The goal of the Urgent Response Fund is to support our partners locally, nationally and around the world in times of crisis. From safety and access in the criminal legal system or safe provision of full spectrum reproductive health care services to ensuring hygienic sanitation solutions remain available in Haiti or protecting indigenous communities from COVID-19 in Brazil, our partners are working hard and saving lives.
Campaigns

Resources for Flood Survivors in Pakistan
Pennywise is working with Alight to play its role in alleviating the plight of flood victims in Pakistan. Through a large network of volunteers and partners, Alight is providing relief support in 10 districts (5 in Sindh, 2 in KP, 1 in Punjab and 2 in Balochistan) across four Provinces where limited response has reached till now. We have started our operation from Sibi, distributing food packets among 150 families. There is no doubt that Alight needs to collaborate with multiple organizations, utilizing its experience and capacity to address various flood-related challenges.
Pennywise is working with Alight to play its role in alleviating the plight of flood victims in Pakistan. Through a large network of volunteers and partners, Alight is providing relief support in 10 districts (5 in Sindh, 2 in KP, 1 in Punjab and 2 in Balochistan) across four Provinces where limited response has reached till now. We have started our operation from Sibi, distributing food packets among 150 families. There is no doubt that Alight needs to collaborate with multiple organizations, utilizing its experience and capacity to address various flood-related challenges.

Reproductive Freedom
We are angry. We are engaged. We are taking action.
In June, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overruling Roe v. Wade and denying women constitutional protection of their reproductive rights.The Pennywise Foundation has been working diligently to identify organizations that are meeting this moment in resourceful and effective ways, working to ensure that women can still access full spectrum reproductive care.
Our grantees will:
We are angry. We are engaged. We are taking action.
In June, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overruling Roe v. Wade and denying women constitutional protection of their reproductive rights.The Pennywise Foundation has been working diligently to identify organizations that are meeting this moment in resourceful and effective ways, working to ensure that women can still access full spectrum reproductive care.
Our grantees will:
- Offer direct services in states where abortion will remain legal
- Generate safe, legal pathways to abortion access for all women in the US
- Work at the intersection of reproductive rights and voter engagement to demand policy reform
War in Ukraine: Immediate response
Pennywise is proud to support Alight (formerly the American Refugee Committee) during this time of crisis. Alight is an international non-profit that has been monitoring the situation in Ukraine for months. They are all about finding others. About inviting people and organizations in who understand those they serve deeply, and who are doing incredible work around the world. For years they have been building a platform where these amazing organizations can come together, leverage each others strengths, and solve big problems while staying close to the people they serve. Together, they are amplifying the good they do and developing new solutions and approaches for the displaced. Right now we are raising funds for the Alight Rapid Response Team to provide on-going support to Ukrainian families as this humanitarian crisis unfolds. They are well poised to provide immediate assistance to people in need. Please help. |

Haiti Earthquake Emergency Response
Pennywise helped provide direct support through our dear friends at SOIL. Two local Haitian community leaders from the south took emergency supplies to the areas affected and assessed the needs of the people there.
All of SOIL's relief efforts were conducted in partnership with trusted local organizations.
Pennywise helped provide direct support through our dear friends at SOIL. Two local Haitian community leaders from the south took emergency supplies to the areas affected and assessed the needs of the people there.
All of SOIL's relief efforts were conducted in partnership with trusted local organizations.

Nicaragua & the Covid 19 Crisis
Pennywise helped to support our friends at APLV as they worked throughout the pandemic to bring clean drinking water to rural communities in Nicaragua. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries on the American continent and even prior to the global pandemic it faced a myriad of public health challenges. In rural areas where poverty is most severe less than half the population has access to clean water and hygienic sanitation.
Pennywise helped to support our friends at APLV as they worked throughout the pandemic to bring clean drinking water to rural communities in Nicaragua. Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries on the American continent and even prior to the global pandemic it faced a myriad of public health challenges. In rural areas where poverty is most severe less than half the population has access to clean water and hygienic sanitation.

Anguilla Heritage Assessment Project.
Hurricane Irma, a category 5 hurricane made landfall on islands in the eastern Caribbean on September 6, 2017. The storm devastated the island of Anguilla, causing widespread damage to buildings and utilities infrastructure. Among those buildings damaged or destroyed were some of the oldest structures on the island including churches and those associated with the island’s historic salt industry. Erosion of coastal pre-Columbian archaeological sites is also expected to have occurred.
This project linked an evaluation of damage to cultural resources in Anguilla to broader reconstruction efforts and documented storm-related impacts to cultural resources on Anguilla, contributing to broader research that addresses the effects of climate change on cultural heritage, assisting government and non-governmental organizations in measuring the impacts of the 2017 storms and enhancing teaching of heritage management and sustainability.
The project was led by Dr. John Crock of the University of Vermont and included the Government of Anguilla, the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society, and the Pennywise Foundation. Together, project partners worked to identify potential for cultural preservation efforts to support humanitarian relief efforts through job creation, clean-up and rebuilding initiatives.
Hurricane Irma, a category 5 hurricane made landfall on islands in the eastern Caribbean on September 6, 2017. The storm devastated the island of Anguilla, causing widespread damage to buildings and utilities infrastructure. Among those buildings damaged or destroyed were some of the oldest structures on the island including churches and those associated with the island’s historic salt industry. Erosion of coastal pre-Columbian archaeological sites is also expected to have occurred.
This project linked an evaluation of damage to cultural resources in Anguilla to broader reconstruction efforts and documented storm-related impacts to cultural resources on Anguilla, contributing to broader research that addresses the effects of climate change on cultural heritage, assisting government and non-governmental organizations in measuring the impacts of the 2017 storms and enhancing teaching of heritage management and sustainability.
The project was led by Dr. John Crock of the University of Vermont and included the Government of Anguilla, the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society, and the Pennywise Foundation. Together, project partners worked to identify potential for cultural preservation efforts to support humanitarian relief efforts through job creation, clean-up and rebuilding initiatives.