COVID-19 News Digest: May 2020 - Hirsch Philanthropy Partners

Here is this month’s selection of thought-provoking readings and resources that we’ve found useful for navigating the philanthropic response to the coronavirus pandemic:

How The Crisis Is Making Racial Inequality Worse| by Greg Rosalky of NPR’s Planet Money discussing how the health and economic crisis is worsening disparities for communities of color. “The cruel irony of the COVID-19 pandemic is that — after a decade of wage stagnation following the financial crisis, which hit them especially hard — African Americans were finally beginning to see wage growth just as the virus began hitting our shores.”

Holding our Ground: Voices for Food Sovereignty |I am sharing this visually stunning series about the lives of 13 African farmers. At a time when food insecurity is increasingly impacting communities in the Bay Area and around the world, this is an uplifting piece which honors grassroots leaders upholding sustainable food practices and nourishing their communities. “I see land as a wonderful friend because this land has sustained me. Food from this land feeds my body and soul, which is why my connection to land is so strong. I feel very happy when I am working with the land, with the soil, because I know the benefits that I will get from the soil. When I’m working with soil, I love the smell of the soil. I could even eat the soil! I’ve realized how important preparing the soil and planting is, so much so that I sometimes don’t even want to come into the house at night.” Nosdima Sam

Thanks to Thousand Currents (a global funder) for compiling and sharing these stories.

A transformative moment for philanthropy | A very informative article by Tracy Nowski, Lynn Taliento and Maisie O’Flanagan from McKinsey, lifting 5 practices in response to COVID-19 that individual and institutional philanthropy can build on. “The pandemic has demonstrated that the sector can and will pivot quickly in a crisis. The challenge for leaders working in philanthropy is to expand and institutionalize the practices that emerged during the crisis for the work that lies ahead.”

An important update from Silicon Valley Community Foundation | on the status of the 7 COVID-19 related response funds they are holding, to date $52 million has been raised with $37 million having gone out to the community. “Increasingly, people are applying for rental assistance or seeking advice on how to navigate not being able to pay the rent. In many counties, the eviction moratoriums put in place at the beginning of shelter-in-place are set to expire at the end of the month.”

Notes from the virtual Greenlining Economic Summit 2020 | This year’s gathering brought together some of the country’s leading racial justice experts, advocates, and activists for a full day of cyber networking, fireside chats, and thought-provoking panels. “…heartbeat of anti-racism is confession…your confession of racist ideas does not make you a bad person but is necessary for understanding, growth & reconciliation.” Dr. Ibram X Kendi

Videos of sessions can be watched here.

Racial Equity Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities for Philanthropic Response. | An informative resource from the Bridgespan Group to help funders avoid and reverse racial bias in the funding process in response to the crisis. “…prioritizing racial equity will help funders maximize the impact of their giving. A race-neutral approach would fail to account for the ways that existing disparities and structural racism affect outcomes.”

Good info, little relief at city’s Virtual Nightlife + Entertainment Summit | A timely article from Marke Bieschke of 48Hills covering Monday’s San Francisco Virtual Nightlife and Entertainment Summit 2020, organized by the Entertainment Commission to address the industry’s COVID crisis. “City officials are looking toward the end of 2021 for nightlife to be reopened in some semblance of previous functionality, but getting back to anything that looks like full recovery may take until 2023 (this is especially true for full capacity at fairs and festivals).”

Small Business Pulse Survey | New data from the U.S. Census Bureau released last week via the Small Business Pulse Survey shows three-quarters of responding “Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation” businesses saying the pandemic has had a “Large Negative Effect”—second only to “Accommodations and Food Services.” This is a helpful article analyzing some of the data. “Nationally, 74% of the small businesses surveyed said they had revenue declines because of the coronavirus.”

Notes from the virtual Greenlining Economic Summit 2020 | This year’s gathering brought together some of the country’s leading racial justice experts, advocates, and activists for a full day of cyber networking, fireside chats, and thought-provoking panels. “…heartbeat of anti-racism is confession…your confession of racist ideas does not make you a bad person but is necessary for understanding, growth & reconciliation.” Dr. Ibram X Kendi

Videos of sessions will be available in the coming weeks.

The Hunger Pains of a Pandemic – empty stomachs can lead to a dangerous desperation. | A heart-wrenching article by Charles M. Blow in the New York Times on the severity of hunger exasperated by the pandemic. “People will be hungry. They already are. And, hunger is not a thing that you simply become inured to. It makes people desperate, and desperation, on the scale that it will likely occur because of this pandemic, is dangerous.”

A-List SF philanthropists have opened pockets to city’s coronavirus relief fund — but it’s not enough | The SF Chronicle’s Heather Knight gives an update on fundraising efforts for the Give2SF Fund. “With the city’s deficit pegged at up to $1.7 billion over the next two years, city officials are trying to fund new assistance programs through philanthropy and not rely on taxpayer money.”

California Child Care at the Brink: The Devastating Impact of COVID-19 on California Child Care | Survey results from over 2,000 childcare programs highlight the impact of COVID-19 on the state’s early childhood providers. “We are stuck in a limbo between staying open for essential workers and risking our own health and safety because we are needed, and [we] can’t afford to close because we are independent contractors.”

In Philanthropy, Race Is Still a Factor in Who Gets What, Study Shows | A timely New York Times article on the findings of a new study “Racial Equity and Philanthropy: Disparities in Funding for Leaders of Color Leave Impact on the Table” released this week. “The timing is relevant because the coronavirus crisis is a crossroads for foundations: Either they will return to the status quo or they will use this moment to evaluate different ways to fund groups in need.”

Advocating and Investing in Equity for Immigrant Families | A brief from Early Childhood Funders Collaborative and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees on the ongoing needs of immigrant families and children, and opportunities for advocacy at the federal, state and local level. “Many immigrants, including some with permanent residency also known as green cards, do not qualify for safety-net programs like food stamps and key parts of the federal relief bills exclude mixed-status households and other immigrant families from some forms of relief, making private action more crucial.”