A Snapshot of US Nonprofits in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
2020 has been a challenging year for everyone. We know that supporters of the Who Is Carter Foundation are generous individuals and companies who hold a number of charitable causes close to your hearts, so we wanted to provide you with a snapshot of the nonprofit landscape in 2020.
The impact:
83% of large and mid-size nonprofits have seen a decrease in revenue.
71% of large and mid-size nonprofits have had to reduce their available services, as compared to the same time period in 2019.
89% of nonprofits cancelled their large fundraising events within the first 2 months of the pandemic.
One study by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy projects that if the pandemic triggers a recession similar to the one that occurred in 2007-2009, charitable giving will decrease by 10.65%.
It may take nonprofits a long time to recover: One researcher who studied the financial health of nonprofits following Hurricane Katrina found that some took up to 8 years to regain their pre-Katrina financial health.
And while government and philanthropic programs are making emergency funds available to nonprofits so they can keep their operations open, Luann Feehan of Kansas City’s Nonprofit Connect has observed a disparity between the funds granted to smaller organizations versus what their larger counterparts are receiving: “They’re not getting the same doors open, and they’re not getting the same funding that other organizations are achieving.”
The upside:
Historically, philanthropy tends to step up during difficult times, and this season is no different: In recent months, over 700 grantmaking foundations have pledged to loosen or eliminate restrictions on their grants, making funds more accessible to nonprofits in need.
A survey by Fidelity Charitable shows that 25% of individual donors plan to increase their giving in response to the Pandemic.
Corporations have increased their support in the wake of COVID-19, giving millions of dollars to nonprofit efforts.
By including support for nonprofits in the CARES act, the U.S. government is recognizing the role that philanthropy plays in helping Americans recover from this disaster.
What this snapshot means to you:
The CARES act has also created tax incentives for individuals and companies to give to charity in 2020; read this blog post for more information on the incentives that may be available to you.
By supporting the Who Is Carter Foundation, you’re giving to a nonprofit that has not seen a disruption in services to families in need. To put this in perspective, 71% of nonprofits nationwide have had to reduce their services to the people they support as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s Who Is Carter Gala, originally scheduled for October 23, has been postponed to March 19, 2021. Mark your calendar, and check the Gala webpage for updates in the weeks to come. We look forward to seeing you at a safe, fun, in-person event!
In-person volunteer opportunities have become more difficult to coordinate during the Pandemic. Who Is Carter is thankful to be able to offer several remote volunteer opportunities--ones that can easily be accomplished from the comfort and safety of home and provide support to The Brain Possible and the March 19 Gala. For more details on these opportunities, contact Allison Murray, Operations Director: allison@whoiscarter.org.
You can provide financial support to the Who Is Carter Foundation in a fun, creative way--by shopping with The Brain Possible! Shop the website’s catalog of products--products that are safe, nontoxic, and promote the health and development of children with special needs (but are a great addition to any household!). Order birthday and Christmas gifts today; 100% of the profit from all product sales benefit the Who Is Carter Foundation.
Keep Who Is Carter in mind as you plan your charitable giving budget for the remainder of 2020: Plan to participate in Giving Tuesday (December 1) by making a donation to Who Is Carter, host a Facebook fundraiser to get your friends involved, or plan to make a year-end gift.
Despite the challenges this year has brought, you have provided unwavering support in your contributions of time, talent, and finances. Many of you have even brainstormed creative ideas to help us address these challenges. Because of you, families continue to receive the hope and support they need through The Brain Possible website and podcast, and even a new book, More Than a Diagnosis. We can’t thank you enough for the incredible support you have shown the Who Is Carter Foundation in 2020.
Sources:
“A Call to Action: Philanthropy’s Commitment During COVID-19,” Council on Foundations
“Corporations Ramp Up Support for COVID-19 Response Efforts (March 16-31, 2020)”, Candid
“COVID-19 and philanthropy: How donor behaviors are shifting amid pandemic,” Fidelity Charitable
“COVID-19, philanthropy, public policy, and research on giving,” Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
“A focus on support for those who support our community,” Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
“How COVID-19 May Affect Nonprofits (And What They Can Do About it),” NC State University News
“The Impact of COVID-19 on Large and Mid-Sized Nonprofits,” Independent Sector
“Most Nonprofits Worldwide Report Negative Impacts of COVID-19,” Candid