An additional $1.5 million in support for the fund also was announced, including contributions from William Penn Foundation ($1million), Wells Fargo ( $250,000), TD Bank ($100,000) and Philadelphia Health Partnership, Santander Bank and the Samuel S. Fels Fund ( $50,000 each).
Following the launch of the Black Community Leaders Fund on May 13th, we asked Philadelphia Foundation's Phil Fitzgerald, Executive Director for Grantmaking to give us some insights about how and why the fund was created and what the foundation hopes to achieve through this initiative.
With a lead gift from Facebook’s $20 Million “Supporting Black Communities” National Initiative, the new fund will fortify Black-led nonprofit organizations serving Black communities in Greater Philadelphia.
New program delivered by Nonprofit Finance Fund provides financial expertise and coaching to a diverse group of nonprofit leaders as they adapt and rebuild from impacts of COVID-19.
Building on their respective strengths, the two organizations have entered into a partnership to support regional nonprofits considering sustained alliances.
With new data about the financial health of Greater Philadelphia nonprofits combined with troubling trends due to COVID-19, it's clear that collaboration will be a vital strategy for both nonprofits and funders if the sector is to continue to provide essential services and stimulate innovation that advances social purpose.
Partners funding the report acknowledge that the risk the sector faces today during a pandemic is the result of a system that was not financially stable pre-COVID that must be fixed.
