The PHL COVID-19 Fund rapidly deploys solutions and resources to help our nonprofit community navigate near- and longer-term impacts of COVID-19 and ensure that critical resources remain available and readily accessible for those in our community who have the greatest needs and who are most disproportionately affected.
“We are truly grateful to the philanthropic response to COVID-19. The response was immediate and focused and matched the on-the-ground response to help families and small businesses survive this health and economic crisis. PCDC has been leveraging our language and cultural capacity to reach out to the LEP population and connect them with public resources from early on. The stories of job loss and debt burden are heartbreaking, especially when immigrant families fear that applications for financial assistance may hurt their ability to become citizens. These funds will sustain these services beyond the lifting of the business closures because the economic recovery and job rehiring will be slow.”
John Chin, Executive Director,
Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
The Fund rapidly provides grants to Greater Philadelphia organizations with a successful, proven track record of serving at-risk populations, including seniors, people with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness or who are economically disadvantaged. Grants from the Fund shore up community safety nets such as food pantries and health services, as well as help with preparedness and protection such as hygiene supplies, access to accurate current information, and available services.
Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney, Bill Golderer, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ) and Pedro Ramos, Philadelphia Foundation (PF) urgently call on all those in our community to support this unified Fund to swiftly and efficiently deliver resources to organizations serving our most vulnerable neighbors.
The Fund brings together a diverse coalition of philanthropy, government and business partners joined together as one unified regional community to create a regional rapid response fund that complements the work of regional public health officials and expands local capacity to address the effects of this national emergency on our region as efficiently and effectively as possible.
The Fund is a joint venture between Philadelphia Foundation (PF) and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ) with Pedro Ramos and Bill Golderer serving as co-directors.
Grants are made collaboratively among UWGPSNJ, PF, and other philanthropic and community members through a Civic Leadership Committee that is co-chaired by the two organizations and includes community, government, and corporate leaders.
A Rapid Grants Advisory Committee, comprised of selected community representatives and outside technical experts (e.g., from academia and healthcare) provides guidance and expertise. In order to move resources quickly and not further burden organizations on the frontlines of the pandemic, nonprofits requesting grants are only required to submit a simple request form, rather than adhere to a more traditional grant application process.
During times like these, when our community needs leadership and generosity, it’s more important than ever that we stand in unity in support of our community and those working on the front lines of the epidemic. Seated at the intersection of the business, public and nonprofit sectors, this collaborative partnership brings together the voices, leaders, resources and know-how to help our region manage this crisis. The Fund’s unique vantage allows it to identify pressing needs, fill gaps, and remove roadblocks so the region can respond and recover as quickly as possible.
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