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The world is confronting unprecedented challenges and uncertainty as we face a global pandemic caused by COVID-19.

I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy during these changing times. I want to recognize that the Global Fund for Children community is being affected in many ways, and to give you an update on how GFC is responding.

Last week, our full team transitioned to remote work. We began practicing social distancing in an effort to flatten the curve of the coronavirus outbreak. This not only protects our own health, but also that of our community – especially those most vulnerable to serious complications.

We have cancelled, rescheduled, or moved online all non-critical events and meetings. This includes the difficult decision to postpone our 2020 Gala until October 8, 2020.

While the doors of our Washington, DC office are temporarily closed, GFC remains open. Our team remains united in our call to protect and empower young people through grassroots partnership.

What this means for our local partners:

For our local partners, we are committed to supporting you throughout the COVID-19 crisis, including through maximum flexibility and additional resources. I can offer the following guidance:

• Emergency grants: We are working to mobilize additional resources for emergency grants to help our partners develop community responses to COVID-19. Please communicate your urgent and emerging needs to the GFC team.
• Ongoing support: It is important to know that suspending or postponing your regular activities will not affect your funding from GFC.
• Flexible funds: Your primary grant is always flexible, core support, and you may modify how you use these funds without first notifying GFC. If you do so, we appreciate you informing the GFC team when possible, because this helps us better understand how COVID-19 is impacting your organization’s operations and how to respond.
• Flexible deadlines: Please communicate with the GFC team if you need to modify key deadlines like your progress or final report, primary grant renewal, or child safeguarding policy. We can modify these deadlines based on your circumstances.

What this means for our supporters:

For our supporters, I know you are committed to helping grassroots organizations doing on-the-ground work to keep children safe and secure in the most difficult circumstances. And now, more than ever, GFC’s local partners are facing complicated challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis. As these local leaders work to protect children and youth in their communities, we need to mobilize behind them.

We’re helping an Afro-Peruvian community in Lima access essential hygiene supplies, because they do not have access to clean water. We’re helping our partners in Mexico obtain advice and resources to establish emergency procedures and educate migrant children and their communities. And, from Bangladesh to Kenya, these needs are only multiplying day by day.

Your support now is critical to keeping children and youth safe worldwide. By making a donation to our emergency relief fund, you can provide more community-based organizations with the immediate resources they need to protect young people who are most at risk.

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What this means for our team:

Within the GFC team, I am dedicated to supporting individual and collective wellbeing during this difficult time. We are embracing kindness, connection, and care, which in turn helps us better care for the larger GFC community.

Thank you for your partnership, support, and solidarity as we work to overcome this global crisis together.

John Hecklinger, President and CEO