As you face the flurry of decisions about how to respond to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and ensure that your staff, clients, and communities are safe and healthy, your foundation funders can be helpful partners. Below are some quick steps you can take to keep them in the loop and potentially get increased funding for your efforts.
Share your plan with your funders
Your funders will appreciate knowing that you have thought about the specific implications of the pandemic and social distancing efforts on your organization. Share your response plan with your funders. Here is a helpful list of resources you might need related to Covid-19 and creating a response plan. Also, here are CDC Foundation guidelines for nonprofits regarding COVID-19.
Determine your emergency funding needs
If your costs are going to increase due to an expected influx of clients, additional work you are taking on in response to the pandemic, purchasing supplies and/or equipment to ensure the safety of staff and clients (including costs for teleworking systems and technology, or other needs then share those costs with your foundation funders. When you share your response plan with your funders, include the costs you are expecting to incur and make an ask to them about what piece of it they might cover. Here’s an article about COVID-19 related costs to nonprofits that might help you think through your costs.
Provide steady and adaptive leadership
BoardSource has information to help guide your board as your organizations navigates through COVID-19. The Management Center has tools to help assess staff needs, cash flow and more.
Check out Covid-19 response funding
Many foundations and government entities are offering emergency funding. Your organization may be eligible for some of that funding. Click here for a list Spark Point compiled of regional and national funding resources. In addition, Candid has compiled a website with a list of Covid-19 related RFPs. If you have questions about how to access this funding or you would like support with grant writing for these opportunities, please click here to reach out!
Giving Compass has compiled a list of nationwide vetted funds addressing immediate and long-term needs related to coronavirus and COVID-19.
The Obama Foundation has compiled a list of resources for organizations and initiatives in underserved communities impacted by COVID-19.
The Kresge Foundation has compiled a list of resources for organizations working to expand opportunities in American cities.
Here’s a Google search for Community Foundations with COVID funds to find additional local funds.
Also, here is a comprehensive list of community response resources compiled by a resident of DC that includes ways to ease stress and anxiety, support schools and their students, ways to volunteer, food bank and housing info and more.
How the CARES Act Impacts Nonprofits
Nonprofit Quarterly has simplified how the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act can be a resource to nonprofit organizations and describes the three loan options available.
FreeWill offers a guide on how nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees can navigate the CARES Act, specifically the Paycheck Protection Program.
If Spark Point can be helpful to you in any way as you think about your fundraising, please click here to reach out.