In the face of COVID-19, efforts to “flatten the curve” have changed the way city nonprofits provide vital services and stay in business. Many had to shift gears and continue their work while dealing with dire circumstances and lost revenues. But even in good times, our vast nonprofit sector needs help with operations, including fundraising, building a diverse board and staff, and technological infrastructure.
A recent Trust partnership with Robin Hood and UJA-Federation of New York provided more than $500,000 for organizations helping other groups meet today’s unprecedented challenges.
Lawyers Alliance of New York is providing access to pro bono attorneys and staff so nonprofits can find answers to COVID-19 related questions regarding remote working, changing personnel policies, and more. As the pandemic strains finances, charities need assistance with questions about mergers, lease agreements, and changes to bylaws.
The Support Center for Nonprofit Management is sending experienced leaders to nonprofits to provide mentoring and coaching. It draws from a pool of former executives with many years of nonprofit management experience to help steer organizations through the various challenges of the crisis.
The partnership is also enlisting Cause Effective, Community Resource Exchange, OperationsInc, and Nonprofit Finance Fund.
“The Trust has always been committed to building the capacity of nonprofits so they can more fully achieve their goals,” said Patricia Swann, The Trust’s senior program officer overseeing this work. “The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly amplified this need. Most nonprofits function with low overhead. When a sudden crisis hits, they have very little flexibility in how they can spend money to respond. Our initiative with Robin Hood and UJA gives them free access to experts that can help them adapt their operations in response to the pandemic and its aftermath.”