COVID-19 Resources for Non-Profits

AFP has compiled the following list of resources for you.  If there is a topic you would like to know more about, please email us at [email protected] and we will see what we can find for you.

We will continue to add resources to this list.

Articles

• Coronavirus Advice for Nonprofit Leaders
  By Sara Gibson, CEO, 20 Degrees. Includes tips for communicating during a crisis, strengthening financial resilience, preparing for disruptions to operations, and planning long-term in the wake of the virus.
• What Nonprofit Board Members Should Be Doing Right Now to Address the COVID-19 Situation.
  By Joy Folkedal and Lindsay Tallman, BoardSource Blog. Trustees should provide steady leadership that is adaptive and supports the CEO.
• Nonprofit Resources for Remote Work During the Covid-19 Outbreak
  Published by Tech Soup. Includes options that can be implemented relatively quickly, with little or no external tech support to keep communication flowing and foster collaboration while staff members work remotely.
• Understanding Videoconferencing Tools Available to Your Nonprofit
  Published by Tech Soup. Includes a side-by-side comparison of different tools.
• No Business Continuity Plan? Take These 4 Steps
  The Nonprofit Risk Management Center offers a simple "quick-start framework" to use when your nonprofit faces an interruption to its operations.
• Tips for Deciding Whether to Hold or Cancel a Fundraising Event
  By Swaim Strategies. Advice on how to assess the risks of holding an event, important messages to convey clearly, and how to decide whether to cancel or reschedule.
• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan Template
  A sample business continuity and disaster recovery plan to help nonprofits manage a disruption in operations. Provided by Nonprofit New York and temporarily free to non-members.
• How Nonprofits & Foundations Can Use Scenario Planning to Prepare for Coronavirus
  By Trista Harris. Advice for charities and foundations. Includes a simple tool for conducting a brainstorming session about possible future challenges and opportunities.
• Cornonavirus Special: Three Tips on Crisis Management for Nonprofit Leaders
  By Alex Counts. Includes advice on managing your trustee relationships in a crisis.
  
• 8 Steps for Successful Fundraising During the Coronavirus Crisis
  Coronavirus is spreading. The economy is declining. And there’s continued political turmoil. Any one of these three issues could be viewed as a recipe for disaster in terms of your fundraising. And here we are… experiencing all three at once. Your donors are anxious. Your board members are freaking out. It’s up to you to lead the way. So what’s a fundraiser to do?
  
• The Nonprofit Community Confronts the Coronavirus - National Council of Nonprofits
  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.
  
• Coronavirus 1 - How To Respond To The Immediate Threat
  Charity Toolkit & Resources
  
• Market Drops and Crisis: Fundraising Lessons and Your Lighthouse
  By John Pepperdine, principal, Making Philanthropy Work Strategies. Lessons from the Great Recession and the terrorism attacks of 2001 to inform your major-gift strategies in a time of crisis.
  
• HR Resources for Responding to Covid-19
  Advice from NonprofitHR, including immediate steps to take to safeguard your workforce now and beyond the COVID-19 season, plus free town hall: March 30 Town Hall on developing remote workforce policies
  
• 4 Ways to Engage Major Donors During the Covid-19 Crisis
  Tips for building and maintaining strong relationships with big donors when face-to-face interactions are not appropriate
  
• How Charities Can Make Working From Home Work for Everyone
  Nonprofit leaders who have virtual offices share advice such as: establish guidelines, apply rules consistently, respect boundaries, adapt to technology as it develops, stay flexible, and more.
  
• 10 Tips for a Better Crisis Communications Strategy
  Nonprofit and crisis experts offer guidance on how to communicate effectively during a crisis.
• Communicating in a Crisis
  How to put people and plans in place ahead of time so you can respond swiftly in the event of a natural disaster, tragedy, or bruising investigation.
• 3 Ways to Keep Your Workplace Clean During the Coronavirus - SHRM
  Coronavirus cases have hit the U.S., and employers and employees alike are concerned about how the virus may spread through the workplace.
• A Good Time to Get Good at Virtual Meetings
  By Kristen Grimm, president of Spitfire. 12 tips for convening effective virtual meetings.
  
• CASE
  How to Make the Most out of Working From Home

Information Landing pages

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Landing Page
  
• COVID-19 Coronavirus Information
  St. Louis, MO COVID-19 Landing Page
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak – World Health Organization
  World Health Organization COVID-19 Landing Page
• Updates of COVID-19 Coronavirus and How to Respond – Center for Disaster Philanthropy
  Center for Disaster Philanthropy COVID-19 Landing Page
• Candid.
  Philanthropy's response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
  

Resources & Emergency Funds

• Coronavirus and COVID-19 Funds
  Giving Compass compiled a list of vetted funds that are addressing immediate and long-terms needs stemming from the Covid-19 crisis.
  
• Let's Build Hope
  Let’s Build Hope (www.lbh-stl.com) is offering up to 40 hours of free phone consulting to nonprofits in the coming 30 days. If you are struggling with how to manage coronavirus challenges around events, major gifts, stewardship, etc., please call us at (314) 716-2496. One hour per each nonprofit, please.
• COVID-19 Regional Response Fund.
  This is a robust collaboration of philanthropic-minded organizations which we expect to grow and include many more businesses organizations, for‑profit and nonprofit alike, seeking to provide a united impactful response to the short‑term and long‑term hardships that have been and will continue to be experienced by our neighbors in the St. Louis region
  
• Frequently updated compilation of COVID-19 Fundraising Advice - Bloomerang
  Bloomerang has compiled a library of crisis fundraising advice, articles, opinions, webinars, videos and resources in the wake of the new coronavirus and its impact on the nonprofit sector.
  
• COVID-19 Resource List
  Curated by Beth Kanter, Janet Fouts, Linda Baker, Sarah Goddard, Susan Tenby, Wendy Harman, Meico Marquette Whitlock, Barbara O’Reilly. Includes information on nonprofit resources, philanthropic response, and health advice. Share with others with #NPCOVID19 hashtag.
• Information on COVID-19
  During times of crisis, one of our most valuable resources is good information — particularly in a digital world filled with too much noise. In an effort to help you manage your information intake so that you can spend more time focusing on your community (and your own health), we’ve curated a list of resources and articles that we hope you’ll find helpful.
• Interim Guidance for Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus 2019 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.
  
• Coronavirus Communications Triage Kit - The Communications Network
  Coronavirus Crisis Comms Triage Kit — to share and crowdsource best practices, resources, and examples of effective crisis comms from foundations and nonprofits covering many of the tasks you’re likely attending to.
• $349 Billion In Forgivable Paycheck Protection Loans For Nonprofits
  The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Recovery (CARES) Act includes $349 billion in forgivable loans for nonprofits and small businesses. The main purpose is to help organizations keep their employees on the payroll between now and the end of June 2020. Hence, the name of the program: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The application window opens on Friday, April 3.

Videos & Webinars

• How to protect yourself against COVID-19 (90-second video) – World Health Organization
  WHO - COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus introduced to humans for the first time.
• Building an Online Ambassador Program
  The digital revolution has created a new and exciting opportunity for alumni, student and parent volunteers to get involved and support their school's fundraising efforts. Using social media and email, online ambassadors help to spread the word and create excitement around giving days and other special initiatives while reminding people about the importance of philanthropy throughout the year. Developing an online ambassador program doesn't require a lot of time or resources, but it can have a major impact on your fundraising efforts.
• Overcoming Obstacles in Fundraising
  Whether you're a gift officer or a phonathon caller facing rejection after a solicitation or your institution is simply dealing with a public relations challenge, it's important to understand how these predicaments may impact your overall fundraising efforts. Knowing how to respond when challenges arise and appreciating when it is (or isn't) okay to conduct solicitations can have a lasting impact on your advancement efforts.
  
  Register now for your entire team to learn how to overcome obstacles in fundraising.
  
  This recording is eligible for 1.25 points of CFRE credit.
  
• Soliciting Gifts Over the Phone
  Whether you’re a student caller, a gift officer, or a volunteer, phone calls are still one of the most efficient and effective ways to solicit a gift. But there are a lot of factors that distinguish a successful call from an unsuccessful one. Being prepared and having a structured plan before you pick up the phone will not only lead to a more relaxed and flowing conversation, it will also increase your likelihood of success.
  
  Register now for your entire team to learn how to successfully solicit gifts over the phone.
  
  This webinar is eligible for 1.25 points of CFRE credit.
• Virtual Gift Officers
  When it comes to developing relationships with donors, nothing beats a face-to-face meeting. Direct engagement can not only drive increased support, but it can also provide valuable insight to inform prospect identification and qualification. But small teams, limited budgets, and geography often prevent advancement programs from reaching some of their most important supporters in person. One way to address these challenges is to empower gift officers to focus on phone and email engagement, allowing for personal interactions that meet organizational capability while ensuring that donors remain connected with your institution.
  
  Register now for your entire team to learn how to develop a virtual gift officer program for your annual fund.
  
  This webinar is eligible for 1.25 points of CFRE credit.
• Nonprofit Fundraising Events during Coronavirus - Virtual? Cancel? Postpone?
  A video by charity auctioneer Abra Annes who offers advice on what to consider and how to make the call to cancel your fundraising event.
  
• Grantspace
  Live Training and Special Events
  In-person or online, learn from our training experts and your peers in the field.
  
• Ongoing Meeting About COVID-19 Nonprofit Impact
  Please email us at [email protected] to be added to the information portal.
• CCS Fundraising: Strategies during COVID-19
  As the COVID-19 crisis affects our personal and professional lives, CCS Fundraising is here to support you. Below you will find insights that every nonprofit organization can use to face these unprecedented, challenging times. As fundraising experts, we know that the principles and best practices of fundraising don’t change, but sometimes we must find new ways to implement them.
  

Advocacy

• Emergency Aid for Nonprofit Organizations Amidst COVID-19
  The charitable sector is on the front lines of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, but risks catastrophic damage from evaporating revenue, new demands, and major disruptions in charitable giving. Tell your legislators that Congress must provide emergency aid to nonprofit organizations by expanding charitable giving and providing organizations with grants, loans, and tax credits.

How to Give

• Give STL Day
  Nonprofit budgets are especially tight these days, with many having to cancel critical fundraising events and revenue-generating programming because of the coronavirus pandemic. Your support now can help your favorite nonprofit(s) power through this difficult period, which can include a heightened demand for services, despite decreases in staff and volunteer capacity.
• Giving Tuesday Now
  #GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 –  in addition to the regularly scheduled Dec 1, 2020 #GivingTuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.