Published in Philanthropy News Digest

The Ford, Open Society, JPB, W.K. Kellogg, Annie E. Casey, and Amalgamated Foundations and Schmidt Futures have announced the launch of a fund dedicated to supporting low-wage workers, families, and communities devastated by the economic and health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Launched with an initial commitment of $7.1 million, the Families and Workers Fund aims to raise $20 million to provide flexible funding to organizations working to prevent low-wage workers and families from falling further into poverty and to support policy and advocacy efforts aimed at their long-term economic recovery. To that end, the fund will facilitate direct cash grants and loans to individuals, with a focus on those who are most likely to be left out of the government’s emergency policy response, while also providing grants to policy and advocacy organizations, worker groups, community nonprofits, and others working to advance and implement policies and business practices that support workers.