Community foundations have historically been philanthropy’s first responders.

When disaster strikes, they immediately stand up platforms to receive and distribute relief funds; take stock of the damage; identify the greatest needs; and marshal nonprofits, government, and businesses to create rapid, agile and coordinated responses extending from relief to recovery to reconstruction.

Thus, it should not come as a surprise that in the face of a pandemic that poses an unprecedented threat, more than 400 community foundations in every U.S. state immediately set up COVID-19 response funds.

The leaders of two prominent Minnesota community foundations discuss how their foundations — and many others — are listening to and working with their communities to make a difference.