The David and Lucile Packard Foundation has announced a $20 million commitment to ensure the equitable implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act and support the children, women, and families severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package signed into law in March is aimed at delivering immediate relief for workers and their families while also addressing longstanding societal inequities exacerbated by the pandemic. Given the sheer amount of ARPA funding and the fact that many local and state governments are stretched thin, the foundation believes that it is critical that philanthropy and community organizations work with government leaders to ensure the equitable distribution of resources so communities not only recover from the pandemic but actually flourish.

Several components of ARPA present significant opportunities to advance areas of work the foundation has long invested in, including expansion of the Child Tax Credit, funding for the Child Care Development Block Grant and the Child Care Stabilization Funds, and provisions around Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Title X Family Planning Program. The foundation's $20 million in investments will be guided by three main strategies: support for effective and equitable distribution of ARPA funding nationally and in selected states, including local communities in California; sharing stories and data of how those funds have made a difference; and working in nonpartisan coalitions to make permanent those policies with the greatest potential for long-term, transformational change.

"The Packard Foundation has long supported work to improve the lives and well-being of children, women, and families throughout California and across our country," said Packard Foundation president and CEO Nancy Lindborg. "Right now, the country has an extraordinary opportunity to use ARPA funding to help families cope during these difficult times, and importantly, if done well, begin to address deep racial disparities and help rebuild civic trust by demonstrating the ability of the government to deliver for its people. We hope our efforts, together with our many partners, will help these funds reach the most vulnerable and build the case for why key elements of ARPA's provisions are critical to the long-term well-being of communities and of our society."