Jack Dorsey giving $5 million to Andrew Yang for COVID-19 relief ‘micro-grants’

A $5 million donation from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey will go toward thousands of “micro-grants” distributed by a COVID-19 relief program launched by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang’s nonprofit Humanity Forward.

Dorsey announced his donation on an episode of Yang’s podcast, “Yang Speaks,” that launched Thursday. 

Dorsey’s donation will go toward Humanity Forward’s direct cash assistance program, providing $250 micro-grants to nearly 20,000 people amid the coronavirus pandemic, the nonprofit announced Thursday. 

The billionaire CEO also announced his donation in a tweet Thursday. 

“$5mm to @HumanityForward to immediately distribute small cash grants of $250 to nearly 20,000 people who’ve lost their jobs or taken an economic hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you @AndrewYang!” he tweeted. 

$5mm to @HumanityForward to immediately distribute small cash grants of $250 to nearly 20,000 people who’ve lost their jobs or taken an economic hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you @AndrewYang! https://t.co/ABTJDpAcLx

— jack (@jack) May 21, 2020

The donation is part of Dorsey’s Start Small LLC, a $1 billion foundation he launched last month to support global COVID-19 relief efforts. 

“Not only will Jack’s donation directly impact tens of thousands of people in need during the current economic downturn, it will help Humanity Forward and our movement continue to make a case for Universal Basic Income (UBI) in the United States,” Yang said in a statement. “We know UBI for every American is possible, and this $5 million from Start Small is going to help demonstrate what is possible for families across the country.”

Humanity Forward’s coronavirus relief fund plans to delivering both one-time and recurring basic income payments to individuals and families most impacted by the coronavirus crisis, according to the nonprofit’s website.

The program is in line with Yang’s support for universal basic income, which was a central proposal of his presidential primary campaign. 

Dorsey showed support for Yang’s campaign proposal during a conversation the entrepreneurs had on the Thursday podcast. 

“Every single field is going to be touched by automation, and UBI to me represents a floor. A floor that people can stand on, and have the knowledge and peace of mind that they could survive and eat and feed their children while they are learning how to transition into this new world,” Dorsey said.