COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund Reaches $100 Million in Donations

Today, the United Nations Foundation announced that the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund reached $100 million dollars in donations, within two weeks of launching. The Fund was launched on March 13 to support the World Health Organization’s lifesaving work to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

This milestone was reached through the generosity of individuals around the world – over 200,000 individuals have donated to date.

The Fund has also brought together contributions from over 70 foundations and corporations. The biggest corporate gifts came from Facebook, TikTok, FIFA, and GSK – each donating $10 million and activating their communities. The donations range across sectors – from the tech industry to fashion – showing that the urgency of this global pandemic requires all sectors to step up in a meaningful way.

In addition to donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations, celebrities have lent their voices and contributions to the Fund: Rihanna, Rita Ora, Taylor Swift, and several others have used their platforms to raise awareness.

To make it easy for people to contribute wherever and whenever, the Fund includes company matches, a text-to-give option, and donation options through Tiltify, the top charity platform across all livestream sites. The creativity of individuals around the world matches the unprecedented nature of this moment: a woman in Ireland is halfway through her 4,000 squat challenge to fundraise for the response, a group of 180 gamers on Facebook raised nearly $60,000 through a livestream, and a theater group in New York is encouraging people to sing and donate.

“COVID-19 has jolted the world awake,” said Elizabeth Cousens, President & CEO of the UN Foundation. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of donations pouring in from around the world in support of the vital, life-saving response of the World Health Organization and its partners on the frontlines of this pandemic. Now is the time for immediate and coordinated action. The response to WHO’s urgent appeal shows that the world can unite against a common threat and we are stronger together.”

The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund supports the global public health response to COVID-19, led by the World Health Organization working with partners, including:

• Delivery of personal protective equipment, including surgical masks, gloves, and gowns,
• Lab supplies for testing,
• Training health workers in COVID-19 response,
• Research and development, including developing a potential treatment and a vaccine.

The World Health Organization leads the global response to COVID-19. WHO has responded quickly to this fast-moving pandemic by shipping personal protective equipment to nearly 70 countries, shipping 1.5 million tests to 120 countries, developing training courses for over 300,000 health workers, and more.

The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund is powered by the United Nations Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation in support of the World Health Organization.

Press Contact

Serena Jiwani

Senior Communications Officer

Email: sjiwani@unfoundation.org

Phone: 202-854-2355

About the United Nations Foundation

The UN Foundation brings together ideas, people, and resources to help the United Nations drive global progress and tackle urgent problems. Our hallmark is to collaborate for lasting change and innovate to address humanity’s greatest challenges. Learn more at www.unfoundation.org.