Published

March 20, 2020

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The U.S. Chamber Foundation stands ready to help communities navigate the significant challenges they are facing in a time of great uncertainty. Like any major natural disaster, the coronavirus will have a significant impact on workers, businesses, and the economy.  

The leadership of the business community has never been more important than in times of crisis. Businesses are on the frontlines of containing the pandemic and have an essential role to play in maintaining the confidence needed to help contain the coronavirus while ensuring continuity of operations and a degree of normalcy to American lives.

Business Responds

Corporate Aid Tracker

The business community is mobilizing its expertise and resources to assist with the relief and containment efforts. Our coronavirus (COVID-19) Corporate Aid Tracker lists those businesses that have publicly announced or submitted to us their commitment to supporting their workforce and the greater community impacted through this pandemic. 

Citizens Awards Finalists

Over its 21-year history, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Citizens Awards have recognized the most innovative and impactful corporate citizenship programs raising the bar on social responsibility and spearheading the transformation to a strong, healthy and sustainable future. 

We are proud to announce the 2020 finalists, highlighting how business has and continues to play a leading role in solving our greatest challenges and supporting our communities amid the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, economic distress, and call for greater inclusion and equity.

Business in Action Interview Series

The unprecedented spread of COVID-19 has brought a great deal of uncertainty to our world, with communities, businesses, and governments taking drastic measures to adapt to this new reality. As the coronavirus situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the business community is on the frontlines of the fight against the pandemic, demonstrating unparalleled agility and innovation to help our country navigate this health and economic crisis as fast and effectively as possible. 

We sat down with business leaders driving the global corporate response to COVID-19 to learn more about their efforts, how they are navigating this uncharted territory, and what advice they have for others.

Resources for Businesses

A Safe Workplace

All employers should be ready to implement strategies to protect their workforce from the coronavirus while ensuring continuity of operations. These resources are designed to help employers and employees prepare for and address the impacts of the coronavirus.

We're in This Together

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are marshaling our full resources to help companies continue to operate and keep American workers and families employed, while mobilizing the business community to combat the pandemic.

Supporting Your Employees

The U.S. Chamber Foundation partnered with America’s Charities to offer an Employee Assistance Fund (EAF) program to provide management services for employers looking to support their employees during times of hardship.

An EAF program, also known as an Employee Relief Fund or an Employee Crisis Fund, is a program to help employees cope with unexpected events that place undue financial stress on them and their families, such as the coronavirus, helping them recover more quickly. This demonstrates a company's care for employees and commitment to their well-being, and provides co-workers an opportunity to help their colleagues.

Education Resources

Resources for Educators and Parents

People recognize the impact this pandemic has on the education system, and organizations are gathering resources to support teachers, learners, and parents.

Mental Health Resources

Supporting Wellness in the Workplace

The U.S. Chamber Foundation released a new case study report, Cultivating Wellness: Mental Health Training in the Workplace, which addresses how and why leaders in the business community are creating innovative programs and training to address mental health and well-being in the workplace. While it adopts a general approach to building a mentally healthy business, the practical information and strategies provided in the report can be applied to any situation, including COVID-19.

Caring for Loved Ones

The National Council for Behavorial Health has compiled a list of resources to help you care for your own and your loved ones’ mental health.

Virtual Events

Path Forward

Path Forward, a series produced by the U.S. Chamber Foundation, is designed to help business and community leaders find the answers they need to execute a responsible reopening strategy and plan for a post-pandemic world.

How do we protect employees and customers from the coronavirus? What are some of the barriers to a successful reopening of the economy? Where can my staff get COVID-19 tests? Masks? Gloves? Who’s going to pay for all this? Each episode features conversations between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne P. Clark and experts with practical recommendations for businesses of all sizes.

Mental Health TeleTalk Series

The U.S. Chamber Foundation launched a new “pop-up” virtual event series focused on all facets of mental health, well-being, and community building. These virtual events are “pop-up” in nature to adapt to the business community’s changing needs, interest areas, and complex work schedules. The TeleTalks feature expert facilitated or group-based discussions to help individuals, employees, and businesses get the tools they need to find mental health and stability in an otherwise uncertain time.

Topics include:

  • Parenting During the Pandemic: Supporting Teens, Tweens and Ourselves Through Challenging Times
  • How Brands Are Responding to COVID-19: Flattening Our Mental Health Curve
  • Digital Mental Health and Virtual Community Building
  • Resourceful, Resilient, and Remote: Mental Health First Aid in the New Work Environment
  • Cultivating Wellness in the Workplace: Approaches to Mental Health Training and Education

Building Resilience Through Private-Public Partnerships

As communities around the world begin to recover from the effects of COVID-19, society grapples with what a new normal may look like. This global pandemic has disrupted nearly every aspect of our daily lives—the way we do business, how we worship, and receive an education. These disruptions uncover our vulnerabilities and shine a light on the need for total resilience—protecting individuals, preparing communities, and fortifying social systems. 

Now in its ninth year, the Building Resilience Through Private-Public Partnerships Conference focused on the collaboration required among private, public, and nonprofit sectors to help mitigate the effects of all disasters.

This year’s conference, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation with support from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND, focused on building resilience amid a global pandemic while looking ahead to future emergencies and how we can be better prepared through greater collaboration across sectors. 

Additional Resources

From the Experts

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • How to Help – Donations, Volunteering, Medical Supplies, and Equipment

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 

World Health Organization (WHO) 

Other Resources

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