What counties will be covered by the COVID-19 Community Relief Funds?
The funds will cover United Way Bay Area’s 8 county service areas: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano counties.
COVID-19 Community Relief Fund
Supporting those impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis
Donate NowOverview
The United Way Bay Area COVID-19 Community Relief Fund will address local needs by bringing together UWBA’s broad community partner network. United Way is unparalleled in our power to convene partners, providers and resources to address the needs of communities in crisis. This has never been more important than now. We’ve been responding to local needs and our communities’ most pressing problems for almost 100 years. COVID-19 is a new challenge for us, but we’re up to it. We will respond to the immediate needs and invest in the long-term shifts required for an equitable recovery.
Immediate response continues:
- We connect people to basic needs like food, shelter, and rental assistance
- We help youth and adults stay on track for their education and career goals
- We ensure our Bay Area neighbors, many of whom are students, parents, families, and seniors, have the resources to pay bills, save for the future, and stay in their homes.
Building an equitable system:
- United Way will center racial equity in every part of our work, including internal practices, program design and implementation, community partnerships and policy advocacy.
- The pandemic has revealed the deep and systemic disparities – both economic and health – for people of color.
- It is critical that we help our communities emerge stronger from this. We CANNOT go back to the “old normal”.
Press Releases
5.07.2020 -United Way Bay Area COVID-19 Community Relief Fund Distributes $4.3 Million, More Support Needed.(PDF)
3.31.20 -United Way Bay Area Launches COVID-19 Community Relief Fund for Eight Counties-Donations will support 211 services and nonprofits assisting those hit hardest by crisis.(PDF)
Nonprofit Organization Fund Grantee List
Funding Focus
Thank you to our generous donors who have contributed to our COVID-19 Community Relief Fund. Because of you, we have raised $5.4 million and distributed $4.9 million to over 130 nonprofits (as of 10/7/2020) across eight Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano). View the list of fund grantees . The United Way Bay Area COVID19 Community Relief Fund contributions will support our programs and our partnerships with local Bay Area organizations and our short term and long-term response services in four key impact areas:
COVID-19 Community Relief Fund FAQ
How will COVID-19 Community Relief Funds be used?
UWBA will decide to use the funds based on our assessment of local needs, our program priorities, and the opportunity to leverage other philanthropic resources. We will make decisions on the use of funds with significant insights from our community members and partners and our experience operating poverty fighting programs in the Bay Area.
Can I direct my gift to a specific county?
If you wish to direct your gift to a specific county, please add a comment to your donation using the following parameters: COVID-19-[county name]. (Example: COVID-19-Alameda County).
What will funding be used for?
The collected funds will be applied to immediate and long-term relief and recovery assistance in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano counties. Relief and recovery efforts may include providing basic needs services to individuals or ensuring 211 is available to connect callers with public health and local community services information.
Will there be an administrative charge applied to relief fund donations?
To support administrative and processing costs, a 5% fee will be withheld from all fund contributions.
2-1-1 phone and text services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in 150 languages through phone interpretation services. Text services are available in English and Spanish. 2-1-1 provides free and confidential information about local social services, including disaster assistance, food, health care, housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, childcare, and family services.
