The Coronavirus Resource Page has moved. Please visit the new version of this page here.
In this unprecedented crisis, JFN is committed to be a resource for funders and for the entire community. It is critical that we know what our fellow funders are doing and that we try, as much as possible, to coordinate responses so as to have a greater impact on the ground. In these times of quarantines and social-distancing, we can’t afford to be isolated from our partners.
To that end, we are asking JFN members to answer this very short survey about your work and COVID-19.
Our goal is to collect information and share themes, determine gaps in resources, identify where we can be helpful, and point you to resources that already exist. Ultimately, we seek to map the philanthropic response and make sure that needs are being addressed.
Please fill out this survey at your earliest convenience.
Last updated: March 23, 2020
Coronavirus Resources & Online Events
Resources for Funders & Nonprofits
Resources for Educators & Parents
Live-Streamed Events and Webinars
News/Announcements from Funders
Resources for Funders & Nonprofits
- Bridgespan Coronavirus Resources for Nonprofits and Funders: Collection of online resources that offer guidance on navigating the current times—both responding to the pandemic and preparing for the possibility of an economic downturn. (Added 3/20/20)
- Managing Jewish Nonprofits in This Crisis: FAQs (Leading Edge): Questions, answers, resources and tips. (Added 3/20/20)
- Council on Foundations Resource Hub: Links to news, best practices for responding, coronavirus response funds and information on other ways funders can help right now.
- Six Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover From Coronavirus Spread
- Resources for Nonprofits from the Chronicle of Philanthropy:Â Information on how to manage, lead, and communicate in response to the coronavirus; resources on fundraising and technology.
- Candid Update on Philanthropy for Addressing Coronavirus: Tracking recent grants made, viewable by location and specific issue area.
- The Center for Disaster Philanthropy: Advice (including a recorded webinar) on the roles philanthropy can play during pandemics.
- Northern California Grantmakers: Guidance on communicating with grantees and other stakeholders about coronavirus.
- Sample letter for funders to send grantees:Â This personalized letter offers time and assistance in working through the unexpected impact of this crisis. Shared by the Mayberg Foundation (added 3/17/20)
- Philanthropy Has a Duty to Respond Quickly to the COVID-19 Outbreak. Here’s How We Can Do It. (Inside Philanthropy, added 3/18/20)
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Resources for Educators & Parents
- Prizmah Center for Jewish Day Schools: Includes detailed information on online learning, examples of coronavirus-related communications to parents and guidance about safety protocols.
- Jewish Education Project's Resource Page:Â School-related guidance on how Jewish day schools, congregations, JCCs, early childhood, and independent settings are responding and planning in their communities. Includes links to relevant webinars.Â
- Unpacked for Educators (Open Dor): Live online Jewish learning sessions on a variety of topics for school-age children.
- Addressing Crisis: Resources for Jewish Teen Philanthropy (Jewish Teen Funders Network): This resource highlights different Jewish text, conversations prompts and suggestions for how to apply Jewish teen philanthropy during a crisis situation.(Added on March 20)Â Â
- Resources for Quarantined Families (PJ Library): Ideas for ways to stay busy and have fun at home, along with guidance in talking with your children about quarantines and pandemics.
- Remote Learning Resources Page (Center for Israel Education): Includes a variety of materials to enhance your knowledge of Modern Israel including videos of past CIE presentations; recorded webinars; podcasts; and informational videos about specific topics. Check back often as we continue to expand our digital offerings; Also offering Israel Direct Education and Learning, an online learning program delivered through Teachable. (Added on March 23)
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General
- Coronavirus Funds (Giving Compass & National Center for Family Philanthropy):Find a range of vetted funds addressing immediate and long-term needs related to coronavirus and COVID-19. Comprehensive list of vetted COVID-19 relief funds. You can also explore local funds with NCFP's map. (Added on March 23)
- Defending Human Rights During COVID-19 (American Jewish World Service): "From our decades of work, we know that the most vulnerable communities across the world will face the most serious impacts of this pandemic, because at times of crisis, the human rights of oppressed and marginalized people are nearly always further violated." (Added on March 23)Â
- Goodnation Coronavirus Response Fund (Added on March 20): JFN Partner Goodnation, in partnership with National Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster (NVOAD), has created this fund to focus on our most vulnerable populations, including seniors, the homeless, families living in poverty, people with disabilities and students in need. Support will provide: Disaster Response to care for the most vulnerable; Local Support by nonprofits already on the front lines;Global Intervention by leading international health and relief organizations.Â
- Repair the World and Amplifier: Resource on caring for the sick in times of crisis. Includes relevant Jewish texts, as well as information on volunteering and places to donate money.
- How to Change a Physical Event to a Virtual Conference:Â A checklist of things to consider and options available.
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Reports from the Field
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North America
- Brief Snapshot of What We're Hearing from Jewish Nonprofits So Far (JPRO and Leading Edge):Common themes raised from Jewish nonprofit professionals so far, including concerns about health of employees, financial sustainability and adapting to working from home. (March 20)Â
- Responses to a Flash Poll of Local Nonprofits on the Impact of COVID-19 (Massachusetts Nonprofit Network): Among the findings, more than 95 percent of respondents said they were experiencing or anticipated experiencing impacts as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and 52 percent characterized the severity of impacts as “high.” (Added on March 20)
- How Jewish Family Service is Responding (Seattle): CEO Will Berkovitz on building and using a crisis response team, figuring out how best to keep serving clients, making decisions during a crisis, and operating while conditions are changing rapidly. (Via the Bridgespan Group. Links on this page to other reports from the field, as well.)
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Israel
- Report from the Shoresh Institute: Information about the underlying challenges to Israel's public health infrastructure.
- The Israeli Civic Leadership Association Situation Room (Hebrew):Posts and Updates on Social Sector (Live Link and Telegram Channel Link)
- Navigating Israel Giving in the Time of Coronavirus (Message from the JFN-Israel team)
- Daily Updates During the Corona Crisis (Leket Israel): Details on what the food rescue organization is doing to deliver food to people in need at this challenging time and how people can help.
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Live-Streamed Events and Webinars
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Monday, March 23
- JFN 2020 Virtual Convening Day 1, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Eastern time (4:30-8:30 p.m. in Israel): For JFN members and JFN 2020 conference registrants only. Please email [email protected] for more details.
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Tuesday, March 24
- JFN 2020 Virtual Convening Day 2, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Eastern time (4:30-8:30 p.m. in Israel): For JFN members and JFN 2020 conference registrants only. Please email [email protected] for more details.
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- Opening Rituals and Icebreakers for Online Jewish Teen Philanthropy (Jewish Teen Funders Network), 2-3 p.m. Eastern (8-9p.m. in Israel): As Jewish teen philanthropy programs move to an online space, join us for this webinar to experience opening rituals, games, icebreakers and intention-setting activities. All educators welcome for this webinar as we model these methodologies for both Jewish philanthropy education and for the general field of experiential Jewish education. Registration required.
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- Leadership Briefing on Israel and the Pandemic (The Israel Healthcare Foundation and Clalit Health Services), 6 p.m. Eastern:Clalit serves over half of Israel’s population and operates 30% of its hospital beds in 14 hospitals. The briefings will feature Professor Ran Balicer, Israel’s senior epidemiologist. Prof. Balicer an advisor to the Prime Minister and Israeli Ministry of Health on infectious disease epidemiology, health policy and emergency preparedness. He is Director of Health Policy Planning at Clalit. (Note: This briefing is also being offered on March 25.) Registration required.
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Wednesday, March 25
- Leadership Briefing on Israel and the Pandemic (The Israel Healthcare Foundation and Clalit Health Services), 6 p.m. Eastern:Clalit serves over half of Israel’s population and operates 30% of its hospital beds in 14 hospitals. The briefings will feature Professor Ran Balicer, Israel’s senior epidemiologist. Prof. Balicer an advisor to the Prime Minister and Israeli Ministry of Health on infectious disease epidemiology, health policy and emergency preparedness. He is Director of Health Policy Planning at Clalit. (Note: This briefing is also being offered on March 24.) Registration required.
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Thursday, March 26
- Virtual Pop-up Giving Circle Facilitation Training (Amplifier), 1-2 p.m. Eastern (7-8 p.m. in Israel): We’ve adapted our Pop-up Giving Circle materials to include tips & tricks for virtual facilitation, and are hosting a training to help you use them. Download the resources and register for the training to gather your community, explore your values, and give together. Registration required.
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Friday, March 27
- Family Philanthropy's Response to COVID-19 (National Center for Family Philanthropy), 12 noon-1:15 p.m. Eastern: How should philanthropy focus its giving and attention during a global crisis? How do families support the health of their grantees and surrounding communities while working to keep nonprofits financially resilient in the midst of disruption? In this webinar, hear from sector leaders who will discuss the long-term philanthropic response to the crisis, how to support grantees with an equity lens, and ways that funders can bolster the long-term financial and organizational health of the sector. Registration required.
Recorded Webinars
Coronavirus and the Jewish Community: Responses from the Field (JFN webinar from March 18). First and foremost, the coronavirus pandemic is a public health crisis. But it is also creating significant economic and logistical challenges for institutions and vulnerable populations within and beyond the Jewish community. In this webinar, Sagi Balasha, Chief Executive Officer of The Ogen Group; Paul Bernstein, Chief Executive Officer of Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools; Lisa Eisen, Co-President, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation; Rabbi David Rosenn, Executive Director of the Hebrew Free Loan Society and JFN President and CEO AndrĂ©s Spokoiny explored the scope of the problem, how Jewish institutions are responding and what funders can do to help. During the webinar, Lisa Eisen and AndrĂ©s Spokoiny referenced this episode of JFN's Jewish philanthropy podcast, "What Gives?"Â
Post-Election Scenarios in Israel and How Coronavirus Changes Things (JFN webinar from March 17). Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute and a former Member of Knesset, discusses who won, who lost, and how the coronavirus changes everything.
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News from Funders
- The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (Israel) announced an immediate donation of $13.6 million to boost the efforts of Israel’s hospitals to fight the spread of the coronavirus. (3/19)
- The Azrieli Foundation approved an emergency fund on March 18, earmarking $2 million to be directed to immediate needs in Canada, and NIS 10M to needs in Israel. Priority areas include serving the elderly and Holocaust survivors (particularly for food and basic needs), the educational and psychosocial needs of at-risk youth and special-needs learners, services for individuals with disabilities.