Two weeks. When we started lockdown in Boston a year ago this month, schools and offices were closed for two weeks. At the time, we couldn’t wrap our heads around what that meant or how we would operate during the stay-at-home orders. As the one year anniversary passed, it was staggering to look back across this year and see the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our communities. We’ve seen the statistics – 500,000+ lives lost in the US alone, and nearly 30 million diagnosed cases. We know from the data that people of color have been disproportionately impacted by the disease, and are 1-3 times more likely to contract, be hospitalized, or die from COVID-19.
Part of what we remember this month is the outpouring of support that came in response to the pandemic. A recent Center for Disaster Philanthropy report tracked $20.2 billion in funding from corporations, foundations, public charities, and individuals to address the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In addition to providing coordination with local governments and support for mutual aid efforts and direct service nonprofits in their communities, community foundations accounted for more than half the total number of gifts. Gifts from donors holding donor advised funds at large national commercial providers increased by an average of nearly 30% from 2019 levels. Not surprisingly, nearly half of all giving reported went to health or health and human services organizations.
As we enter a second year of pandemic living, hope is on the horizon.
Continue Reading: Philanthropy After the Pandemic
About H&B's Sustainability Blog
A blog about sustainability of the multigenerational family. Sustaining family wealth and
prosperity, unity and legacy, family enterprise and family office, philanthropy, and family lands.
Now more than ever, meeting the challenges of sustainable family prosperity and unity requires great thought, care and planning. Our hope is that this blog will inspire creative thinking, underscore significant issues, offer perspective, encourage communication and embolden you to take action toward sustaining your family’s legacy. Read more blog posts here.
