SUPPORTING HEALTH AND ECONOMIC NEEDS DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
During COVID-19, Walder Foundation has responded to the needs of our grantees, partners and Chicago’s communities. We joined other philanthropic organizations in collaborative funds, targeting the health and economic needs of individuals and organizations in our region. We also provide grants to support organizations that align with the Foundation's program areas.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DATE
$31,024,272 IN TOTAL
195 GRANTS
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COLLABORATIVE FUNDS
The Arts for Illinois Relief Fund is intended to provide financial relief to workers and organizations in the creative industries impacted by COVID-19. Individuals are awarded expediently and based on a lottery system. Arts organizations' grants are likewise based on a combination of need and lost revenue from the crisis. The fund is a public-private partnership between the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, the broader philanthropic community, and the residents of Illinois. It can accept donations from individuals, foundations, and public sources. The Arts for Illinois Relief Fund is administered by Arts Alliance Illinois in partnership with 3Arts and Arts Works Fund, long-standing and trusted service organizations and grantmakers.
Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund
In collaboration with the City of Chicago, The Chicago Community Trust and United Way of Metro Chicago launched the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund to unite the funds raised by Chicago’s philanthropies, corporations and individuals to be disbursed to nonprofit organizations across the region. The fund will provide flexible resources to community-based organizations across the Metropolitan Chicago region to supply essential aid to the individuals and households who are most impacted by the pandemic. Those resources currently include access to emergency food and basic supplies, rent and mortgage assistance, and utility assistance.
The Chicago Community Trust and United Way of Metro Chicago thank the many contributors to the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, which has raised more than $25 million to support our struggling communities. In addition to the Founders, almost 4,000 donors made donations less than $10,000 resulting in more than $1,000,000 raised for the Fund.
Chicago Frontline Funding Initiative - COVID-19 Environmental Justice Emergency Response Fund
The COVID-19 Environmental Justice (EJ) Emergency Response Fund, administered by Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO), will rapidly disperse resources to six EJ organizations and ensure that EJ leaders are supported in their community efforts over the next 3-6 months. This emergency fund will also allow LVEJO to gather further information about the community needs that are evolving in EJ communities and better understand the emergency capacity needs of EJ organizations.
Chicago Jewish Emergency Assistance Fund
To provide financial assistance to members of the Jewish community who are struggling because of COVID-19.
Chicago Proactive Response (CPR) COVID-19 Innovation Fund
mHUB, MATTER and 1871 are mobilizing the technology community to design solutions in direct response to COVID-19. Entrepreneurs, software developers, engineers, designers, and industry experts provide a rich talent pool to facilitate fast, new responses to front-line challenges affecting our populations. Activities supported by the fund will contribute to the long-term resiliency of the Chicago innovation ecosystem and the Illinois economy.
Chicago Region Food System Fund
This fund aims to address the impact of the pandemic on food system organizations in the Chicago region, such as food producers, processors, and distributors. It launched in June 2020 with an initial investment of $4.2 million. The fund continues to focus on long-term work toward a resilient, racially and economically just local food system. Read updates on this work.
A four-year initiative to support Chicago’s BIPOC-led and -focused arts and culture organizations as they face unprecedented challenges to their decades of leadership and resiliency.
COVID-19 Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists
Many researchers, especially physician-scientists, have been burdened by caregiving responsibilities during COVID-19. But beyond the pandemic, this is a systemic barrier faced by women and marginalized scientists across the sector. The COVID-19 Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists is a one-time, collaborative funding opportunity between the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the American Heart Association, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and Rita Allen Foundation that aims to help sustain the research productivity of physician-scientists when faced with periods of family caregiving responsibilities and to raise awareness about the importance of added research assistance for caregivers as a retention mechanism. Read more about scientists who have been supported through this fund.
Farm, Food, Familias Mutual-Aid Meals (FFF) is a project co-led by Getting Grown Collective, the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Urban Pilon, Fresher Together, Amor y Sofrito, and Kwamena to prepare and deliver meals to families in Little Village, Englewood and South Chicago.
Health First Fund (HFF)-Michael Reese Trust
HFF is a local funders collaborative designed to support innovative relief and recovery efforts that ensure health and eliminate racial health inequities for communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic racism.
The fund will support necessary human services in the Jewish community during this crisis time, with a focus on financial assistance, health and safety, food assistance, and community stability.
Performing Arts Venue Relief Program
The Performing Arts Venue Relief Program is a project led by the city of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events with support from the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund and Accion to distribute grants in the amount of $10,000 to up to 120 for-profit and nonprofit performing arts venues to cover lost revenue due to COVID-19. Funds were allocated through an equity lens that considered the history of disinvestment and the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on the South and West sides of Chicago.
PROJECT SUPPORT
Science Innovation
Chicago Coronavirus Assessment Network (Chicago CAN)
Chicago CAN brings together experts from the Chicago area’s scientific and medical research community together with public health to collect data and insights to understand the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus better and to inform public health policy. Read updates on projects funded through Chicago CAN.
Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST)
In an effort to provide accessible and accurate STEM programming to the public during the pandemic, C2ST will host "Science From the Frontlines," an ongoing series of virtual events tackling topics such as vaccines, public health, community best practices, and other subjects relevant to COVID-19. All events are free. Learn more about upcoming events or register to attend: Science From the Frontlines.
COVID-19 Response: Emergency PPE for FQHCs
To protect the many health care workers and first responders, funding to the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) will purchase and distribute protective medical products and equipment (PPE) to Federally Qualified Health Clinics (FQHCs) across the state of Illinois. FQHCs that serve as COVID-19 testing sites are playing a valuable role in the nationwide response to the pandemic and minimizing the stress on the hospital system.
COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Promotion in Chicago
The Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC) will work closely with the Chicago Department of Public Health on efforts to raise awareness and promote acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine with the goal to ensure the highest possible vaccine coverage in Chicago and equity in access to the vaccine. PHIMC will educate Chicagoans on the importance of getting vaccinated and ensure Chicagoans know when and where they can get vaccinated.
Pop-up Vaccine Clinic
The City of Chicago has implemented Protect Chicago Plus, a targeted vaccine distribution program intended to ensure that vaccine supply is increased in communities throughout Chicago that have been hardest hit by COVID-19. Under this program, UChicago Medicine and the Chicago Department of Public Health will partner to provide vaccine distribution through “pop-up” or temporary vaccine clinics in 15 community areas.
Environmental Sustainability
Connecting Communities to the Environment
Support to environmental organizations based in the Chicago region to develop innovative and equitable approaches to connect people with the environment during COVID-19. Through public engagement efforts, we hope to give voice to community advocates for nature and ensure that the environment is protected and prominently positioned in our COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Emergency Food and Water*
Funding to Elevate Energy, Chicago Food Policy Action Council, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization and Urban Growers Collective will provide emergency food and water over the winter to communities hit hardest by the pandemic.
Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC)
ELPC will support the Chicago environmental, conservation, and clean energy groups with grants for technology to work virtually during the pandemic, providing a technical infrastructure that will be valuable post-COVID-19.
TNC’s COVID-19 Partner Relief Fund will make grants to community-based organizations located in priority areas as defined by TNC’s ‘Greenprint,’ which identifies vulnerable communities based on air quality, flooding, and urban heat island effects.
Performing Arts
Building a Resilient Performing Arts Sector in Chicago
Support for arts service organizations dedicated to sustaining performing arts in the Chicago region. Recognizing the impact of COVID-19 on the sector but also looking to the future, projects funded through this effort emphasize innovation and collaboration to repair and build back the performing arts sector.
Chicago Takes 10 is a virtual performance series to support performing artists and arts organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The series highlights diverse performance styles throughout the Chicago region, featuring local musicians, performers, and dancemakers. Chicago Takes 10 gives artists and organizations a platform to share their work with audiences here in the Chicago region and beyond.
Support for projects that reimagine the performing arts sector in a post-pandemic world by leveraging assets of creativity, ingenuity, and originality. Funding supports organizations that serve traditionally under-resourced populations, communities, and genres; prioritize system-wide change and collaboration; and focus on sustainable livelihoods for artists.
Migration and Immigrant Communities
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Chicago (AAAJ)
With the increase in anti-Asian racism during the pandemic, funding to AAAJ - Chicago will support the development of educational materials to victims of hate crimes as well as resources for local stakeholders and government officials to mitigate racism and prevent the spread of misinformation about Asian-Americans.
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
Funding to HIAS will support mental health and wellness services for refugee individuals and families during the COVID-19 pandemic, including an interpretation fund to each of its 17 partner agencies; Chromebooks to 400 families to access telemedicine and therapy; and basic smartphones to 250 families.
Illinois Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC)
Support for IBIC to provide technical assistance for immigrant business owners as they apply for PPP loans during COVID-19.
Illinois Immigration Funders Collaborative (IFC)
Support for IFC to re-grant to their grantees for general operating support and COVID-19 relief.
To support communications efforts that inform the Latinx community about COVID-related support services, such as testing for the virus and vaccination. Illinois Unidos is a volunteer group of civic officials, health care professionals, nonprofit organizations, and marketing consultants who advocate for and create educational materials to reach the Latinx community.
The #ImmigrantsAreEssential communications campaign, led by Resilience Force and the National Immigrant Law Center, tells the true stories of immigrant essential workers on the front lines of both COVID-19 and climate disaster who are making recovery possible.
Investing in Chicago’s Immigrant Communities Beyond COVID-19
Support for immigrant- and refugee-serving organizations based in the Chicago metropolitan region to advance immigrant integration, increase access to legal services and improve the region’s welcoming policies and attitudes.
Immediate response funding and support for organization planning, which will include gap analysis, identification of strategic priorities, emerging needs and best practices from COVID-19, staffing models, revised fee structures, adjusted pay scales, professional development, and sustainability analysis.
Funding will support the research and analysis of the intersection of COVID-19 and immigration.
Office of New Americans-City of Chicago
To support a Fellowship position. The role will include the preparation of a report discussing best practices and responses for emergency services created by Cities for Action executive members during the COVID-19 response phase.
To rapidly design, develop, and deploy an urban pandemic preparedness and response dashboard to improve city awareness, response, and recovery for COVID-19.
Jewish Life
For the distribution of 2,000 ("Seder in a Box") meals to Jewish medical personnel deployed to the McCormick Place field hospital during Passover.
19th Indiana Medical Regimental Association Incorporated*
Funding for PPE.
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Environmental Sustainability
Delta Institute
Audubon Great Lakes
Friends of the Forest Preserves
Shedd Aquarium*
Performing Arts
3Arts
Arts Works Fund
Illinois Arts Alliance
Jewish Life
American Committee for Shaare Zedek*
Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago
Chabad Lubavitch Hospitality Center*
Chicago Chesed Fund
Congregation Khal Chasidim*
Kehillah Fund
Libenu
Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago*
Chabad of Illinois*
PlayThinks*
Shalva*