PFund Foundation’s Rapid Response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 Response Fund is rapidly deploying resources to the LGBTQIA community affected by the coronavirus crisis.

About the COVID-19 Response Fund

COVID-19 Fund: Click Here to Apply

This Fund micro grants to individuals and nonprofits that are most affected by the Coronavirus.  The first round of grants is prioritizing the communities listed below, all of whom are particularly impacted by this crisis.

  • Low-income residents, including those without health insurance and/or access to sick days
  • Low-income workers in disproportionally impacted industries, such as healthcare and the service industry, as well as gig-economy workers
  • Residents with greater health risks, including people over age 60, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant people
    • People experiencing homelessness
    • People with disabilities
    • Communities of color
    • Undocumented workers and families

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes.  Check the eligibility requirements within the application by hitting the “Apply” button on this page.

We understand the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in many ways, including increased demand for their services, lost revenue due to closures and cancellations, as well as other challenges. Please feel free to apply and notate the work of your organization and how its being impacted.

To ensure we move resources as efficiently as possible and respond to needs of communities most impacted, we are not considering restricted donations at this time.

This Fund was not created to be the only vehicle resourcing critical community activities during this outbreak. Rather it is working to facilitate getting more targeted resources into the community where it’s needed most. If the COVID-19 Response Fund priorities align with your values, please consider making a donation. Now is the time to double down for our community as we gain greater awareness of the depth and scale of the long-term ramifications of the outbreak.

With a focus on getting resources out to the community in this critical time, there is no administrative fee for participating in the Fund. 100% of donations will go to community groups and leaders on the ground, except for a credit card fee for online donations, which is 3.75% + $0.35 per transaction. PFUND Foundation is covering the cost of staff leading this effort.

The Fund priorities may evolve as our region adapts to the COVID-19 outbreak. We will continue to prioritize communities most impacted, recognizing deep and historic inequities that are likely to be magnified in times of crisis. Crisis philanthropy recognizes the need to provide immediate resources for triage, as well as the importance of recovery resources to ensure community resilience.

There is no set application deadline.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling first-come, first-served basis and awarded until funds are exhausted.

Funds to eligible recipients will be distributed on a weekly basis until funds are exhausted.

More About the Fund

The Fund complements the work of public health officials and expands local capacity to address the many needs created by the coronavirus crisis.

In order to move resources quickly, PFUND Foundation will not conduct a community review panel.  Instead, the Board of Directors along with PFUND staff will dedicate the time and resources in reading each application with the goal of having checks in the hands of recipients within a week.

Grants are made on a rolling basis. As fundraising continues through the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis, the Fund will adapt to emerging needs as the situation evolves.

To learn more, please check out our FAQ’s section above which answers many common questions we are hearing from the community.

For general questions, to donate by check, or to donate other assets:
Aaron Zimmerman, Development Director
[email protected]

For interested donors and partners:
A. Charlene Leach, Executive Director
[email protected]

Read our Press Release 
on Pfund’s Respond to
COVID-19 & its 
Rapid Response Fund

Special Thanks to Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund Partners

In March 2020, the Minnesota Council on Foundations and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation convened to discuss the impact of a potential coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the state of Minnesota. The outcome of the discussion led to the inception of the Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund (MDRF) for coronavirus, created to support community needs as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. The MDRF funds both short and long-term needs that arise within communities, due to coronavirus or future disasters that occur within the state of Minnesota. Funds will be raised through philanthropic entities. To date, $5 million has been raised for this fund.

Thank you to our partners who have come together from philanthropy, government, and business to support our community through the COVID-19 Response Fund.  In times of crisis, coordination is vital and valued in getting critical resources to communities most impacted. We are grateful to the philanthropic leadership of our community working quickly and collectively to support those most impacted in this dynamic time.

Pfund Foundation is one of 11 organizations chosen to disperse recovery funds

Eleven Minnesota Initiative Foundations, local community foundations, and other intermediaries have collectively received an initial disbursement of $2 million from the Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund for coronavirus.

  • Ameriprise Financial Foundation
  • Aroha Philanthropies
  • Best Buy
  • Better Way Foundation
  • Blandin Foundation
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation
  • Bush Foundation
  • Cargill Foundation
  • Carlson Family Foundation
  • Charlson Foundation
  • Catholic Community Foundation
  • Edward & Markell C Brooks Fund from The Minneapolis Foundation
  • F. R. Bigelow Foundation
  • GHR Foundation
  • Hardenbergh Foundation
  • Hawkins, Inc.
  • John Larsen Foundation
  • Land O’Lakes Foundation
  • Lulu Foundation
  • Mardag Foundation
  • McKnight Foundation
  • Medtronic Foundation
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • Northwest Area Foundation
  • Pohlad Family Foundation
  • Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
  • Securian Foundation
  • Stiles Foundation
  • Sundance Family Foundation
  • Target Foundation
  • TCF Bank Foundation
  • The Margaret A. Cargill Fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
  • The Otto Bremer Trust
  • Thrivent Foundation
  • Wells Fargo Foundation
  • Winnebago Industries Foundation
  • Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
  • Woodbury Community Foundation

Pfund Foundation
2801 21st Ave S #132b,
Minneapolis, MN 55407

(612) 870-1806

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