Ohio University has raised over $160,000 for students in need since launching an emergency COVID-19 support fundraising drive early last month.
OU launched the drive, called Bobcats Take Care, on March 19 as a fundraising and social media campaign meant to financially support students struggling due to COVID-19 through the use of microgrants.
These microgrants can be used for many necessary costs related to COVID-19, including for housing, groceries, childcare, distance learning and technology.
OU students can apply for the microgrants just as they would apply for a normal microgrant through Bobcats Helping Bobcats. The funds are available to all Ohio University students on all campuses.
The university began the fundraising campaign after it received an increased number of requests for microgrants than usual.
As of April 20, over 700 students had applied for the emergency grants, Kathy Fahl, assistant dean of students, said. At the time, about $103,000 of the $110,000 raised by the campaign had been distributed to students.
However, the microgrants have been reduced from the typical maximum of $1,000 to $500 in order to serve more students, Fahl said.
She said the funds could be used for any emergency related to COVID-19, but the university may ask to see if the student has been making academic progress and may ask for documentation if appropriate.
“Obviously we're not going to ask somebody to provide documentation of their need for groceries, but if they want to help with rent we would ask for like a copy of a lease or their expenses,” Fahl said.
It may take up to two weeks for students to receive funds, she said.
“Typically, we would get maybe four requests (for microgrants) a week,” Fahl said “There was one point where we’re getting 68 a day. So we have some extra staff and Student Affairs helping us with the process to try to break up the review process and the screening process.”
A majority of the emergency funding has been provided by donors, including alumni, parents, faculty and staff. About 60% of the funding came from alumni, and faculty and staff have donated about 27%.
The university also began matching donations on April 20. A pot of about $93,000 had been gathered from alumni, friends, and university administrators to be used to effectively double the donations until it ran out, Sarah Lack, associate director of development and annual giving, said.
“It's kind of a way for people to double their impact, and so we're hoping that gets some people excited and motivated to give a gift,” Lack said. “I love scrolling through and seeing the social media posts, especially from alumni who are posting. We have some current students who posted about what they've been doing since being in quarantine and social distancing.”
Lack said she hopes the emergency funds are able to help students in need start to overcome the uncertainty caused by COVID-19.
“I would love to know that every student who applied to receive a grant was able to be helped through these efforts,” Lack said. ”Anything that we can do to help lift those spirits of people who are feeling that same sense of loss a little bit is definitely a win in my book.”
