Google has announced $800+ million to support small businesses and crisis response during COVID-19

People all around the world are still adjusting to life during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the virus having devastating impacts on communities, procedures are being put in place to support and protect the most vulnerable. Google has recently announced they are pledging over $800 million to relief funds. This money will go towards supporting small and medium-sized businesses, health organisations and workers, and governments that are on the frontline to fight the global pandemic.

This money will be split between different services including:

• $250 million to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and over 100 governments. The money will be used for ad grants to help provide vital information about how to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other measures to keep local communities going. Community financial institutions and NGOs will be receiving an additional $20 million in ad grants to run public service announcements about resources and relief funds for small and medium business
• Google is going to create a $200 million investment fund to support worldwide NGOs and financial institutions. This investment fund will help to provide small businesses with resources to help them keep running. In addition, Google.org is also providing $15 million in cash grants to non-profit organisations.
• Small and medium businesses with Google Ads accounts, which have been active for the last year, have access to $340 million in ad credits. Notification of credits will appear in your Google Ads account and can be used up until the end of 2020 across all Google advertising platforms.
• Academic institutions and researchers will have access to $20 million in Google Cloud credits. This is to help leverage computing capabilities and infrastructure for the study of potential vaccines, tracking worldwide data, and to help identify new ways to treat COVID-19. For more information on these grants, head over to the Google for Education website.
• Financial support and expertise to help increase the production capacity of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical devices. Google has announced they are working with Magid Glove & Safety to create 2-3 million face masks for the CDC foundation to use.
• Employees from across Google, Verily, and X are bringing engineering, supply chain, and healthcare expertise to help increase the production of ventilators.

Google has also committed to increasing the gift match they offer their employees from $7,500 to $10,000. This means that, in addition to the $50 million that Google.org have already donated, their employees can now give $20,000 to organisations within their own communities. They have pledged to continue helping local communities, businesses, educational establishments, and non-profits plough through the uncertain times ahead.