As the worldwide spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) evolves, philanthropy can play an important role in helping to mitigate the short- and long-term implications of this crisis at home and abroad. Those of us tapped into the social sector are trying to quickly determine how we can contribute to the response and support community preparedness.
While we work to keep ourselves and our families safe, we all care deeply about the people most vulnerable to the spread of this disease, including those who are at highest risk of infection; those who would be or already are severely affected by social isolation or quarantine; or those who may be disproportionately impacted by the spread of coronavirus due to lack of paid sick leave, health care, access to shelter and other resources, or because they live in places that lack the infrastructure necessary to properly prepare for this pandemic. In addition, nonprofits of all types will be affected by the heightened needs of the communities they serve, additional and unexpected costs of remote operations, and economic uncertainty and fundraising challenges that could greatly affect their future.
The situation is changing daily, and the philanthropic community continues to create resources to guide us in responding effectively. Here are some resources to explore:
- Candid’s update on how philanthropy is responding to COVID-19 around the world
- The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s overview of the crisis, including critical needs for funders to consider
- Council on Foundations’ COVID-19 Resource Hub, including updates on the coronavirus outbreak and links to additional resources
We are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds to identify the roles philanthropy can play now and into the future, and to provide additional resources and updates as useful.
Please reach out to anyone on our team to explore opportunities to help, share other resources, or discuss any concerns or questions you might have.
