If you are anything like me, you are feeling overwhelmed as to how to financially support our fellow neighbors along with the businesses and organizations that make our community a viable and enjoyable place to live. We often think of nonprofits serving vulnerable populations but what about arts groups? How about agencies that maintain and showcase our history? How about the local restaurant or the small business that carries just the right gift?
While I am seeing philanthropy starting to stir into action through emergency funds to grantees or dollars for hourly workers of sports venues that are sitting empty, I am also seeing nonprofits forced to turn to banks for lines of credit to hopefully see them through these times.
Over the next several weeks I will highlight examples of philanthropy taking positive action along with nonprofits creatively keeping the lights on. We are already seeing restaurants adapt through take home orders and deliveries and just yesterday I had my first conversation with an agency about how they could turn their upcoming Celebration of Mothers into a virtual fundraising event.
I am convinced we will emerge from these days stronger and more resilient. That our families will be more tightly bonded and we will see the positive side of neighbors helping neighbors. My porch has become a second office. From this perch I am seeing an uptick in people in taking breaks from their day by taking themselves and their dogs for strolls and taking time to chat with neighbors (from a safe distance). I am hopeful this continues.
In the meantime, stay safe. I welcome you sharing your own examples of philanthropy, people, and nonprofits doing good.
To start us off - here is an article from the March 19 Chronicle of Philanthropy that talks about the impact of COVID-19 on arts groups and a few examples of philanthropy developing emergency funding.