Beyond COVID-19

As with many of us, I am trying to figure out where this COVID-19 experience will take us. So, I have been looking to other experts in this unique industry to help me understand what’s happening and where do we go from here.

Despite the health concerns, the mood is generally reflective. I think it is inbuilt within us fundraisers to try to look for the positives and the opportunities in any situation.

The European Fundraising Association (EFA) wrote an article last week on “What COVID-19 means for charity fundraising”. Good question. Within the article, they talk about how the imposed restrictions have meant no public fundraising activities including face to face and large events. This has caused huge problems for many organizations whose fundraising income is annually supplemented by events such as The London Marathon or Alpe d’Huzes.

However, we’re a resourceful bunch and many charities have been quick to evaluate the situation and pivot. Across Europe charities have been forced to look at alternative digital channels for working, video conferencing for training and webinars and have turned to digital for their fundraising.

Howard Lake wrote in UK Fundraising back in March that:

“your website presence online is rapidly becoming your main and most important presence to your supporters and the public”. He goes on to say that for “arts, heritage and cultural organisations that have to close temporarily your digital presence become your only presence”.

He has a point.

Out of bad often we can often learn some good, and with this global pandemic, a sense of community in each country is being re-defined. In the UK a plea to recruit 250,000 people resulted in 750,000 signings up to help with food and medicine deliveries. Figures are yet to be released about how much globally has been fundraised to help various charities with their corona related causes, but it is certain to reach into the millions.

It is also certain that whilst the focus is on helping those directly on the front line of the virus, others will be left behind and the connection between their importance helping with the pandemic will be lost in the degrees of separation. For example, disabled people or the elderly who attend day centers now not getting daily contact are now subject to the effects of loneliness. The children who receive free school meals who will now not only have a gap in their education but from hunger and malnutrition. Also, the families who are the victims of domestic abuse now having no respite as they can’t leave the house. The organizations and charities that work with these vulnerable groups are also affected by this terrible situation but are at the peril of being forgotten about due to not being seen to be directly on the ‘front line’.

What does the future hold when we come out of the ‘other side’? Who really knows? For now, I would say we need to weather the storm but be open to accepting of the brave new world that may lay beyond. We are approaching a new era and it would be foolish for any one of us to press re-set and default back to the way things were BC (before Corona). Be open, be prepared for the new and be optimistic as in these uncertain times what else can you do?

Stay safe, keep inside and keep going for the sake of all of those who can’t.

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