to, the cancelation of events/convenings and other necessary program delivery changes and adjustments that will need to occur. And, many of you are working through very real concerns about how this situation will affect your day-to-day operations. Our staff recognizes these concerns and will have flexibility in working with each of you around potential impacts.

Your service and commitment to our communities is critical, especially during these times of uncertainty and crisis. We are grateful for each of you and know that our communities will rise to the challenges that will undoubtedly face us in the coming weeks and months.

We will continue to monitor this evolving situation and, of course, work with our partners on how we can best serve our communities.

Sincerely,

David Egner
President and CEO
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation