The Nonprofit Community Confronts the Coronavirus
A community’s character is on display when a crisis hits. The threat of a coronavirus pandemic is causing some in our society to panic, hoard, and price gouge. But in the nonprofit community, the emerging crisis is demonstrating humanity's finer instincts.
Here are some of the actions we’ve seen so far.
Getting trusted information out
State associations of nonprofits across our nationwide network have been exchanging information they’re discovering about the fast-moving novel disease. After curating the best information about appropriate actions, they’re each tailoring the information and ideas specifically for nonprofits in their states, including information from their own state and local health officials when possible. The network’s quick response to this unfolding crisis reinforces the power of networks, which enable a much broader reach of eyes, ears, and minds to gather and analyze data, while also offering the ability to customize information so it addresses local needs. Plus, the most effective communications come from trusted partners who are committed to facts, science, and safety. To illustrate, here’s just a sampling of materials prepared by state associations of nonprofits in Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington State.
Dealing with the day to day
Beyond following and encouraging standard advice like washing hands properly, nonprofits have to make judgment calls. When do you cancel gatherings, send staff home, or gain confidence that you are doing all you can to keep people safe while continuing to advance missions in communities? Last week, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy convened a national webinar to answer a pressing question, what should philanthropy be doing now to address needs during the crisis? The key takeaway for many was the advice for foundations and donors to support frontline nonprofits that are tending to the people needing medical care, suffering from lost work, shut in for unknown durations. Washington Nonprofits, operating in the epicenter of the outbreak in this country, is conducting two new webinars this week regarding Resilient Fundraising Strategies and Alternatives to Meeting in Person to provide answers to day to day questions.
Encouraging civility
At a time when the worst of human nature can emerge, it’s reassuring that nonprofits step up and speak out to demand that everyone treats everyone with respect and dignity. This message from Nonprofit New York is eloquent in its dual message of encouragement of civility and admonishment of racism: “Concerns about Coronavirus should focus on the facts and ensuring the safety of our families, colleagues, and communities. Coronavirus is not an excuse for racism and xenophobia. We urge you to be kind to one another always, but especially as we make sense of how this outbreak will impact our work and our lives.”
“Be Kind,” indeed. And keep demonstrating the character of the nonprofit community by serving the public good. As we are all committed to doing every day.
You can find more resources for nonprofits on our resource page for nonprofits and COVID-19.
