As COVID-19 continues to spread 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. Here’s a roundup of grants from the last few days:
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.
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.
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 regions. 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.
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 ($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.
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 said it will consider additional contributions as emerging needs become clearer.
Morgridge Family Foundation, Denver, CO | $1 Million
The Morgridge 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 Bankin Orlando, Florida; the Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County; and Adams 12 Five Star Schoolsin Thornton, Colorado. The foundation also announced that it is underwriting the administrative costs of donations to the Colorado COVID-19 Relief Fund.
William Penn Foundation, Philadelphia, PA | $11.6 Million
The William Penn Foundation has announced commitments totaling $11.6 million in support of COVID-19 response efforts, including $5 million to establish, in partnership with Vanguard, the Philadelphia Emergency Fund for Stabilization of Early Education. In order to be flexible and responsive to the widespread disruptions in the cultural sector caused by the spread of COVID-19, the foundation also is fast-tracking $6.6 million in annual general operating support grants to arts and cultural groups in the region.
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.
Source: PND
