Updated: April 14, 2020

Nearly 300 community foundations nationwide have mobilized more than $462.1 million to provide critical support to those affected by Covid-19, according to new data from the Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative.

Of that figure, more than $108 million has already been granted to nonprofits who are working to provide food, shelter and other basic needs; help schools purchase and distribute computers to students who would otherwise not be able to access distance learning programs; and offer a long list of other critical services.

Over the coming weeks and months, community foundations will continue to raise and grant funds to help support the short-, medium-, and long-term needs of their communities in response to Covid-19.

While community foundations  have a long history of supporting their communities during times of crisis and disaster, the initial response to Covid-19 is unprecedented in its size and scope. As a result, community foundations are helping fill a critical void as individuals and businesses nationwide await support from government and other sources.

“In my nearly 30 years leading The Erie Community Foundation, I have never seen the donor community rally round a cause so quickly,” said Michael L. Batchelor, president of the Erie Community Foundation, which is leading a response effort in its Pennsylvania community.  “In many cases, the public, donor advisors and corporate partners gave to the Covid-19 Urgent Response fund without even being asked.”

 
Building State and Local Partnerships

Community foundations have been able to mobilize these funds quickly, in part, because of the trusted role they play in their communities.

Community foundations are grantmaking public charities that mobilize the assets of past and current donors to improve the lives of people in a defined geographic area. They bring together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits in their communities.

Evidence of that trust is found in several states -- including Arkansas, Massachusetts, and New Jersey -- that have formed formal partnerships with community foundations to manage and distribute statewide relief efforts.

 Arkansas’ fund -- which is managed by the Arkansas Community Foundation --  addresses both short- and long-term recovery efforts in the state, with a focus on community needs such as food, health, housing and education. Since its establishment on March 18, it has already raised more than $2 million from local entities and awarded 175 grants to local nonprofits focused on Covid-19 relief efforts to disproportionately affected communities.

“This is why we exist -- to help Arkansas communities,” said Heather Larkin, the foundation’s president and chief executive. “This fund is an efficient way to bring together donors with Arkansas nonprofits.”

 In hundreds of other communities nationwide, community foundations are partnering with local United Way agencies, foundations, county and local governments, and businesses to mobilize funds, assess needs, and distribute aid.

This is true in America’s largest city, New York, where dozens of organizations are partnering with The New York Community Trust to distribute more than $92.8 million.

It is also true in cities and towns across the United States, such as Cincinnati, where the Greater Cincinnati Foundation is working closely with the United Way of Greater Cincinnati to mobilize and grant money to support nonprofits. To date, the effort has provided $2.5 million directly to dozens of organizations providing basic needs to the most vulnerable individuals and families affected by Covid-19.

 “The partnership between Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the regional United Ways is powerful. Our collective resources and reach ensures the most ample, effective, and efficient philanthropic response. I am so inspired by our generous donors and their unwavering commitment to our community," said Ellen Katz, President/CEO of Greater Cincinnati Foundation. “We are stronger together. Now is the time.” 

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About The Data

The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative relies on data reported by community foundations, news reports, and other communications to provide regular reporting about the field’s collective response to Covid-19. It is also working with partner organizations such as Candid, the Council on Foundation, GivingCompass, and the National Center for Family Philanthropy to identify new funds and verify information.

About the Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative

The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative includes more than 120 community foundations in 47 states working together to educate the public about how we’re improving communities. Learn more: https://www.commfoundations.com/.

 A full listing of verified community foundation Covid-19 response efforts -- and updated figures on mobilized funds -- can be found on the Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative’s website.