A world rapidly changed by COVID-19

In the span of four months, COVID-19 has changed our world more swiftly than any other threat in living memory. In January, China imposed quarantine on 57 million people in the Hubei province – what was then the largest quarantine in history. By late March, almost a third of the world’s population was in lockdown. Such a rapid reorganisation of society has sent shockwaves through every political, economic and social system. Philanthropy has stepped up to the moment, seeking to make available support to communities, scientists and organisations working to fight the effects of coronavirus. In our June 2020 issue, Alliance is dedicating its Global Updates section to stories of philanthropy’s response to COVID-19.

The Americas

• Bill Gates to fund potential vaccines
• Zuckerberg’s $100m for news outlets
• Emergency fund to strengthen Brazil’s public health system

Europe

• Foundations pledge flexible funding
• Donations to WHO top $30m
• UK funder giving core and more funds in response to COVID-19
• CAF emergency fund to support struggling charities

Africa and Middle East

• AfDB raises $3bn bond to combat economic effects of coronavirus
• Thomson Reuters Foundation launches journalism project
• Saudi funder pledges $30m to fight pandemic

Asia and the Pacific

• Chinese philanthropists donate ventilators to New York
• AVPN annual conference to be held online
• COVID-19 national funding platform launched for Australian philanthropies