Whether you are guiding staff about travel or remote work arrangements, wondering what other groups are doing in response to Covid-19, fielding donors’ questions about your nonprofit’s response or the impact on planned events, or worrying that the virus will dampen your fundraising, it’s a lot to handle.
To help you cope, here are a few online resources we’ve collected to save you time, help you plan swiftly, and keep you focused on your most pressing priorities.
This collection will be updated as more resources become available, so check back here as needs arise. If you know of a resource we should include, please share it with me.
Chronicle Collections
Chronicle Advice on How to Respond to Covid-19
Chronicle resources to help your nonprofit adapt its policies and operations, keep donors close despite social distancing, and continue serving the community during difficult times.
Webinars and Other Events to Help You Deal With Covid-19
Our weekly listing of free or low-cost online sessions to help you manage the crisis.
Emergency Funds
Briefing on Emergency Corona Virus funding for 501(c)(3) Nonprofits.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosts an online briefing on Monday, March 30, at 12:30 Eastern on how nonprofits can benefit from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and what what to expect regarding its implementation.
Coronavirus and Covid-19 Funds
Giving Compass compiled a list of vetted funds that are addressing immediate and long-terms needs stemming from the Covid-19 crisis.
How to Manage, Lead, and Communicate
Covid-19, the Economy, and the Nonprofit World - Recording now available
Join the Chronicle of Philanthropy and our expert guests for a virtual forum on Thursday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern as Chronicle editor Stacy Palmer is joined by a panel of nonprofit leaders to discuss how charities, foundations, and donors are responding to the emergency and adapting to the new normal.
The Communications Network Listserv
An online forum recently started for nonprofit communications professionals to ask questions, share answers, and provide support to one another. It is an open-to-anyone Google group to help you share and stay informed through threaded discussions
ComNetwork COVID-19 Virtual Roundtable: Leadership Communications with Joanne Krell + Your Questions
A conversation with the founding partner at Defy Communications and former Vice President of Communications at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on Wednesday, March 25 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Discussion includes: why strong internal communications are crucial and what leaders should and should not be doing, what leaders should be communicating and how.
Leading During a Pandemic-Recording now available
A free online town hall meeting hosted by Independent Sector on Friday, March 20 at 2 p.m. Eastern to offer advice on how to make sound decisions for “staff, volunteers, and the communities we serve.” Designed for heads of organizations and top executives, but all are welcome.
Coronavirus Advice for Nonprofit Leaders
By Sara Gibson, CEO, 20 Degrees. Includes tips for communicating during a crisis, strengthening financial resilience, preparing for disruptions to operations, and planning long-term in the wake of the virus.
Three Quick Tips on Crisis Management for Nonprofit Leaders
By Alex Counts. Includes advice on managing your trustee relationships in a crisis.
How to Use Scenario Planning to Prepare for Covid-19
By Trista Harris. Advice for charities and foundations. Includes a simple tool for conducting a brainstorming session about possible future challenges and opportunities.
Business Continuity Plan Template
A sample business continuity and disaster recovery plan to help nonprofits manage a disruption in operations. Provided by Nonprofit New York and temporarily free to non-members.
No Business Continuity Plan? Take These 4 Steps
The Nonprofit Risk Management Center offers a simple “quick-start framework” to use when your nonprofit faces an interruption to its operations.
HR Resources for Responding to Covid-19
Advice from NonprofitHR, including immediate steps to take to safeguard your workforce now and beyond the COVID-19 season, plus three free town halls:
- March 16 Town Hall on Covid-19 preparation
- March 23 Town Hall on Employee Benefits (sick leave, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family-First Covid Response Act)
- March 30 Town Hall on developing remote workforce policies
What Nonprofit Board Members Should Be Doing Right Now to Address the COVID-19 Situation
By Joy Folkedal and Lindsay Tallman, BoardSource Blog. Trustees should provide steady leadership that is adaptive and supports the CEO.
Chronicle Resources
Communicating in a Crisis
How to put people and plans in place ahead of time so you can respond swiftly in the event of a natural disaster, tragedy, or bruising investigation.
What To Do When Your Cause Is in the Spotlight: Lessons From the Amazon Fires
Rainforest-preservation and indigenous-rights groups saw a spike in donations and interest when fires in Brazil drew the world’s attention. What can your nonprofit learn from their experience?
10 Tips for a Better Crisis Communications Strategy
Nonprofit and crisis experts offer guidance on how to communicate effectively during a crisis.
How Charities Can Make Working From Home Work for Everyone
Nonprofit leaders who have virtual offices share advice such as: establish guidelines, apply rules consistently, respect boundaries, adapt to technology as it develops, stay flexible, and more.
Hard Times, Hard Decisions: 7 Things Small and Midsize Charities Should Do When a Recession Looms
With economists warning of an economic downturn, nonprofits and experts talk about what charities should do now to weather the storm.
Tips for Leading Your Team Through Stressful Times
Experts advise facing sources of stress head on and communicating frequently with colleagues about how you plan to address them.
Chronicle Advice on How to Respond to Covid-19
Chronicle resources to help your nonprofit adapt its policies and operations, keep donors close despite social distancing, and continue serving the community during difficult times.
Fundraising
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resource Guide
Association of Fundraising Professionals. A collection of curated resources offering guidance on fundraising, donor communications and more during a time when in-person interaction is likely non-existent.
Events
Virtual Gala Webinar-Recording Now Available
Free session presented by Washington Performing Arts on Friday, March 20, 1 p.m. Eastern. An interactive discussion on how the group transformed a 600-person live event into a virtual livestream in just three days.
Nonprofit Fundraising Events during Coronavirus - Virtual? Cancel? Postpone?
A video by charity auctioneer Abra Annes who offers advice on what to consider and how to make the call to cancel your fundraising event. Thanks to @AlexCounts for the recommendation.
Tips for Deciding Whether to Hold or Cancel a Fundraising Event
By Swaim Strategies. Advice on how to assess the risks of holding an event, important messages to convey clearly, and how to decide whether to cancel or reschedule.
Strategy
Will the Coronavirus Impact Giving?
By Rick Dunham, CEO, Dunham+Company. A long-term perspective on the events we are experiencing right now.
Market Drops and Crisis: Fundraising Lessons and Your Lighthouse
By John Pepperdine, principal, Making Philanthropy Work Strategies. Lessons from the Great Recession and the terrorism attacks of 2001 to inform your major-gift strategies in a time of crisis.
Chronicle Resources
Fundraising During the Corona Outbreak: Answers to 5 Pressing Questions
Trying to decide if you should to cancel an event? Wondering what to say to donors, how to stay connected, or whether to ask for money? Here’s advice to guide you.
4 Ways to Engage Major Donors During the Covid-19 Crisis
Tips for building and maintaining strong relationships with big donors when face-to-face interactions are not appropriate
5 Ways to Raise Money When Donors Are Consumed by Nonstop News
Don’t give up just because your cause isn’t the topic of the moment.
Why Fundraisers Should Take the Long View
Being patient and keeping all donors informed can result in big rewards.
Technology Solutions and Remote Work
Virtual Team Building Activities & Games
Hassan Osman, who works remotely and writes a blog called the Couch Manager, offers three activities you can use as team-building exercises when everyone is working from home.
Tips for Virtual “Onboarding”
The Aspen Leadership Group offers guidance on how to conduct a new-hire orientation through video-conferencing and explains which staff members to involve and what their roles should be.
A Good Time to Get Good at Virtual Meetings
By Kristen Grimm, president of Spitfire. 12 tips for convening effective virtual meetings. Thanks to Nancy Jones @ThePossProj for the recommendation.
Nonprofit Resources for Remote Work During the Covid-19 Outbreak
Published by Tech Soup. Includes options that can be implemented relatively quickly, with little or no external tech support to keep communication flowing and foster collaboration while staff members work remotely.
Understanding Videoconferencing Tools Available to Your Nonprofit
Published by Tech Soup. Includes a side-by-side comparison of different tools.
Self-Care
Working Remotely During COVID-19:Your Mental Health & Well-Being
Published by the American Psychiatric Association. Offers tips for maintaining physical and mential health durign the crisis, ways managers and HR can help employees, and links to reliable sources of information and assistance.
Chronicle Resources
Staying Healthy While Doing Good: Managing Stress in a Nonprofit Job
Tips for being productive at the office while preserving work-life balance.
Crowd-Sourced Collection
COVID-19 Resource List
Curated by Beth Kanter, Janet Fouts, Linda Baker, Sarah Goddard, Susan Tenby, Wendy Harman, Meico Marquette Whitlock, Barbara O’Reilly. Includes information on nonprofit resources, philanthropic response, and health advice. Share with others with #NPCOVID19 hashtag.
