Google.org, the charity arm of Google, has added $50 million to its previous $50 million commitment for grants related to COVID-19 pandemic relief. Alongside its financial contribution, Google.org Fellows have pledged 50,000 hours of pro bono work to COVID-19 projects.
According to a blog post by Google.org President Jacquelline Fuller, the new grants include $25 million for nonprofits that support small- and medium-sized businesses, $15 million for health- and science-related organizations, and $10 million for distance learning support.
The second round of relief for small and medium businesses includes: a $5 million grant to Common Futures, which offers funding and technical assistance to women- and minority-owned small businesses in the United States; $5 million for a to-be-launched Rapid Response and Recovery Program within Youth Business International which will serve small and medium businesses in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific; and $10 million in immediate relief grants for nonprofits around the globe.
The health and science funding includes up to $10.5 million through public matching campaigns for institutions such as the World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières, which support response and recovery for communities and frontline workers throughout the world. The new round also gives grants to, and underwrites Google.org Fellowships for, developing artificial intelligence-driven tools that track and analyze COVID-19’s spread, such as Boston Children’s Hospital’s HealthMap consortium.
Google.org’s second-round pledge of $10 million for distance learning programs is earmarked for schools, teachers and parents experiencing Covid-19 disruptions. The Kahn Avademy, which reaches 18 million students each month, received $1 million, DonorsChoose’s Keep Kids Learning effort, which provides teachers and students in high-poverty U.S. communities with school supplies and food, was given a $2 million grant and INCO, a digital learning support organization, received $2.7 million.
Google.org has also matched 31 Google.org Fellows with nonprofits and civic organizations for three to six months of pro bono work.
Concurrent with these grants, Google increased its annual gift match from $7,500 to $10,000.
