ROBIN HOOD R E L I E F T I M E L I N E
In mid-March, less than one week into the Governor’s order to stay at home, Robin Hood met with a group of New Yorkers to get a sense of how COVID-19 was affecting families. “Three weeks ago, I got a job and was finally feeling stable,” one man told us. “On Monday, I lost my job because of COVID. Now what should I do?” Robin Hood’s response was clear: to reactivate the Relief Fund, — for the third time in our history. In the weeks and months that followed, thanks to your generosity, Robin Hood distributed more than $51 million to 521 different organizations in all five boroughs of New York City, awarding more than 676 grants to help New Yorkers in need. We are most proud to report that nearly two-thirds of grant recipients are new partners with Robin Hood. And we’re still going.
June 8, marks the 100th day of the crisis. New York State’s seven-day average for new cases exceeds 1,000, and 56 new deaths are reported on this day alone. A week after the killing of George Floyd, an emboldened nation moves to protests, outrage, grief, and resolve. By Week 12, Robin Hood has deployed 419 grants to community-based organiza- tions, largely serving communities of color, who have been disproportionately affected by the virus and its aftermath. “We need community.” — Wes Moore, CEO, Robin Hood The city begins to reopen. But many businesses, and nonprofits, were forced to close forever. By Week 19, Robin Hood deployed 523 grants to community-based organizations, helping partners provide loans and business counseling in low-income neighborhoods. “COVID-19 has the potential to be an extinction-level event for nonprofits.” — John MacIntosh, Managing Partner at SeaChange Capital Partners New York students and parents are making tough decisions about how to start the unusual school year — with over 26% opting to stay home and learn remotely. By Week 23, Robin Hood deployed 576 grants, including to partners stepping in to support home-based solutions. “The pre-COVID ‘normal’ did not serve all students and communities in an equitable way. We are in the throes of creating a new normal.” — D r. Richard A. Carranza, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education
JUNE 8, 2020
Robin Hood forms a relief committee of the board. Given the urgency of the crisis, the group will go on to review and approve grants weekly. Robin Hood also convenes more than 100 like-minded funders, who will gather every Tuesday, by phone, to discuss philanthropy’s response to COVID-19. Right away, we know we need to get emergency food and cash to families as quickly as possible. Over 2 million New Yorkers are hungry. A third of the city’s food pantries closed and demand for emergency food increased by 50%. By Week 4, Robin Hood deployed 173 grants to community-based organizations, keeping food pantries open, and putting NYC’s restaurants back to work. “Dignity is something that I fear is going to get lost in this scurry to get people food. We wanted to make sure that when we were making food, it was beautiful.” — Matt Jozwiak, Founder and Executive Director, Rethink Food NYC Unemployment claims increased by 2,637% compared to last year. By Week 5, Robin Hood deployed 219 grants to community-based organizations, getting emergency cash to vulnerable families, fast. “Families are dealing with impossible choices, and it’s clear to us that the best way to provide relief is through immediate cash at scale.” — Jimmy Chen, CEO, Propel There are 22,000 children enduring quarantine in shelter; 100,000 more are not stably housed. By week 7, Robin Hood deployed 258 grants to community-based organizations, helping families cover rent and ensuring that shelters adapted to changing needs like WiFi . “There are more children in shelters than there are seats in Madison Square Garden. The work that the team at Win does on a good day is challenging. Then you add COVID-19, and the challenges skyrocket.” — Christine Quinn, President and CEO, Win
MARCH 17, 2020
JULY 24, 2020
APRIL 17 2020
AUGUST 16, 2020
APRIL 17, 2020
The Robin Hood Relief Fund surpasses $50 million threshold in distributed grants across all five city boroughs. Nearly two-thirds of grants awarded to date are new funding partners to Robin Hood.
OCTOBER 12, 2020
APRIL 24, 2020
“I’ve chaired the Robin Hood Relief Fund each of the three times we’ve needed it. Our team, our donors, and our community partners have always risen to the occasion. “One of the hardest parts of the COVID-19 crisis has been the physical separation. To share the enormity of the need, we’ve convened frontline responders from all fields with philanthropy leaders in a weekly Funders Call. There’s no price of admission; we’re facilitating the exchange of information among experts, government officials, and philanthropists, helping people think about how we’re going to improve New York as our city recovers. “A phenomenal joy of this Relief Fund has been the 530 current, former, and new-to-us community partners — large, small, and tiny — that we have been able to fund and re-fund — to keep working throughout NYC since mid-March. We are so thankful for the helping hands they give our neighbors every day.” — Victoria Bjorklund, Chair of the Robin Hood Relief Fund, and member of Robin Hood Board of Directors
MAY 1, 2020
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