12 Things Your Nonprofit Can Do Right Now During COVID-19

Now is the time to get creative. Are you a nimble nonprofit leader? Consider these 12 ideas for ways you can pivot right now in these crazy times.

1)   Raising money now is essential. Some people will think this is tone-deaf to ask for money in a time of crisis or to ask for money for anything that isn’t a vital need, but people with those attitudes have never had to pay their nonprofit staff, right? Do a gut check, lean in and find a way to keep raising funds. You will need these funds when the economy continues to struggle this summer and fall. I am a fan of Facebook Fundraisers because they allow you to raise fast unrestricted money from the networks of your followers, friends, board members, and activists. People want to feel connected and useful, and in this crisis, they can’t exactly drive anywhere and pitch in with their bare hands. Offer people a chance to do good.

2)   Cut costs. The current pandemic may mean reduced donations but it also may mean reduced expenses. Can your organization become a fully virtual team and forgo office space? Can you pivot away from galas and small events for the spring and instead focus on cheaper forms of fundraising, like major donor asks? Call landlords and ask if they can spread the rent for the next 90 days across the next 12 months or two years.

3)   Go digital. In most parts of the country people are already working from home. It doesn’t mean the work has to stop. Yes, all your meetings can be held digitally. Consider doing virtual fundraisers. I just attended a happy hour for a political candidate who charged $25 and tons of people were able to join from around the country, which actually expanded his attendance. Can your organization offer virtual “office hours” to handle requests one-on-one or in small groups? What else can you do digitally?

4)   Boost the morale of your staff: Things may seem bleak but now is a time to boost morale with your staff. As mentioned, letting workers adjust their hours or letting them fully work from home after the pandemic is over, may make people happier and less stressed. You also will need to adjust how you keep people connected, but this is a decision that can be a silver lining. No more commuting or pressure to be at work on time. No more putting your life at risk on the roads. Consider this option. I specifically told my staff “Things are crazy right now. We are all feeling COVID in different ways. Extroverts feel it one way. Parents feel it another way. Any of us with older people in our family or essential workers in harm’s way are feeling it another way. It is all jarring and weird. I don’t need you at peek productivity right now. I need you to practice self-care.” This signal alone can mean the difference between retaining a stressed-out employee or losing them.

5)   Shore up your power base: Now is the time to shore up the support of your volunteers, activists, evangelists, donors, chapter leaders and other stakeholders. A Zoom appreciation happy hour? Hand-written notes telling them how much you appreciate all of them and that you’ll need them (and two friends) to join the organization when this is all over.

Read the rest of the list at my blog: https://nonprofitfixer.com/nonprofit-fixer-blog/2020/4/24/12-things-your-nonprofit-can-do-right-now-during-covid-19