Investment Connection responds to COVID-19

In response to the effect of COVID-19, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has scheduled Investment Connection-Response to COVID-19, a special series of webinar events. These events will invite community organizations helping low- and moderate-income (LMI) populations directly and indirectly affected by the coronavirus outbreak to connect with potential funders. We encourage these community organizations to submit a proposal for Investment Connection-Response to COVID-19 to share with the funding community.

Investment Connection-Response to COVID-19 proposal presentations will take place via webinar from 1:00-2:45 p.m. MDT / 2:00-3:45 p.m. CDT by geographic impact area. The deadline to submit proposals is April 8. Webinar events are scheduled on these dates for the geographic areas:

• May 4 - New Mexico
• May 5 - Colorado
• May 6 - Oklahoma
• May 7 - Nebraska
• May 8 - Western Missouri and Kansas

Investment Connection - Response to COVID-19 is an opportunity to share community and economic development proposals from organizations that are working on the front lines in our communities and may be eligible under the Community Reinvestment Act with potential funders. To date, we have connected more than $36 million in funding, including loans, investments/grants and services, to community organizations. Investment Connection has also provided more than 300 organizations the opportunity to educate funders about their organizations, their area of focus and effect in the community. 

If you have a proposal addressing the needs of LMI populations related to one of the following categories, take this opportunity and submit it for consideration:   

• Emergency housing assistance
• Community services and facilities, including food pantries, health services and children's services 
• Small business assistance/Microlending
• Workforce services 
• Digital inclusion and services

Please also select Disaster Relief for proposals addressing the effect of COVID-19.

Here is the process: Up to eight proposals will be selected for each of the five webinars. Presenters will have seven minutes to share information about their organizations and specific proposals, utilizing a PowerPoint presentation. This is followed by three minutes of questions from funders. 

If you are interested in being considered for one of the eight presenter opportunities it is important to submit your proposal as soon as possible. Please do not wait until the April 8 deadline, as proposals will be reviewed for presentation in the order in which they are received. Proposals are considered received when both the proposal AND the reviewed or audited financials have been received. 

Submit by April 8 via the Investment Connection portal. Also be sure to include your most recent reviewed or audited financials in the attachments section of the proposal submission. Remember: CRA-eligible proposals will be reviewed for presentation on the webinar in the order in which they are received, so please submit your proposal and financials as soon as possible. 

All approved proposals will be added to the Investment Connection searchable website for funders to view.

We hope you will submit a proposal to share information about your organization and the work you are doing as a response to COVID-19. For more information about Investment Connection and testimonials from community organizations and funders, please visit our website. Or contact me at ariel.cisneros@kc.frb.org.