2020 was a tumultuous year. The COVID-19 pandemic generated significant health and economic consequences that disproportionately impacted communities of color, and nationwide protests against police violence brought heightened attention to systemic racism and racial injustice.  

The following briefs from Abt Global examine how JPMorgan Chase’s PRO Neighborhoods and AdvancingCities (AC) grantees adjusted their work to adapt to these unique challenges. The flexible and collaborative nature of the AC and PRO grant programs allowed grantees to effectively meet changing community needs and deepen their impact in their communities by coordinating resources, services, and strategies to:

• Support small businesses through additional technical assistance and lending (Brief 1).
• Promote housing security, affordability, and equity through assistance and advocacy (Brief 2).
• Shift to virtual settings for outreach, communication, and service delivery (Brief 3).
• Hone in on long-standing commitments to racial equity in their work and communities (Brief 4).