The Boston Resiliency Fund has distributed over $20.5 million to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including grants to community health centers for COVID-19 testing, grants to fund the purchase of 8,000 laptops for Boston students, and the provision of assistance to food banks, pantries and meal sites.
The relief fund is a sub-fund of the Boston Charitable Trust Fund and administered by the Collector-Treasurer of the City of Boston. Goodwin advised the Boston Charitable Trust on the establishment of the fund, which was started on March 14th in the early days of the pandemic after a conversation between Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Chairman Jeffrey Leiden. The Boston Resiliency Fund is led by a 3-member Steering Committee, which consists of Leiden, Mass General Brigham CEO Anne Klibanski and philanthropist Jack Connors.
One hundred percent of all donations will be directed to nonprofit organizations providing critical and essential services, with a focus on providing food for children and seniors, remote learning technology for students, and assistance to first responders and healthcare workers throughout Boston.
The fund is highly focused on equity, supporting the neighborhoods of the city hardest hit by the pandemic through grants to a diverse group of grantees. Thus far, 56% of grantees are led by a woman and 49% are led by a person of color.
The fund’s initial goal was to raise $10 million, but to date it has raised more than $32 million. While there have been several $1 million donations, much of the money has come from more than 6,000 donors, two-thirds of whom have contributed $100 or less.
“I really believe there’s something very unique about the Boston community and its ability to give back,” said Leiden, who feels the fund exemplifies the city’s capacity to “come together in times of crisis.”
Boston Resiliency Fund at a Glance
- Sub-fund of the Boston Charitable Trust Fund
- Created in 2020
- Based in Boston, MA
- 3-member Steering Committee
- Raised $32.4 million to date
- Distributed $20.5 million to date
- Goodwin client since 2020
For more information about the Boston Resiliency Fund and our work with this client, please contact Susan Abbott – sabbott@goodwinlaw.com.