WASHINGTON, D.C. -- An unprecedented effort by U.S. community foundations to help those impacted by COVID-19 has now mobilized more than $1 billion to support on-the-ground efforts by nonprofits.

This latest figure includes funds managed by nearly 600 community foundations that have provided data as part of an ongoing study by the Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative of grantmaking activities during COVID-19.

The study also found community foundations have already granted more than $800 million of the funds mobilized directly to nonprofits. This represents an extraordinarily high payout of more than 80 percent in a span of less than four months. The grants provide critical support to those who are facing challenges such as lost income, unstable housing, and food insecurity.

The Baltimore Community Foundation, for example, launched a rapid-response fund in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis that has provided weekly grants to nonprofits that are helping meet the real-time needs in its community. It also spearheaded a regional effort that mobilized 15 local organizations and family foundations to address the crisis.

“The need for food assistance is particularly acute, but the crisis has also revealed gaps in technology access, credible information in vulnerable communities, mental health counseling, youth and educational programming, and access to temporary shelter,” said Shanaysha Sauls, CEO of the Baltimore Community Foundation. “We went into high gear and were humbled that our donors answered the call – with giving from donor-advised funds at our foundation quadrupling compared to the same period last year. The outpouring of community support has been nothing short of inspiring.”

An Unprecedented Response

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 and their donors have a long history of supporting their communities during times of crisis and disaster. But the magnitude of COVID-19 has inspired a coordinated response beyond what has been needed for previous crises. Community foundations in every state have led a massive effort to raise and grant funds quickly to help those most in need.

“Community foundations have more than lived up to their reputation as philanthropy’s first responders in the face of COVID-19,” said Terry Mazany, senior vice president at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and retired CEO of The Chicago Community Trust. “The size and speed of our community-focused response is unlike any in our nation’s history – and it speaks to the unique value community foundations play in big cities, suburbs, and small towns across the country.”
 

Only Part of the Story

The financial impact of community foundations during COVID-19 goes well beyond their work in coordinating response funds.

The CFPAI estimates that at least $1 billion more in additional grants have been made by donor-advised funds managed at community foundations since the start of COVID-19.

A separate CFPAI survey focused exclusively on donor-advised fund activity at 64 U.S. community foundations during the pandemic found that donors at those foundations had granted $821.9 million to nonprofits in March and April alone. That figure represented an increase of $302.5 million, or 58.2 percent, compared with the same period one year ago – and includes grantmaking outside of the foundations’ formal COVID-19 relief efforts. 

The U.S. is home to nearly 800 community foundations – meaning the total granted through donor-advised funds at all community foundations during that period surely exceeded that $821.9 million figure.

While the overall numbers are impressive, so, too, is the grassroots nature of the response. Many smaller community foundations, for instance, are working closely with local government, nonprofits, and other foundations to raise and distribute funds.

The Southwest Florida Community Foundation in Fort Myers, for instance, has a long history of leading response efforts after disasters such as hurricanes – and often receives the bulk of its support from donors in other parts of the country. 

During COVID-19, that dynamic has changed, said Sarah Owen, the foundation’s CEO. The Foundation has partnered with its local United Way chapter and county government to raise and distribute funds – most of which have come from within the community rather than outside.

“We have been committed to offering a network of support, including raising funds for critical needs, engaging local donors, and helping them find a way to direct dollars for relief,” Owen said. “We have also been supporting the infrastructure needs of nonprofits, advocating for them, and colleting vital data to direct our efforts.”

About the Data

The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative relies on data reported by community foundations, news reports, and other organizations to provide regularly reporting about the field’s collective response to COVID-19.

Resources for Reporters

 The Community Foundation Public Awareness Initiative can connect reporters with community foundation leaders and donors who are working to support those impacted by COVID-19, as well as experts such as Kathleen Enright, President and CEO of the Council on Foundations.

Our network of community foundation leaders is also available to discuss community needs, donor behavior, and how their communities are working together to address the most pressing issues related to COVID-19. 

For more information or expert sources, contact:
Peter Panepento
peter@turn-two.co
(202) 531-3886