September 13, 2021, Philadelphia, PA – Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, in collaboration with funders across the region, is launching a third round of the COVID-19 Prevention & Response Fund, a community-led effort to invest in neighborhood-based solutions to urgent needs related to COVID-19 and equity imbalances exacerbated by the pandemic. Applications for third round grants will be open starting today, September 13th, through Friday, September 27th at 5:00 PM.
The goal of the fund is to increase the number of vaccinations in the Greater Philadelphia area through:
- Fact-based education on COVID-19 and vaccines to reduce fears, uncertainties, vaccine apathy and opposition as well as any and all barriers to getting the vaccine such as technology, lack of information, finances, transportation, languages/ literacy, disability, etc.
- Assisting those hurting from the pandemic with greater access to essential needs such as food, diapers, masks, etc. and mental health support while making sure those seeking services also receive COVID-19 prevention information and help getting the vaccine.
The third round is spurred by the continuing need to support grassroots education and outreach to increase COVID-19 vaccine access and acceptance in high priority neighborhoods. As in previous rounds, open applications will be accepted from community-based organizations in Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties with budgets less than $2.5 million. Other applicants will be by invitation. This round will also employ the trust-based, participatory funding model used in the first two rounds, led by a 15-member group of Community Investment Advisors.
Beyond grant dollars, Philanthropy Network is also partnering with the City of Philadelphia’s Philly Counts office, which will work with fund grantees to provide critical information, resources and training to aid efforts to educate the public and increase uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In addition, this round of funding will offer a stipend to qualified social media influencers (defined as those with 20-30 thousand followers), approved by our Community Investment Advisors, in exchange for distributing key vaccine information. Their messages are:
- Get vaccinated
- How to get vaccinated
- Why the influencer got vaccinated
To date, a total of 117 organizations, businesses, and individuals in the greater Philadelphia area received $1,034,035 through two grant rounds in April and June. Details about the first two rounds of funding can be found here.
Applications for the COVID-19 Prevention & Response Fund Round 3 will be open until September 27th at 5:00 PM. For additional details, visit: philanthropynetwork.org/covid-19-prevention-response-fund.
The COVID-19 Prevention & Response Fund is supported by: Independence Public Media Foundation, Green Family Foundation, The Barra Foundation, Scattergood Foundation, The Patricia Kind Family Foundation, United Way Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Brandywine Health Foundation, Comcast NBCUniversal, The Hummingbird Foundation, William Penn Foundation, VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn, PECO, Philadelphia Foundation, and The Horner Foundation.
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About Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia
Philanthropy Network connects, convenes, and leads the region’s funders to amplify the power of philanthropy as a catalyst for collective action, effective giving and positive change in Greater Philadelphia, and to advance our region’s legacy as a hub for invention and innovation.