First rapid response grant of $250,000 will provide temporary funding for rent, mortgage and utilities payments for individuals and organizations
San Diego CA— The San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at The San Diego Foundation has raised $4 million in donations, including an additional $950,000 approved by The San Diego Foundation Board of Governors. The Board also approved the first rapid response grant of $250,000 to United Way of San Diego County.
“You can clearly see the community is coming together to help one another by the simple fact this fund added $4 million dollars in the first 72 hours after its launch. We are grateful for every contribution to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund,” said Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. “The generosity of San Diegans will jumpstart our community’s recovery from this virus.”
“I’m inspired by the number of San Diegans who are coming together to help their neighbors in any way possible,” expressed Mark Stuart, President & CEO of The San Diego Foundation. “Thanks to Foundation donors and hundreds of San Diegans who have given to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund, we are able to support the nonprofit community working on the frontlines of this public health crisis.”
The Foundation’s Board of Governors also approved the fund’s first rapid response grant of $250,000 to United Way of San Diego County. United Way will provide safety net funding for rent, mortgage and utilities payments for low-wage individuals and families impacted by layoffs and reduced working hours as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. More information can be found at uwsd.org/covid19/.
United Way will send checks directly to qualified applicants’ landlords, mortgage companies, SDG&E, and other utility companies, and not directly to applicants.
Individuals and organizations can donate and find additional information about the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at SDFoundation.org/COVID19. Volunteer opportunities and a list of in-kind donation needs with local nonprofits affected by the pandemic can be found at https://volunteer.uwsd.org/covid19.
Grant funding from the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund focuses on three critical areas: food security; rental and utility assistance; and income replacement or gap funding. The fund will also provide no-interest loans for nonprofit organizations to provide business and community service continuity.
One hundred percent of donations to the San Diego COVID-19 Response Fund will be provided to nonprofits helping San Diegans impacted by the coronavirus. Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the coronavirus outbreak and its recovery phases.
The San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund at The San Diego Foundation was created in partnership with San Diego County Supervisor and Co-Chair of the COVID-19 Subcommittee Nathan Fletcher, San Diego Gas & Electric, United Way of San Diego County, San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, NEWS 8 and Alliance Healthcare Foundation.
Learn more at SDFoundation.org/COVID19.