As COVID-19 continues to spread in the United States, private foundations are stepping up with funding to meet the immediate needs of individuals and vulnerable populations impacted by the virus. Here's a roundup of grants from the last few days:

Eisner Foundation, Los Angeles, CA | $500,000

The Eisner Foundation has committed $500,000 to create a Rapid Response grant program that will award grants to nonprofits helping older adults combat social isolation in Los Angeles County. One-year grants ranging from $5,000 to 50,000 will support technological or logistical solutions that enable organizations to adapt quickly now and have better infrastructure in place for their long-term work. Priority will be given to intergenerational solutions as well as current or recent grantees.

Iowa West Foundation, Council Bluffs, IA | $168,000 

The Iowa West Foundation has announced an initial round of grants totaling more than $168,000 from the Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund, which it helped launch with a commitment of up to $500,000. Recipients include the New Visions Homeless Shelter, Food Bank of the Heartland, Food Bank of Iowa, Care and Share Pantry, Centro Latino, and Citylight Church. 

Barr Foundation, Boston, MA| $2.6 Million 

The Barr Foundation has announced grants totaling $2.6 million in support of COVID-19 response efforts, including grants of $250,000 each to five community foundation partners participating in Barr's Creative Commonwealth program — the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Essex County Community Foundation, and Greater Worcester Community Foundation. The foundation also announced grants of $100,000 to six other community foundations; a grant of $500,000 to the Boston Resiliency Fund established by Boston mayor Marty Walsh; and a grant of $250,000 to the Boston Foundation's COVID-19 Response Fund.

Boston Foundation, Boston, MA| $2.6 Million 

The Boston Foundation has announced a second round of grants totaling $450,000 from its COVID-19 Response Fund in support of nonprofits serving those directly impacted by the spread of COVID-19. One-time general support grants of $25,000 each were awarded to eighteen nonprofits in the greater Boston area, including the Centre for Faith, Art and Justice (Jamaica Plain), Mystic Valley Elder Services (Malden), and Women Encouraging Empowerment (Revere). The fund has raised more than $4 million to date and awarded thirty-three grants totaling $825,000. 

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Flint, MI | $200,000

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has announced a $200,000 grant to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in support of emergency food distribution for underserved populations in Flint and surrounding Genesee County. The food bank will use the grant topurchase and deliver healthy food to nine distribution sites and provide more than a million meals to those in need.

Borealis Philanthropy, New York, NY| $2.3 Million

Philanthropic intermediary Borealis Philanthropy has announced that the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund — a funder collaborative that includes the American Journalism Project, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Democracy Fund,  Ford Foundation, Google News Initiative, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and News Integrity Initiative at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY — has awarded a first round of grants totaling $2.3 million. The grants will support the efforts of sixteen news organizations serving communities of color, immigrants and refugees, rural communities, and poor and low-income people working to advance innovative approaches to news delivery, train citizen journalists, hire engagement reporters, and develop podcasts, zines, and community events.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts, New York, NY| $2 Million

The Foundation for Contemporary Arts has announced the launch of a $2 million fund in support of artists whose performances or exhibitions have been canceled or indefinitely postponed due to the spread of the virus. The FCA Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund will offer one-time grants of $1,500 to help offset artists' losses, including the cost of already-purchased materials or equipment and an anticipated loss of income from ticket sales and artist and commissioning fees. 

Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, New York, NY| $5 Million

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation has announced a three-year, $5 million initiative in support of artists and arts organizations impacted by COVID-19. The foundation awarded an initial round of grants totaling $1.25 million, including $50,000 to the Foundation for Contemporary Arts' FCA COVID-19 Relief Fund; $500,000 to the Artist Relief Fund, a new initiative to be launched formally in the coming weeks; and $250,000 in operating funds to a consortium of small New York City-based arts organizations that present the work of living artists. 

Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, New York, NY | $500,000

The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund has committed an additional $500,000 to New York City Health + Hospitals' COVID-19 Relief Fund, boosting to $2 million its total support for the public healthcare system in New York. Administered by Network for Good, the fund will provide funds for the hiring and support of healthcare workers as  COVID-19 continues to spread in the city.

Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, New York, NY | $1.6 Million

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has authorized Regional Regranting Program partners in sixteen communities to use their annual grants of $100,000 to create a COVID-19 emergency relief fund. Through the new fund, emergency grants will be awarded to individual artists whose income has been impacted by the public health crisis to meet basic needs such as food, rent, health care, and child care. 

John M. Belk Endowment, Charlotte, NC| $1 Million

The John M. Belk Endowment has announced a $1 million donation to the COVID-19 Response Fund launched by the Foundation for the Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas in support of efforts to assist Mecklenburg County residents impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. Including the gift from the endowment, the fund has raised more than $15 million in two weeks and awarded a first round of grants totaling $3 million to fourteen nonprofits.  

(Photo credit: Adam Stoltman)