As communities across the nation experience the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 crisis, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance are giving agents a platform to support the causes that hit closest to home. Through a new program announced last week, the organization is putting $1 million of nonprofit giving into the hands of agents.

The funding is being made available through the Independent Agent Giving initiative, which will distribute nearly 150 individual emergency grants by the end of May to nonprofits nominated by independent agents.

“There are two important tenets within our values as an organization: putting people first and championing our independent agent partners,” said Tyler Asher, president of independent agent distribution at Liberty Mutual and Safeco. “This initiative truly embodies both of these values, giving agents a platform to quickly and effectively support the nonprofits making the greatest impact on the people in their communities during this crisis.”  

Liberty Mutual and Safeco initially made $500,000 available through Independent Agent Giving to rapidly get money into local communities. In just two weeks, more than 1,500 nominations were received as part of the program’s first call for submissions. In the weeks since, the ongoing need for these types of emergency grants has become more obvious and led the organization to make an additional $500,000 available.

“We’ve already been so impressed by the number of submissions and the passion that agents clearly have for the nonprofits they are nominating. This funding can do a lot of great things for a lot of great causes, and we know this nomination process is in good hands with our agent partners,” Asher said. “They are pillars in their communities and the best advocates for these nonprofits.”

In total, $1 million in giving is now planned and will be awarded via nearly 150 individual grants of $5,000 or $10,000. Causes that will receive the grants include food banks, homeless shelters and services, organizations that support first responders and healthcare workers, as well as other life-saving and critical services that are unique to different communities.

Meanwhile, another Big “I” partner, Westfield, is helping communities in Northeast Ohio and across the country by donating nearly $1.5 million dollars to nonprofit partners focused on family stability and disaster recovery. These dollars will help stabilize communities and help those who need economic support, according to last week’s press release.

Immediate donations include Northeast Ohio nonprofits addressing hunger and Westfield's national partner, Feeding America. Westfield is also working with select independent insurance agencies across the country to donate nearly $600,000 to nonprofits in their communities to support COVID-19 recovery efforts and other community needs and pledged a donation of support to the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Children's Relief Fund, helping vulnerable children in need.  

Will Jones is IA managing editor.