Collaboration is the key to any successful effort. And today, we are excited to put that principle into action. Along with Mayor Jim Kenny and Pedro Ramos of the Philadelphia Foundation, we announced the launch of a rapid response fund, titled the PHL Covid-19 Fund. It will provide essential funds and resources to aid frontline nonprofits that are serving our communities during this unprecedented crisis.
Many of our nonprofit partners and other community organizations that provide support to our most vulnerable neighbors are facing enormous strain on their resources as they tackle new challenges in the wake of COVID-19. Through this collaborative fund, we will help to rapidly and responsibly deploy solutions and resources to help our nonprofit community navigate near-and longer-term challenges from COVID-19, ensuring that critical resources remain available for those in our community who need it most.
I’m committed to rallying United Way resources behind this effort, in co-leadership with Pedro. In addition to the technical support and expertise that we’ve already invested in getting this fund launched, we are contributing significant financial assets to the effort. We will invest $250,000, including 2.5% of our investable dollars that our Board designates for emergency response each year. We’ve also secured an additional $250,000 in matched dollars from a number of corporate partners and expect more funders to step forward.
The PHL COVID-19 Fund brings together a diverse coalition of philanthropy, government and business partners as one united community to create a regional rapid response fund that will provide grants to frontline organizations across our region that have a proven track record of serving at-risk populations, including seniors, people with disabilities, and those who are experiencing homelessness or who are economically disadvantaged. The goal is to ensure there are continued resources invested into critical community safety nets such as food pantries and health services. The Fund will also help with preparedness and protection such as hygiene supplies, access to accurate current information, and available services, so these nonprofits can continue to serve the community during such a critical time. This Fund is designed to complement the work of regional public health officials and expand local capacity to address the outbreak as efficiently as possible.
We want these funds to be invested in ways that truly meet the short- and long-term challenges, that our partners and the nonprofit sector as a whole, will face as COVID-19 continues to affect our communities. To help inform that process, together with our PHL COVID-19 Fund partners, we are launching a regional nonprofit impact survey. The survey will help us and our partners better understand the obstacles the nonprofit sector may be facing and help ensure that community members in need can still access critical resources.
Your community, your friends, your neighbors need your support during this difficult and unprecedented time. We know Greater Philadelphia will come together to make a great impact.
Additional information on the Fund can be found at www.PHLCovid19fund.org. We will also begin to populate www.UnitedforImpact.org and our social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) with additional details and updates, so please look for information there.
