COVID-19 Recovery

Support recovery and renewal efforts

While our community continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and its long-term impacts, Grand Rapids Community Foundation is committed to maintaining our near 100-year legacy of responding to the community’s most pressing needs. Our focus is to address the deep and historic racial, social and economic inequities that exist in our community and are intensified in times of crisis. Our response efforts will continue to remain fluid as we adapt to emerging needs.

our approach

Long-term Impact

Our entire community is facing severe challenges in light of COVID-19. We know the impact will be long-term, especially for those who were already navigating racial, social and economic inequities prior to the crisis. This moment calls for us to be ever vigilant to ensure the extended response and recovery reach everyone in our community. 

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  • Equity Focus

    We will prioritize recovery efforts that are led by or reach communities of color, organizations with limited access to financial support through traditional philanthropy or loan opportunities, and those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Nonprofit Financial Stability

    We will prioritize recovery efforts that are defined by and co-created with those disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We seek to partner with organizations with leadership and networks that inspire, grow and connect recovery efforts at advancing equity.

  • Small Business Support

    As we work to better understand the long-term impact of this crisis on our local economy, we will prioritize access to capital and opportunities for entrepreneurs of color and small business owners who are historically under-resourced.

a message from diana

Community crisis responses need to lead with equity

opinion article - bridge michigan

The impact of COVID-19 is harrowing. As the pandemic spread through Michigan, it highlighted existing disparities, making them glaringly obvious and impossible to ignore. Many sectors have a role to play in building an equitable recovery for our communities. The time is now to come together to combat inequities and ensure the best outcomes. 

click here to read the whole article

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions from Donor Partners

  • The passing of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, 2020 provides three strong incentives which may be beneficial for charitable giving.  It is designed to help taxpayers, businesses and nonprofits facing economic hardship in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn. These incentives are not available for gifts to Donor Advised Funds or supporting organizations.  

     Here is a brief summary of how the incentives may impact your giving:  

    • Creation of a universal charitable deduction for non-itemizers may allow a charitable deduction up to $300 in 2020 (cash gifts only) 
    • An increase on the cap for annual giving for itemizers from 60% of adjusted gross income (AGI) to 100% of AGI (cash gifts only) 
    • For corporations, the limitation on deductions for cash contributions increases from 10% to 25% of taxable income   

    A more in-depth analysis is available on our blog, click here to read it

    If you have questions about how to direct your giving in light of these incentives, please email Shaun Shira, major and planned gifts director.  At the Community Foundation we are grateful to partner with incredible professional advisors, to find a list of local advisors who might be available to help you with legal or financial advice, head to grfoundation.org/advisors.  

  • There are a variety of ways to support our community’s recovery. The Community Foundation is able to accept gifts made online, by mail, through a fund you advise or through gifts of other assets. Contact our team if you would like to make a gift and have questions about accepted gift types.

  • The Community Foundation has awarded grants supporting organizations who serve those who were already navigating racial, social and economic inequities prior to the crisis. See recent grant partnerships on our Grants Awarded page.

  • In addition to grant partnerships, the Community Foundation has worked with our partners to provide flexibility on existing grants, to support donor advisors with their philanthropy and to share staff expertise with community organizations. The Community Foundation also acts as fiduciary and provides administrative support for La Lucha Fund.

Have Questions? We're here to help.

covid-19 media from the community foundation

Perspectives in Philanthropy

  • Click here to hear President Diana Sieger discusses a look back at the year of pandemic and how the philanthropic sector responded. (WGVU, March 2021)  

Nonprofit leaders cautiously optimistic about 2021, some organizations face tough challenges

  • Click here to read comments from President Diana Sieger local foundations pursuing racial justice in philanthropy. Her thoughts add to the commentary from Juan Olivarez, Ph.D., distinguished scholar in residence for diversity, equity and inclusion at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, as he describes the local landscape. (MiBiz, December 2020)  

Community Crisis Responses Need to Lead with Equity

A Special Giving Tuesday – Mobilizing West Michigan Through Philanthropy

  • Click here to read the blog post. #GivingTuesdayNow was a global day of giving and unity that took place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. 

CARES Act Benefits for Donor Partners

  • Click here to read the blog post by Shaun Shira, major and planned gifts director

Grand Rapids Community Foundation Partners with Hispanic Center of Western Michigan During COVID-19 Crisis to Ensure all People Receive Information and Resources 

  • Click here to read the release in English
  • Click here to read the release in Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Nepali, Swahili or Kinyarwanda.