As the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, community-based organization have been a lifeline for our most vulnerable residents. These organizations have deep histories within their communities, enabling them to be trusted providers, meeting people where they are at and delivering services designed to best fit their needs. After nearly a year of provided crisis support, these critical community partners are feeling the strain of increasing demands and often reduced financial support. Because of this, Phase 3 of the Response Fund provided general support to sustain and strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations addressing a broad set of COVID-19 related needs within Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
As with the previous Phases of the COVID-19 Response Fund, Phase 3 grants targeted community-based organizations supporting vulnerable workers and families—people who face longstanding economic inequities and disparities due to racism that have been made worse by the current crisis. We have prioritized BIPOC communities because while everyone has been impacted by the pandemic, not all have felt those impacts equally. Black residents represent 6.4% of the population in King County and 11.9% of COVID cases. Similarly, Latinx residents are 10% of the population, 24.1% of the cases while Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander residents are 0.8% of the population and 2.8% of the cases. The disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 are also playing out economically. Roughly, 95% of Black-owned businesses were left out of the federal Paycheck Protection Program and the number of Black-owned businesses nationwide has decreased 41% since February, as compared to 17% of white-owned businesses.
In Phase 3, a total of $9.9 million was allocated through 283 grants to community-based organizations deeply rooted in the target populations and best positioned to understand and address the unique needs of their communities. Funding prioritized the populations below, with a particular emphasis on Black communities who are facing compounding needs of not only COVID-19 but recent and persistent racialized violence.
As the COVID-19 Response Fund has evolved around community needs, we are taking care to ensure that its work is based in trust and community. As in Phase 2, this funding was guided by our Community Advisory Group who set priorities for the approach and supported the grantmaking process.
Phase 3 grants follow the previous Phases which provided support for vulnerable workers and families in the face of the economic and health impacts of the pandemic. In March 2020, the Fund rapidly deployed nearly $10.2 million to community-based organizations that were working on the frontlines to support people facing reduced or lost work, financial inability to meet their basic needs, barriers to healthcare, as well as fear and confusion. An additional set of Phase 1 grants, made in April and totaling $850,000, helped further address mounting food insecurity in our region. Later that summer, Phase 2 of the fund allocated an additional $9.2 million to support childcare, mental and behavioral health, and emergency financial assistance.
Kay Tita, $25,000: Kay Tita will provide BIPOC led; small business focused technical skills training in point of sales system management, emphasizing improving cash flow to communities of color and increasing their resiliency to the pandemic and other disaster events.
See the rest of the grantees here
Impact Hub Port-Au-Prince takes an authentic approach to developing community, inspiring members through sustainable practices. Emphasizing progressive inclusivity and transparency, Impact Hub aims to preserve and expand Port-Au-Prince’s creative and thriving entrepreneurial culture. We hope to reach maximum effectiveness with the intentional practice of accountability. Guided by love, respect, honor, and trust, we always seek to refine, elevate, and restore the health of our community.
will direct a training and operations program within Impact Hub called GeoHaiti. GeoHaiti trains adults on geospatial information systems (GIS) that serve to improve community disaster resilience. Training topics include community communications, water and sanitation management, environmental preservation, public health measures, community disease surveillance, sustainable infrastructure, and hazard analysis.
Kay Tita will be the greenest commercial building in Haiti since it will be constructed according to The Living Building Challenge (LBC) standards, considered the most rigorous environmental performance standard. People from around the world use this regenerative design framework to create spaces that produce more energy than they utilize.
MUCE EDUCATES is an organization co-founded by Barthelemy Mervil, David Pierre-Louis’ brother, and utilizes arts promote intercultural exchange and to bring an end to cyclical poverty. MUCE is committed to teaching the visual arts to youth in urban areas so that they may compete in the global market. The organization provides educational workshops and opportunities for the emerging labor force with an emphasis on production in arts and culture.
Haiti Coffee Co. is a U.S. based company that imports Haitian Coffee while working towards infrastructure development that directly benefits the farmers from whom they source. The organization provides solutions that address deforestation, environmental sustainability, agriculture training, and infrastructure development.
Seattle‐based startup, Impact Bioenergy, manufactures and sells bioenergy systems that convert organic waste materials into renewable natural gas and fertilizer with zero waste.
Ambient Water (formerly AWG International) is Washington state based company that uses a patented technology that transforms humidity into an abundant source of safe, clean water.
Startup Week brings entrepreneurs, local leaders, and friends together over five days to build momentum for their vision for change.
The DoSchool develops experiential learning programs centered around innovation and facilitates opportunities for entrepreneurs to move from ideation to implementation.
Yes Baby I Like it Raw helps people tap into their raw potential and “process the unprocessed life” by developing health and wellness programming such as yoga meditation, and nutrition.
Days for Girls puts freedom and opportunity back into the hands of women and girls by providing sustainable hygiene solutions.
