“We’re just now looking at the CARES Act and all the SBA stuff trying to understand what kind of relief is available to nonprofits,” says Montana Nonprofit Association Executive Director Liz Moore.

Over the last two weeks, the Montana Nonprofit Association has sent weekly surveys to gauge how nonprofits in the state are faring.

“Non-profits generally aren’t accustomed to navigating this terrain. Most of us don’t have familiarity with applying for loans, and so that makes it intimidating, but you just have to get past that and assert for yourself in the same way you do with fundraising,” says Moore.

Moore says the first survey, sent out shortly after the first COVID-19 cases in Montana were announced, received more than 400 responses.

“So that tells you the heightened level of anxiety, and the concerns were about staffing, working from home, cancelling our events -- all of that. The concerns were really infrastructure concerns,” Moore says.

Moore says the second survey, which wrapped up on Saturday, shows a transition.

“The concerns have really shifted to the mission, and how are the children. That is a huge issue,” Moore says.