The novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, is creating an evolving situation with varied impacts around the world and across the states. We are updating this page regularly with the latest information and resources that nonprofits can use to prepare and respond.

• Resources for funding
• Nonprofits and the coronavirus vaccine
• Keeping equity front and center
• Data on how the pandemic and economic crisis are affecting nonprofits
• The road to reopening
• State-by-state resources
• Advocacy for nonprofit missions
• Let us know how COVID-19 is affecting your nonprofit

First and foremost, we all need to keep open lines of communications with our boards, employees, volunteers, donors, and the people we serve. As part of that, we should continue to share information and resources from credible sources, such as the World Health Organization [2] and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [3]. And we need to be transparent about our decision-making, especially for those nonprofits that now remain open to provide vital services in their communities, but may need to scale back due to lack of available resources or staffing.

Resources for funding

• Paycheck Protection Program Loans
  • Interim Final Rule [4] (Mar. 31, 2021)
  • SBA Application for First Draw Loan [5]
  • SBA Application for Second Draw Loan [6]
  •  H.R. 1799, the PPP Extension Act of 2021 [7], extending the application period through May 31, 2021
  • Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Interim Final Rule Analysis [8]
  • Paycheck Protection Program Loans: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) [9], Small Business Administration, updated Dec. 9, 2020.
• Analysis of the American Rescue Plan Act [10] (Mar. 12, 2021)
• Employee Retention Tax Credit
  • Notice 2021-23 [11], IRS Guidance on the Employee Retention Tax Credit (Apr. 2020)
  • Nonprofits, Don’t Overlook Your Potential Refund Under the Employee Retention Tax Credit [12] (Mar. 12, 2021)
• What's in the new COVID Relief Law for Nonprofits [13], webinar recording and resources (Jan. 13, 2021)
• Analysis of year-end COVID relief bill [14] (Dec. 21, 2020)
• Analysis of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (Pub. L. 116-136) [15]
  • Loans Available for Nonprofits in the CARES Act [16]
• Analysis of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act [17]
• State-by-state listing of relief funds created by community foundations [18]
• COVID-19 relief funds map [19] 
• State and Local Funds | American Rescue Plan Funds [20]

Nonprofits and the coronavirus vaccine

The people in our communities need to be vaccinated – and your nonprofit can play a role. There is a role for every nonprofit, not just for big or health-related nonprofits. We all can help the people we serve overcome the obstacles that many are facing right now as they try to get vaccination appointments and shots in their arms.

In our national webinar, “How every nonprofit can help the communities we serve get vaccinated [21],” we heard from renowned medical expert Dr. Vin Gupta about the latest on the pandemic and from Melissa Rogers, Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, about the newly-launched COVID-19 Community Corps [22]. As engaging as those speakers were, the highlight was hearing from frontline heroes: Astrid Aveledo [23], Executive Director of the Dispute Resolution Center of Grays Harbor & Pacific Counties in Washington; Anni Chung [24], President and CEO of Self-Help for the Elderly in California; and Vanessa Fields [25], Director of Southeastern Halifax Coalition in North Carolina. Each leader shared how their organization is proactively problem-solving – not only seeing and listening for, but also anticipating and then eliminating the barriers that are preventing the people they serve from getting vaccinated. Language barriers, reading barriers, technological barriers (both access to and use of), trust barriers, transportation barriers, and more – all removed by these humble yet inspiring leaders. Through their actions, they proved that whether you help five people or 500 get vaccinated, your nonprofit can make a huge difference saving lives and serving communities.

COVID-19 Community Corps

Run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the COVID-19 Community Corps shares resources to help build vaccine confidence in your community, including: fact sheets on vaccine safety, tips on how to talk with friends and family about the importance of vaccination, and hints for planning and attending community events; social media content to share with your followers; and regular email updates with the latest vaccine news and resources to share. Sign up for the COVID-19 Community Corps [22].

Additional Resources

• Civis Analytics’ COVID-19 vaccine campaign toolkit [26]
• COVID-19 Vaccine Information [27] (UnidosUS)
• The National Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine has a variety of materials and resources, including information on 
  • Equitable Vaccine Implementation [28], 
  • Engaging Community-Based Organizations to be Vaccination Partners [29], and
  • Increasing Vaccine Confidence through Communication and Community Engagement [30]

Grants to Support Community Engagement in COVID-19 Efforts

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is investing $3 billion to support local efforts to increase vaccine uptake and equity. This funding will focus on reaching communities hit hardest by the pandemic, including those with a high social vulnerability index, minority communities, and rural areas. This money goes to state immunization managers who will all set up their own processes. Find your state's immunization manager to learn about their process and apply for local funding [31]. ​ [19]

Keeping equity front and center

• COVID-19 resource roundup [32] - Equal Rights Advocates
• Building Movement Project’s report that shares how much COVID-19 is impacting POC-led nonprofits [33]. 
• Racial equity should be at the core of coronavirus responses [34], Minnesota Budget Project
• Why Nonprofits Should Center Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion During the COVID-19 Pandemic [35], YW Boston and Massachusetts Nonprofit Network​

Data on how the pandemic and economic crisis are affecting nonprofits – nationwide and state-specific

There are as yet no large, sector-wide national surveys that provide data from the field about how the linked crises are affecting nonprofits. There are, however, many state reports of the impacts on nonprofits. And there are some nationwide and regional surveys and reports that provide some insights.  We have gathered data and reports on the pandemic's effects on nonprofits [36] and will update the page when we discover new data of interest. ​

The road to reopening

When will it be the right time to return to your pre-pandemic workplace?

The answer will be different for every organization based on multiple factors. The first factor, of course, depends on your mission. If your mission has been “essential” and you’ve remained on-site, what changes will you need to make to accommodate (potentially increased) clientele and any returning paid or volunteer staff? And for those who have continued to work on-site, what additional support do your staff need in terms of time off, longer breaks, or mental health services? For those reopening our doors, we’ll need to consider factors such as the size and layout of the workspace – for individual employees, clients, and visitors – in common spaces and at workstations. Other factors depend on your geographic location, the spread of COVID-19 in your region, and any public health orders by government authorities. And throughout, we all need to consider not the quickest or easiest ways to do something, but rather seek the highest common denominator of what’s needed by our staff members and the people we serve who may be at higher risk of contracting the virus or developing severe complications. A good working mantra could be, “Safety of others is our highest priority.” You can also view our national webinar on “What nonprofits need to know as staff and volunteers return from remote work to in-person operations [37],” where we heard from experts in law, volunteerism, and messaging about how to engage staff and volunteers in discussions about how to keep your workforce safe. They answered questions about whether or not nonprofits can - or should - require employees to be vaccinated, what the future of volunteerism might look like, and what messages resonate the most in workplace conversations about the COVID vaccines.

Below is a list of additional resources you can explore.  NOTE: What follows is not meant to be regarded as comprehensive guidance. We urge every nonprofit to consult the latest recommendations from the CDC, as well as your state and local officials, plus guidance from trusted sources within your subsector (such as for pre-schools, dental clinics, or the like) when making reopening decisions.

• Workplaces and Businesses: Plan, Prepare, and Respond [38], Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Venable LLP’s COVID-19 Resource Center [39]
• Resources for employers on COVID-19 vaccine [40] (SHRM)
• When Employers Can Require COVID-19 Vaccinations [41] (SHRM)
• Going Forward: Best Practices and Considerations for Nonprofit Re-engagement [42], Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits
• Memphis is Reopening: Get Your Nonprofit Ready [43], Momentum Nonprofit Partners
• Reopening the Workplace: A Preliminary Guide for US Employers [44], Morgan Lewis LLP
• Bringing Workers Back: When, Who, and How? [45], ADP
• Risk Management Navigator Tool [46], Montana Nonprofit Association
• Take 10: Resume and Thrive Strategies [47], Nonprofit Risk Management Center
• Reopening will be a journey. Here’s your guide. [48], Salesforce
• Return to Work Resource Library [49], ThinkHR

How will nonprofit workplaces and work practices need to change?

Even as external indicators show an eagerness by some to reopen everything, we all need to do what is right, not what may be popular in the moment. Simple logic and logistics may dictate the need to take more time. First and foremost, flexibility will need to be at the center of these decisions and processes.

• For both safety and peace of mind of those on-site, each organization should have adequate quantities of hand sanitizer, cleaning/disinfecting supplies, and personal protective equipment for your staff. With so much demand for these products right now, it may be difficult to acquire what you need early on.
• Keep in mind that everyone will have different realities outside of the office. Access to child care will not be back to normal right away, so some staff may continue to require flexible work schedules.
• Similarly, access to transportation to and from work sites may be challenging for some employees, as physical distancing rules may restrict carpooling arrangements that existed pre-COVID-19. Also, public transportation may not be back to normal for quite some time. And, even if public transportation is running, some staff will avoid it for a while for their own safety. If employees previously relied on public transportation for their commutes, will some need to drive to and from the office? Is there adequate parking for them?
• Workspaces where people previously worked in close quarters will need to be reconfigured and/or staff coverage staggered to continue to allow for adequate physical spacing. You may also want to institute a schedule for lunch breaks to avoid too much overlap in a small kitchen or break room space.
• Just as you child-proof a home, virus-proof your workplace. What high transit doors can you prop open? In which high-touch, high-volume places can you place disinfectants (such as near the copy machine, the refrigerator, and the microwave)?

And those are just a few of the questions that will need to be answered. Below are some additional resources to facilitate consideration and preparation:

• The Transformation of Workspaces Post COVID-19 [50], MRA
• Back to Work Safely [51], American Industrial Hygiene Association
• The Safe Six: Workplace Readiness Essentials [52], Cushman & Wakefield
• A Common Sense Guide For Returning To The Post COVID-19 Workplace [53], Work Design Magazine
• This is the end of the office as we know it [54], Vox​

State-by-state resources

Click the map below for links to state-specific resources for nonprofits that we have identified. We are updating the map as we become aware of additional resources.

Advocacy for nonprofit missions

In times like these, policymakers are making fast decisions that could help or hurt the work of your nonprofit for a decade or more. Advocacy is not an option for nonprofits, it’s a requirement right now.  Without collective nonprofit advocacy, nonprofits would have been left out of the major federal relief legislation. And it will be key at the state and local levels as those governments set up programs and slash others as state and local budgets take a hit in the months ahead. Nonprofits need to have a seat at the table as local, state, and federal governments set policies for relief and later turn to recovery.

State

• State Public Policy Resources on COVID-19 [55]
• State and Local Funds | American Rescue Plan Funds [20]
• Nonprofits and Funders: Coronavirus Requires Immediate State Advocacy [56], Nonprofit Quarterly, April 7, 2020

Federal​ [57]

• One-pager on nonprofit priorities for CARES Act 2.0 [58]
• CARES Act: New Nonprofit Provisions Pushed for Next Round of Relief Money [59], Nonprofit Quarterly, April 7, 2020