As the coronavirus emergency evolves over time, the target recipients of the fund’s resources may change, Melley said.
Other lead organizations include the United Way of Greater Philadelphia, the William Penn Foundation and the Lenfest Foundation. There are more than 25 other foundations and corporations involved in the fund. The $6.5 million is expected to grow as more contributors add to it.
“Many of our nonprofits are worried they can’t perform their mission if they can’t meet payroll, pay their rent, or need to lay off staff,” Kenney said. “Mission-driven leaders and staff are needed more now, in a crisis, not less or it will be devastating.”
The idea for the fund was hatched on Monday with the purpose of assembling a broad swath of partnerships that could pool money and distribute it fast. Melley said there will be a simplified and expedited application process overseen by a committee co-chaired by the Philadelphia Foundation’s CEO Pedro Ramos and the United Way CEO Bill Golderer. Funding is expected to be released to nonprofits in about two weeks.
The fund’s leaders said the first phase focused on getting funds out to organizations on the front lines working with vulnerable populations. Nonprofits seeking support in the Philadelphia region can go to the PHL COVID-19 Fund website and fill out a request form.
“Our social compact as Philadelphians, as Americans, as neighbors has never been more important,” Ramos said. “While our individual well-being depends on social distancing, we can still come together by practicing social generosity.”
Aside from the PHL COVD-19 Fund, the philanthropic community has been finding ways to respond to the pandemic. Melley said many foundations have been streamlining their existing modes of charitable giving. That means pre-approving previous recipients and waiving application processes to speed up the release of money.
“Everyone is pulling on the oars together to say, ‘How do we get resources that may not have been going into the community right away, but we know we have in our budgets and we intended to give?’ Let’s get that out as quickly as possible,” Melley said.
WHYY’s Nina Feldman contributed reporting.