A Message to Our Grant Partners about COVID-19

To our extended CZI family,

If one thing is certain right now, it’s that the COVID-19 pandemic has somehow impacted your life, and very likely your work. We want to make sure you know one more thing that is certain — and that’s our support for you, your organizations, and the incredible work that you are doing everyday on the frontlines of science, education, justice and opportunity, and right here in our Bay Area community.

We know that forces beyond your control right now may impact aspects of your partnership with us. We understand this and want to offer flexibility and support so you can focus on what’s most important. We stand ready to work with you to get through this, and more information will be coming from the teams you work with at CZI including education resources for remote learning, additional tech resources to help your organization support a remote workforce, and grant partner training sessions to help your team manage the health of your organization during this time.

Our team is adjusting as well and taking to heart the public health guidance that can help blunt the trajectory of this virus — by adhering to the Bay Area’s current “shelter in place” guidance, working remotely, not attending large convenings, and limiting business travel through at least April 10. Even though we’re physically apart, please know that we’re together in work and spirit — and we’re behind you every step of the way.

In crisis there are always silver linings. And in this one, it may just be the extraordinary efforts of people and organizations across the country — and the world — who are coming together to fight this virus and support one another. Across the globe, we’re seeing partners like you step up in countless ways to help meet the needs of your communities – from science and research partners who are fighting the spread of the virus, to frontline community health providers, to organizations who are working with vulnerable and system-impacted populations, to education leaders helping families and students navigate a challenging time and remote studies. Just two examples from the past few weeks alone that have inspired us:

• With support from CZI and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) was able to acquire more clinical diagnostics machines — which will allow them to significantly increase their ability to test and diagnose new COVID-19 cases.
• A partnership between CZI, the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, enabled researchers in Cambodia to sequence and confirm the country’s first case of COVID-19 in a matter of days — not the weeks it could typically take.

For more on the above, watch the video of our Facebook Live conversation with CZ Biohub co-president and infectious disease expert Dr. Joseph DeRisi — on how scientists around the world are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more about how CZI and our partners are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic here.

Finally, we know there is a lot of economic uncertainty at this time. We want to reassure you that we have a stable base of funding to support our teams, our work and our grantmaking for the decades ahead.

Thank you for being part of the extended CZI family, and for the work you do. Please let us know if we can be of assistance in any way.

In gratitude,