Like many of you, our team has been closely monitoring the developing situation around the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is focused on how we can best support our donor and nonprofit partners during this time. We know that COVID-19 has already had an impact on our nonprofit partners, with many needing to close offices, re-think programming, cancel crucial fundraising and/or revenue-generating events, and consider staff furloughs and layoffs. We know it’s had a direct impact on our communities and us as individuals, as well. So, what can we as donors do to support nonprofits’ crucial work now and later? Here are three thoughts we have for being a strong community partner during this time.
1) Work together! Donor-nonprofit relationships make all the difference.
In the words of the Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm, “…we are hopeful we can reduce the impacts of this outbreak by working together. All Minnesotans share the risks and the responsibilities now.”
At Charities Review Council, we believe in the power of strong donor-nonprofit relationships, and we know that these relationships will make all the difference during this time. So, as you’re considering what you can do to support your community and local nonprofit partners, consider reaching out to the nonprofits you’re already invested in to identify their needs during this time. This will look different for every individual and every organization, but a quick phone call or email will help narrow in on ways you can get involved right now.
TIP: You can find contact information for Meets Standards® Nonprofits online at SmartGivers.org. Simply click on the organization you’re wanting to learn more about and you’ll see contact information in the top right-hand corner.
For more tips on what you can do now to support local nonprofits, check out the Star Tribune’s recent article, “How to lend a helping hand to charities during the COVID-19 crisis.”
2) Make online donations to Meets Standards® Nonprofits.
Financial resources will be increasingly important for nonprofits during this pandemic. So, we’re challenging ourselves and our donor partners to not only continue usual charitable giving but to also consider giving additionally, what you can, to Meets Standards® nonprofits who are serving our most vulnerable populations.
Think about the local nonprofits serving in areas of housing, homelessness, healthcare, food support, mental health, domestic violence, and care for seniors. Already, we’re seeing an increase in the need for these services and that will continue even after this is contained. Nonprofits will need quick, flexible and unrestricted, online gifts to address these community needs.
TIP: You can make online donations to Meets Standards® Nonprofits at SmartGivers.org. Simply click on the organization you’re wanting to donate to and you’ll see a “Donate to Organization” button. 
3) Act now!
“All of us benefit more from nonprofits’ work than we’ll ever know. The challenge is that nonprofit work is often like air: people take it for granted because we do not see it and we don’t take much time to think about it until it is no longer there.” – Vu Le
These are unprecedented times that call for unprecedented community support and generosity. As donors, we need to act now to ensure that nonprofits can help us through this crisis and are well-positioned to serve us into the future. With donors and nonprofits working together, we can lessen the impact of COVID-19 on individuals, households, and our community as a whole.
Do you have a giving question you’d like answered? Let us know at info@smartgivers.org.
