Looking back on key moments of the COVID-19 pandemic reveals not just the trials, but also the collective strength that guided us then and can make us stronger in the face of future challenges.
Here are 17 key moments that defined the GlobalGiving’s community’s journey to defeat COVID-19:
Jan. 7: Chinese authorities identify a new coronavirus.
Chinese authorities identified a new coronavirus variant as the cause of a rapidly spreading pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China. A few days later, China reported the first death from the virus.
Jan. 27: GlobalGiving launches the Coronavirus Relief Fund.
Nearly two months before the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, GlobalGiving launched the Coronavirus Relief Fund. The swift effort was possible thanks to our relationship with local nonprofits in China who informed us of the severity of the problem before the mainstream news had caught on.
The fund allowed money to flow quickly out the door and help stop the pandemic’s path. Organizations like the One Foundation in Hubei province, China used the funds to provide vital medical supplies, offer crucial online consultations, and support frontline health workers.
Feb. 18: Around 560 people from 38 countries come together to give $195,000 for community-led response efforts around the globe through the Coronavirus Relief Fund.
March 9: Nonprofits receive support to help struggling students.
With schools and children’s centers in cities like Daegu, South Korea closed to curb the spread of the virus, kids who rely on them for meals are going hungry. A-PAD Korea enlists restaurants to prepare warm lunches for 200 of those kids. “Almost [all] local restaurants were closed because of COVID-19,” Program Coordinator Jongwon says. “We selected a few local restaurants near children’s centers to boost the local economy.”
March 11: The World Health Organization declares a pandemic.
March 19: GlobalGiving launches the COVID-19 microgrant initiative.
GlobalGiving’s COVID-19 Hardship Microgrants Initiative. This program initially offered 100 microgrants of $1,000 each to pre-vetted nonprofits in the GlobalGiving community. This initiative aimed to support organizations that were not directly responding to the public health crisis, but whose programming and communities were immediately impacted by the pandemic.
Thanks to the extraordinary support from individuals, companies, and GlobalGiving’s leadership, the program quickly grew in impact. As detailed in our 2020 impact report, GlobalGiving quintupled the number of grants, ultimately providing $500,000 in funding to 482 organizations across 83 countries and providing a blueprint for other rapid microgrants programs that followed.
March 25: GlobalGiving disburses $170,000 in emergency grants to five nonprofits in COVID-19 hotspots. As the pandemic intensified, the GlobalGiving Coronavirus Relief Fund emerged as a crucial lifeline, channeling much-needed resources to nonprofits already responding in their communities. By March 9, five nonprofits in China, Iran, Italy, the U.S., and South Korea were hard at work protecting their communities with the support of the fund behind them.
April 4: Global COVID-19 cases surpass 1 million.
Shortly following the spike in deaths, GlobalGiving allocated $190,000 in emergency grants to seven nonprofits across Bangladesh, Burundi, Indonesia, Palestine, the U.S., and Yemen on April 6. By April 30, support expanded significantly—allowing $600,000 to be distributed to 21 nonprofits in countries including Brazil, Cameroon, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Peru, and the U.S.
April 6: Aksi Cepat Tanggap gets support from the GlobalGiving community to provide meals for workers like Anton, a motorcycle taxi driver who lost wages when Indonesian cities locked down to curb the spread of the virus.
April 15: Women like Elizabeth were able to keep providing fresh produce at her store in an underserved Chicago community thanks to a grant from the Red Backpack fund.
The disproportionate effects on women during the COVID-19 pandemic was stark, prompting GlobalGiving to partner with Spanx founder Sara Blakely to launch the Red Backpack Fund. This initiative provided $5,000 grants to over 1,000 female entrepreneurs, helping them address immediate needs and adapt their businesses to survive the COVID-19 crisis.
May 29: GlobalGiving’s Coronavirus Relief Fund raises $1.1 million in a single day.
The remarkable outpouring of generosity provided our nonprofit community with crucial resources to overcome numerous challenges. In addition, another $600,000 in emergency grants was allocated to 20 nonprofits in countries including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, India, the Philippines, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, and the U.S. Throughout the summer, donations continued to flow through GlobalGiving, reaching a diverse array of nonprofits worldwide. By August, an additional $909,000 had been distributed, further extending our support to even more organizations in need.
Oct. 15: Grants transcend operational support.
GlobalGiving launched 187 grants benefiting communities worldwide. Nonprofit leaders noted that these grants provided more than material aid; they offered hope and strength during tough times, as highlighted by former Senior Manager of Disaster Response Sandrina DaCruz in a project report. The grants facilitated food deliveries, provided healthcare, supplied hygiene kits, offered emergency relief, supported water projects, delivered psycho-social support, and funded nutrition programs. The flow of incoming donations and outgoing grants continued to flow for the remainder of the year.
Sept 1: GlobalGiving updates donors about the innovations they are funding.
In a 2021 impact report, Sandrina da Cruz shared exciting news with fund patrons. The Asociación Civil Ingeniería sin Fronteras Argentina was quadrupling ventilator capacity, while the Iraqi Children Foundation was distributing essential nutrition and hygiene packs to orphans and unhoused families. There are only two examples of the many innovations possible thanks to the fund.
August 17 2022: Schools and daycare centers around the world reopen their doors to children.
The Coronavirus Relief Fund supported many nonprofits who had to get creative during the pandemic to keep students learning from afar. Daycare nonprofit Haligi ng Bata dealt with the added challenge of limited access in their rural community in the Philippines by creating a community-driven radio program to deliver educational content to children and feel parents in the loop. But on August 17 2022, they happily reported that children were officially back in the classroom thanks to the help of a grant from the Coronavirus Relief Fund—fueled by everyday donors and companies alike.
June 28: Nonprofits continue to build upon innovative solutions born during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One such example is Rebuilding Alliance’s approach to feeding Palestinian communities during the pandemic. They provided goats, garden resources, and monetary support, helping families in Gaza and the West Bank choose between raising animals or growing food. Some started rooftop gardens, while others leased land. In a June 28, 2023 report, an Alliance participant, Amira, shared, “I’ll have a thousand goats from the one goat you gave me.”
Sept. 26: GlobalGiving closes the Coronavirus Relief Fund.
After raising more than $14 million to defeat COVID-19 around the world, GlobalGiving is now closing the Coronavirus Relief Fund.
This one-of-a-kind fund moved millions of dollars to local solutions typically overlooked in disaster grantmaking. The hundreds of grassroots organizations that comprise the Coronavirus Relief Fund received flexible funding from donors and companies without strings attached—which is a pretty big deal if you ask us!
This support meant that people like Nathi in rural Kumbhalgarh, India, could access essential resources during a strict lockdown. Despite the lockdown’s necessary role in curbing the virus, it placed immense strain on families already struggling with poverty. With the help of a flexible grant from the GlobalGiving Coronavirus Relief Fund, Seva Mandir was able to deliver crucial supplies and sanitation kits to Nathi.
Support like this also strengthened long-term community bonds between Seva Mandir and the people they serve. Through these trials, both communities and nonprofits are now better prepared for future challenges.
As we wrap up this fund, our deepest gratitude goes to everyone whose support made stories of success like Nathi’s possible. The generosity of donors and corporate partners empowered countless local solutions and grassroots initiatives, breathing new life into community-driven efforts during the pandemic.
While we close this chapter, we remain hopeful that the spirit of empathy and unity will continue to inspire and guide us toward a more resilient future.
Featured Photo: Noche De Cine Gratis—Help the Children of the DR by Alegre Global Assistance Charities, Inc.Find exactly what you're looking for in our Learn Library by searching for specific words or phrases related to the content you need.
