PACE Members Infuse Resources into COVID-19 Response
As communities suffer the impact of the novel coronavirus, philanthropy continues to play a critical role in supporting communities’ response efforts. We recently outlined some creative philanthropic responses to COVID-19 from funders and PACE members, but over the last two weeks, we’ve seen multiple additional PACE members take steps to strategically infuse resources into emergency response and recovery efforts.
Here are some recent new announcements of our members’ commitments to COVID-19 response efforts; we’ll try to keep this rolling list updated:
PACE members including the Ford Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation — among several other funders — recently launched the Family and Workers Fund, a rapid response fund with an initial $7.1 million investment and the goal of raising $20 million, to support low wage workers and families affected by COVID-19. The fund focuses on supporting those most likely to be left out of the government’s policy response and advances policy efforts aimed at economic responses for vulnerable workers, families, and communities.
Detroit, New Orleans, and Memphis are receiving support from the Kresge Foundation, who has granted $2.6 million to organizations in those communities that are combating COVID-19. Detroit’s funding supports individuals and families impacted by the virus, while New Orleans grants support nonprofits focused on homelessness, senior populations, and low-wage workers. Finally, Memphis grants are targeted towards impacted residents, musicians, and artists in the community. Kresge is also waiving $1 million in interest payments on 41 active loans.
The New Economy Initiative donated $500,000 to the TechTown Stabilization Fund to support businesses in the Detroit area that tend to be left out of major city, state, and federal relief efforts. The grant evolved from TechTown’s Detroit Small Business Stabilization Fund, which was supported by lead donors, including fellow PACE member, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. In addition, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation announced a total of over $6 million to support caregivers and hospitals on the front lines of the fight in Detroit, Southeast Michigan, and western New York, as well as investments in organizations combating the community effects of the virus.
The Kansas Health Foundation has approved more than $16.3 million in emergency relief during the coronavirus pandemic. From providing care to low-income and uninsured Kansans to combating food insecurity and increasing health and social service program access — this growing commitment aims to improve health in the state.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which typically supports long-term health care policy change, has switched gears to provide humanitarian assistance in the form of $50 million towards food, housing, and cash for those most impacted by the virus. The foundation aims to highlight the critical importance of boosting health equity, and how the risk of COVID-19 exposure is dependent on income, access to health care, immigrant status, and other factors.
The Woods Fund of Chicago, to deepen their commitment to addressing the inequities in communities of color that their grantees partners have fought for decades, made the decision to increase their annual payout from six to eight percent. And in addition to supporting their grantees during the pandemic, the Woods Fund announced the creation of the Solidarity & Movement Building Fund to support smaller organizations, community organizing funders, and movement building efforts in their portfolio.
Philanthropy continues to step up in significant ways and PACE is humbled by the commitment of our members to support nonprofits and their grantees as they fight this pandemic.
Are we missing critical response efforts in our roundup? Reach out to info@pacefunders.org and let us know, or post in the comments below. Additionally, be sure to check out PACE’s recent reflections on philanthropy’s response to COVID-19:
Features additional creative and rapid responses from our members, including the Houston Endowment, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Fetzer Institute, Delaware Community Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, and Democracy Fund.
Reflections from a March 2019 call co-hosted with the Democracy Funders Network and the Entrepreneurship Funders Network on how the pandemic might shape philanthropy and grantmaking.
Reflections from a March 2019 call co-hosted with the Democracy Funders Network on the potential effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on democracy and democratic practice.
