Updated February 2, 2020
Beginning in December 2019, residents of Wuhan, China began reporting illness from a previously unseen pneumonia, since discovered to be a new type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses, named for their circular shapes, are a class of virus that cause a wide variety of illnesses in mammals and birds, ranging from the common cold to SARS.
Since December, the virus has spread to more than ten thousand people around the world, including those in countries beyond China. Officials are still learning about the virus, but expect it to continue to spread. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global public health emergency. While this coronavirus does not appear to be as deadly as other recent global health emergencies, its virulent nature gives it the capacity to quickly overwhelm local health systems.
This situation is rapidly evolving and Fidelity Charitable will continue to update this article as we learn more about the impact and the needs.
While the virus is now a worldwide issue, most of the crisis support is currently focused on China.
Fidelity Charitable has collaborated with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to provide the following list of organizations offering relief and support services. The Chinese government has not yet made a full appeal for international support, but these U.S.-based organizations have a pre-existing relationship in China and approval of the government to work in the country. These organizations also can incorporate a large influx of donations and a strong, established record in medical relief services.
Immediate medical needs include supplies, such as surgical masks, isolation gowns, and other protective equipment. Organizations are also preparing to respond to the anticipated surge in coronavirus cases, coordinating additional staff and specialists to support local medical personnel, specialized medical equipment, and portable clinics required for isolation, screening and treatment.
The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit and the sole entity created by Congress to mobilize philanthropic and private-sector resources to support the Centers for Disease Control’s health protection work.
The CDC’s Emergency Response Fund helps connect philanthropic dollars with fast-emerging needs related to the virus, providing flexible funding that can support state and local health departments, logistics, communication and data management.
Please note the organizations listed in this guidance do not represent the full list of organizations raising money for relief efforts for the novel coronavirus. Fidelity Charitable has collaborated with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to provide these organizations to donors for reference purposes only, and Fidelity Charitable does not endorse these organizations. All grant recommendations are subject to review and approval by the Fidelity Charitable Trustees. Fidelity Charitable will communicate all grant designation recommendations for the novel coronavirus relief to grantees.
Regular situation updates from the Center for Disease Control, with a focus on the outbreak in the United States.
The WHO provides daily updates on the novel coronavirus, with a global perspective.
An overview of how infectious diseases spread at scale, the phases of a pandemic outbreak, and funding needs in this type of disaster.
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