Reimagining Institutional Grantmaking

The Momentum Fund

September 19, 2022

Capacity-building During COVID-19

In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Philanthropy Forum instituted The Momentum Fund to build short-term capacity for organizations to manage their COVID-19 response. The Momentum Fund focused on nonprofits with established COVID-19 funds to mitigate the impacts of the crisis among people of color throughout the United States, in U.S. territories, and on Native American reservations. The Moriah group was tapped to lead the initiative with three core concepts: (1) explicitly and unapologetically center racial equity; (2) acknowledge the long history of effective social change; and (3) position grantmakers and grantees as equal partners. Through our collective efforts, $9.1 million in grants were awarded in August and October of 2020 to 139 organizations in 31 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.