Private Foundations Step Up Funding for COVID-19 Response Efforts (March 15-31, 2020)

As COVID-19 spreads globally and in the United States, private foundations are stepping up with funding to meet the immediate needs of individuals and vulnerable populations impacted by the virus. The “quick-hit” roundup below captures some of the foundation activity and COVID-19 response efforts over the last two weeks. Items are sorted in alpha order, by state and, within states, by foundation name. 

For more coverage, check out PND’s COVID-19 page and Candid’s COVID-19 popup page.

ARIZONA

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Phoenix, AZ | $6.3 Million

The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has announced emergency grants totaling $6.3 million to science, human services, and arts and culture nonprofits in Maricopa County. The foundation awarded a $2 million grant to Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute to expand automated, rapid diagnostic testing aimed at mitigating the spread and potential reoccurrence of COVID-19; grants totaling more than $2 million to twenty-eight human services providers facing a significant increase in demand for their services; and grants totaling $2.2 million to forty-four arts and cultural nonprofits facing significant losses of revenue from event cancellations and a drop off in donations.

CALIFORNIA

California Wellness Foundation, Los Angeles, CA | $4 Million

The California Wellness Foundation has announced grants totaling nearly $3 million in support of vulnerable communities impacted by COVID-19 — including frontline health workers, economically disadvantaged individuals and groups, immigrants, seniors, and Asian Americans experiencing race-based harassment and assaults — as well as select grantees who are experiencing significant disruptions to their work. Cal Wellness also said it will commit another $1 million in support of community clinics and the associations that advocate for them.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Redwood City, CA | $5 Million

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has announced commitments totaling $5 million to nonprofits and public health agencies responding to the spread of COVID-19 in San Mateo County, where CZI is based, and the wider Bay Area. Commitments include $1 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation‘s COVID-19 Regional Response Fund in support of organizations providing critical services such as emergency rental and food assistance; support for a partnership between the Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation and Contra Costa Health Services focused on establishing a mobile testing site for first responders and healthcare workers and expanding mobile testing and screening more broadly; a donation of eight hundred WiFi hotspots to the Redwood City and Ravenswood City school districts in support of at-home learning; and creation of a regional COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to provide local community-based organizations with timely, flexible funding in support of their efforts to address emerging needs in the region.

William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation, Laguna Beach, CA | $1.5 Million

The William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation has announced grants totaling $1.5 million to organizations working to address the impacts of COVID-19 in Southern California communities. The foundation awarded grants of $250,000 to the OC Food Bank and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and grants of $200,000 to the National Domestic Workers Alliance‘s Coronavirus Care Fund, World Central Kitchen, the Recording Academy‘s MusiCares safety-net program, the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation.

Hellman, Crankstart, Stupski Foundations, San Francisco, CA| $2 Million

The Hellman Foundation has contributed $1 million and the Crankstart Foundation and Stupski Foundation have given $500,000 each to San Francisco’s Give2SF COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. The fund, which also received donations from Ann and Gordon Getty ($1 million), Mark Pincus ($100,000), Tom and Theresa Preston-Werner ($250,000), Kyle Vogt and Dan Kan ($100,000), Salesforce ($1.5 million), and Wells Fargo ($150,000), will provide assistance in three priority areas: food security; access to housing; and security for workers and small businesses.

Milner Foundation, Silicon Valley, CA | $3 Million

The Milner Foundation has awarded grants totaling $3 million to three Israeli institutions in support of COVID-19 response and research efforts. The recipients are Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical response organization, in support of efforts to reduce the number of people coming to clinics; Tel Aviv University‘s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, in support of research aimed at developing treatments for coronavirus; and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov Hospital, in support of the intensive care unit caring for COVID-19 patients.

COLORADO

Morgridge Family Foundation, Denver, CO | $1 Million

The Morgridge Family Foundation has announced emergency grants totaling $1 million in support of COVID-19 response efforts. Unrestricted grants were awarded to forty-six nonprofits, including grants of $100,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Orlando, Florida; the Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County; and Adams 12 Five Star Schools in Thornton, Colorado. The foundation also announced that it is underwriting the administrative costs of donations to the Colorado COVID-19 Relief Fund.

DELAWARE

Longwood Foundation, Wilmington, DE | $4 Million

The Longwood Foundation has announced an initial contribution of $1 million to the Delaware Community Foundation‘s Delaware COVID-19 Strategic Response Fund and said it will consider additional contributions as emerging needs become clearer.

FLORIDA

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Sarasota, FL | $1.5 Million

With the goal of supporting health, human services, and safety-net organizations facing increased demand for services as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation in Sarasota and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Venice have launched the Gulf Coast COVID-19 Response Joint Initiative with commitments totaling $1.5 million.

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Miami, FL | $10.25 Million

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced emergency funding totaling $10.25 million in support of grantees working to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, including $3.6 million to relief and recovery funds in the eight cities where Knight has offices; they are the Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund ($500,000); the COVID-19 Response Fund in Charlotte, North Carolina ($500,000); the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan’s COVID-19 Relief Fund ($500,000); the Central Georgia COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund ($500,000); the United Way Miami Pandemic Response Fund 9$450,000) and the Miami Foundation Community Recovery Fund ($250,000); the Small Business Relief Fund ($250,000) and PHL COVID-19 Relief Fund ($250,000) in Philadelphia; the Silicon Valley Strong Fund ($500,000); and the St. Paul Bridge Fund ($400,000) in Minnesota. The foundation also announced grants totaling $6.65 million to community foundations in eighteen other communities where it works.

ILLINOIS

Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Decatur, IL | $290,000

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has announced a $290,000 commitment to help address coronavirus-related food insecurity in Macon County. Recipients include Meals on Wheels ($30,000) in support of an expansion of its services; Baby TALK ($50,000), to help vulnerable families obtain formula, baby food, and other necessities; and United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois ($110,000), which will use the funds to restock food pantries and help the Good Samaritan Inn provide meals to residents in need. The foundation also will provide up to $100,000 in meal vouchers to first responders from the Macon County Sheriff’s Office and Decatur police and fire departments and ambulance service. Buffett is a former Macon County sheriff and currently serves as undersheriff.

INDIANA

Foellinger Foundation, Fort Wayne, IN | $1.35 Million

The Foellinger Foundation has announced a $1.35 million commitment in support of Allen County nonprofits working to address the impacts of COVID-19 on local communities. The funding includes $1.1 million in additional support to the foundation’s current grantees; $100,000 for Emergency Response Rapid Grants of up to $25,000 each; $100,000 for Innovative Rapid Grants of up to $25,000; and $50,000 to the United Way of Allen County‘s Emergency Relief Fund, matching a donation by the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.

IOWA

Iowa West Foundation, Council Bluffs, IA | $500,000

The Iowa West Foundation has committed up to $500,000 to the Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund, which it launched in partnership with the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation and Council Bluffs Schools Foundation. The fund will provide emergency assistance for vulnerable populations, support the expansion of public health infrastructure, and assist nonprofits and public health organizations facing challenges related to COVID-19.

MARYLAND

Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Baltimore, MD | $4 Million

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has announced $4 million in emergency grants in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including $2.57 million to fifty-five nonprofits operating in the foundation’s priority communities in the United States and Israel, and $1.5 million for emergency needs to be identified in the coming weeks and months. The foundation also is accelerating payment of several previously approved grants to ensure that organizations have use of those funds as quickly as possible.

MICHIGAN

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Flint, MI | $500,000

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has awarded $500,000 to the Greater Flint Urgent Relief Fund, which was established by the Community Foundation of Greater Flint in partnership with United Way of Genesee County, to address immediate and future direct service needs and gaps in the region, enable nonprofits on the front lines of the pandemic to maintain and/or expand their operations and infrastructure, and support costs associated with increasing volunteer capacity. Other foundations contributing to the fund include the Hagerman Foundation and Ruth Mott Foundation.

MINNESOTA

McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis, MN | $100,000

The McKnight Foundation has committed $100,000 to the Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund, which is administered by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, to be distributed to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations to address immediate needs of individuals, families, and small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

MISSOURI

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, MO| $2.8 Million

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has announced a series of commitments in support of grantees, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and educational institutions in the Kansas City region. Awards include $500,000 for general support grants through the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund; $500,000 to the KC COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners in Kansas City; up to $1.2 million in support of charter and district schools as well as nonprofit education support organizations; up to $600,000 for current KC Civic grantees who need additional assistance to address COVID-related challenges; and six-to-one matches for donations of up to $500 (per associate) in support of 501(c)(3) public charities working to address the impacts of COVID-19.

NEW MEXICO

Thornburg Foundation, Santa Fe, NM | $1 Million

The Thornburg Foundation has announced that it is accelerating its annual grantmaking and will double each grant with a one-time increase totaling $240,000 in support of nonprofits serving food-insecure children, families, and seniors and the homeless in Santa Fe and Albuquerque affected by COVID-19. Recipients include Food Depot ($20,000), Interfaith Community Shelter ($30,000), La Familia Medical Center ($20,000), Kitchen Angels ($20,000), Communities in Schools ($20,000), Esperanza Shelter ($20,000), St. Elizabeth’s Shelter ($20,000), Youth Shelter ($20,000), Adelante program ($10,000), Family Independence Initiative ($10,000), Roadrunner Food Bank ($20,000), Heading Home ($20,000), and the Santa Fe Community Foundation‘s COVID-19 Response Fund ($10,000).

NEW YORK

Bloomberg Philanthropies, New York, NY | $3 Million

Bloomberg Philanthropies has announced a commitment of $3 million in support of a $4 million public-private partnership with Johns Hopkins University and the state of Maryland to fund research into potential therapeutic uses of blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors. A team led by Arturo Casadevall, an infectious disease expert and Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, has established a network of hospitals and blood banks that will collect, isolate, and process COVID-19 convalescent plasma with the aim of testing its effectiveness and safety in treating critically ill COVID-19 patients and boosting the immune systems of healthcare providers and first responders.

Louis R. Cappelli Foundation, White Plains, NY | $200,000

The Louis R. Cappelli Foundation has contributed $200,000 to the RXR Building Community Fund at the Westchester Community Foundation in support of COVID-19 relief efforts in New Rochelle.

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, New York, NY | $1.25 Million

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded emergency grants of $1 million to Citymeals on Wheels and $250,000 to God’s Love We Deliver, which are experiencing overwhelming demand for their services, to help feed and support elderly and health-compromised New Yorkers who are required to stay in and limit visits from others to avoid exposure to the coronavirus.

Multiple Foundations, Western New York State | $4 Million

The United Way of Buffalo & Erie County has announced the launch of the Western New York (WNY) COVID-19 Community Response Fund with commitments from nearly twenty funders — including BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York’s Blue Fund, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, M&T Bank, and the Bank of America Charitable, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, East Hill, Grigg Lewis, James H. Cummings, Key Bank and First Niagara, Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower, Patrick P. Lee, Pinto Family, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., Baird, John R. Oishei, Margaret L. Wendt, and Western New York foundations. The fund has raised at least $4 million to date to meet health, human services, food, and childcare needs in the region and support frontline responders.

NORTH CAROLINA

Dogwood Health Trust, Asheville, North Carolina | $10 Million

Created out of the $1.5 billion sale of Mission Health to HCA Healthcare, the Dogwood Health Trust has announced a $10 million commitment in support of efforts to address the public health crisis in western North Carolina. Support will be focused on three areas — flattening the curve, preparing the region for virus spread, and mitigating impacts of COVID-19, including supporting local companies as they work to increase production of face shields and hand sanitizer, ordering more COVID-19 tests, and working with partners to create spaces where patients can be quarantined. The trust is a funding partner of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina‘s COVID-19 Pandemic Response fund.

Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Winston-Salem, NC | $1.5 Million

The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust has announced $1.5 million in flexible funding for COVID-19 response efforts in North Carolina, including a grant of $500,000 to the COVID-19 Response Fund for Forsyth County in support of immediate, emerging, and long-term needs of nonprofits serving disproportionately impacted communities; and a $1 million grant to the North Carolina Healthcare Association Foundation in support of hospitals ($500,000), free and charitable clinics ($250,000), and the North Carolina Community Health Center Association ($250,000) for medical supplies, personal protective equipment, test kits, and telehealth solutions.

PENNSYLVANIA

William Penn Foundation, Philadelphia, PA | $3 Million

The board of directors of the William Penn Foundation has approved a lead grant of $3 million to support the