A diverse coalition of individuals, companies, and foundations have rallied to mobilize at least $718.7 million to support community foundation-led Covid-19 relief efforts across the United States.

That dollar figure includes funds managed by more than 350 community foundations in all 50 states that have provided data to the Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative.

Much of that money is already at work in communities -- with more to come over the coming weeks. 

To date, community foundations have granted at least $284.3 million to nonprofits that 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 deliver a long list of other critical services. 

A number of community foundations are also directing funds to sustain nonprofits that are facing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic -- and many are already preparing a second phase of fundraising and grantmaking to help support long-term recovery efforts in their communities.

An Evolving Response

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 Illinois, the Illinois Alliance of Community Foundations has joined forces with the United Way of Illinois and Gov. JB Pritzker to create the Illinois Covid-19 Response Fund. To date, the fund has raised more than $30 million and granted $10.5 million to nonprofits across the state.

In Maryland, the Baltimore Community Foundation recently partnered with a coalition of community and private foundations to create the Covid-19 Response Funding Collaborative of Greater Baltimore, which has quickly mobilized $3.6 million to support nonprofits in its community. The foundation has also mobilized $1.5 million through an Evolving Needs Fund that was created at the outset of the Covid-19 crisis.

“Foundations are not usually thought of as nimble, but this is what we are here for,” says Shanaysha M. Sauls, Baltimore Community Foundation’s President & CEO. “We are ready to meet the challenge and I’m heartened by how quickly we are seeing both the funding community and the Baltimore region at-large come together around this crisis.”

In Texas, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) received a $1 million donation from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas to aid COVID-19 relief efforts across Texas.  

CFT is the largest community foundation in Texas. Through strong relationships with the more than 30 community foundations across the state, the foundation is working with community foundation leaders to identify urgent needs across the region in relation to personal protective equipment (PPE) for first responders, childcare for first responders and healthcare professionals, and services for senior adults, including meal and grocery delivery.

“Community foundations are uniquely positioned to identify the needs of nonprofits in their local communities, and we’re proud of this collaboration across Texas to support nonprofits working on the frontlines of this crisis,” said Dave Scullin, President and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas.

Foundational to 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.

Community foundations  are also taking creative approaches to solving pressing issues related to Covid-19.

For example, a Foundation For The Carolinas subsidiary, E4E Relief, is providing cash grant awards through The Brave of Heart Fund, which was created to help support families of healthcare workers who have lost their lives due to Covid-19.

The fund -- which was launched with initial contributions from the New York Life Foundation and Cigna Foundation of $25 million each --  will provide financial support for needs such as funeral costs, medical care, mortgage or rent payments, immediate living expenses, emotional and behavioral health services, and more.

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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.