COVID-19

The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has put the country, including the philanthropic sector, into uncharted territory. To help our members respond during this challenging time, we’ve compiled the following resources to help your organization respond and operate effectively.

Staying Connected
Rapid Response Funds
Resources for Foundations
Virtual Opportunities

Staying Connected

SECF members looking to ask questions, share ideas and brainstorm can take advantage of our Listserv platform to quickly reach out to colleagues. Our active lists are provided below – if you are not able to send a message to a list you believe you should be on, contact Director of Research & Data Stephen Sherman at stephen@secf.org. We are currently evaluating our Listserv offerings and plan to launch others in the days ahead – please keep an eye on this space for updates!

CEOs and Executive Directors – ceos@lists.secf.org
Community Foundations and Grantmaking Public Charities – communityfnds@lists.secf.org
Corporate Foundations and Giving Programs – corporate@lists.secf.org
Family Foundations and Philanthropic Individuals – familyfnd@lists.secf.org
Health Legacy Foundations – healthlegacy@lists.secf.org
Hull Fellows Alumni – hull@lists.secf.org
Independent and Operating Foundations – independent@lists.secf.org
Atlanta Corporate Donors – acd@lists.secf.org
Georgia COVID-19 Listserv – covid19ga@lists.secf.org

While our staff is working remotely, we have taken steps that allow us to remain connected to one another and to all of you. We can still be reached by email and via phone at (404) 524-0911.

Rapid Response Funds

Dozens of community foundations throughout the region have launched rapid response funds to support nonprofits and the people they serve during the outbreak. Many of these funds specifically target nonprofits that support marginalized populations who will be most affected by the health and economic impacts of this crisis. These funds are accepting contributions from individuals, other foundations and corporate giving programs.

National

Alabama

Arkansas

Florida

Georgia

Kentucky

Louisiana

Mississippi

North Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia

Resources for Foundations

Staying Updated:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center provides the latest statistics on the pandemic and serves as a resource to help advance the understanding of the virus, inform the public, and brief policymakers in order to guide a response, improve care, and save lives.
The National Governors Association tracks information on the status of COVID-19 in the United States and abroad, and what actions state governments have taken to address the pandemic, such as school closures and stay-at-home orders.
The Kaiser Family Foundation has created a dashboard tracking state-level data on COVID-19 cases and deaths and policy actions in response to the pandemic.

Foundations and Philanthropy’s Response:
National Resources:

Candid is tracking philanthropy's response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including foundation commitments, grants awarded, and respond funds created to address the pandemic.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy provides a recording of its recent webinar, COVID-19 Coronavirus: How Philanthropy Can Respond, which featured the CDC Foundation, Give2Asia, and National Center for Disaster Preparedness. CDP’s Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is the authoritative guide for the philanthropic community in responding to a crisis.
The Council on Foundations has a list of current Resources for Responding to COVID-19. Watch a recording of COF’s Funder to Funder Call: Sharing Approaches to COVID-19 Community Response to discuss the emerging challenges of the coronavirus and philanthropy’s response. COF also provides relevant information in its Disaster Grantmaking Resources, which provide general advice and ideas for funders on how to respond to disasters.
The National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) has created a list of national/international response funds as well as an interactive map of local funds established to aid in response and recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NCFP has also released a new report, Leadership in Difficult Times: Guidance for Donors and Giving Families, that provides resources and inspiration from giving families, funders, and philanthropy organizations for short-term responses to the COVID-19 and economic crises.
Independent Sector is providing regular updates on legislative developments affecting the nonprofit sector, including the implications of the recently-passed CARES Act and other stimulus packages.
The National Committee for Response Philanthropy has compiled a resource page with links to rapid response funds, data and statistics on the impact of the pandemic, highlights of funder responses to the crisis, and advice for grantmakers on how to provide support for their communities and local organizations.
Grantmakers in Health is compiling a listing of resources specifically of interest to health funders.
The Philanthropic Initiative provides a listing of national, international, and regional resources to guide and assist philanthropic organizations in their response to the global pandemic.
Arabella Advisors offers guidance for impact investors both on how to support existing investees and identifying new opportunities during the COVID-19 crisis.
Funders for LGBTQ Issues has established a resource page specifically focused on how funders can support LGBTQ and other marginalized communities.
The Early Childhood Funders Collaborative provides a curated list of rapidly developing resources and updates for early childhood funders related to COVID-19.
The S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation has released Resilience at Work: How Nonprofits Adapt to Disruption. How Funders Can Help., which includes key principles for funders to follow in supporting the ability of grantees to survive pandemics and other disruptions.
The Surgo Foundation's COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (CCVI) identifies which communities may need the most support during the pandemic, mapping down to the Census tract level.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide organizes funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and other federal resources that can help support rural America.
Grantmakers for Education has compiled a list of COVID-19 Education Philanthropy Resources including links to rapid response funds established to provide support for educators and a compilation of tools for philanthropists, educators, and nonprofits.
In its article, Giving in the Time of COVID-19: How Foundations and Donor-Advised Funds Can Respond, Foundation Source offers tips both for supporting current grantees during the COVID-19 crisis and for supporting new relief efforts specifically related to COVID-19. Foundation Source also hosted a webinar, How Foundations Can Provide Emergency Support to Individuals, in which the presenters offered legal and practical guidance for foundations on providing funds directly to individuals in response to COVID-19.

Regional Resources:

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which serves much of the Southeast, offers guidance and strategies for partner organizations, including philanthropy, to address the COVID-19 related economic and social challenges facing low-income communities in the region in its article Tackling the Unknown Together: Community Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Blogs, Analysis Opinion, Thought Pieces:

Lauren A. Smith, FSG: COVID-19 -- Seven Things Philanthropy Can Do.
Inside Philanthropy: Philanthropy Has a Duty to Respond Quickly to the COVID-19 Outbreak. Here’s How We Can Do It.
Chronicle of Philanthropy: 6 Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover from Coronavirus Spread.
Nonprofit Quarterly: On COVID-19, the Recession, and Nonprofits: A Special Series.
The Bridgespan Group: What Philanthropy Can Do Today to Support Grantees Through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis.
Nonprofit AF: A Few Things for Nonprofits and Foundations to Consider in Light of the Coronavirus.
Sean Gibbons, Communications Network: A Simple, Low-Cost Way for Nonprofits and Foundations to Curb the Coronavirus Crisis.
Aaron Dorman, NCRP: My Favorite Funder Responses So Far to COVID-19.
Phil Buchanan, CEP: Leading an Organization Through the COVID-19 Crisis.
Dan Cardinali, Independent Sector: Why All Foundations Should Support the Guardians of the Nonprofit World Now.
Celine Coggins, Grantmakers for Education: What Philanthropy Can Do Now to Promote Education Equity After the Pandemic.
Ryan Schlegel, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: The Power And Precedent Of Countercyclical Grantmaking: What The Funders Who Gave More During The Great Recession Can Teach Philanthropy During The Covid-19 Crisis .
Melissa Oomer, Abigail Ridgway and Lauren A. Smith, FSG: How Health Foundations Can Address the Impacts of COVID-19 on Social Determinants of Health.

Responding with Equity in Mind:

Neighborhood Funders Group: Intersections of Justice in the Time of Coronavirus.
Susan Taylor Batten of ABFE urges the philanthropic community to ensure that Black-led organizations are aware of philanthropy’s response, benefit from the flexibility that foundations are currently allowing and have access to emergency funds.
The NAACP has released a resource guide, Ten Equity Implications of the Coronavirus COVID-19 Outbreak, to assist officials responsible for addressing health, economic, and other impacts, in remediating some of the issues that are disproportionately affecting communities of color.
Lori Villarosa, Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity (PRE): Using a Racial Justice Lens Now to Transform Our Future.
Funders for LGBTQ Issues offers a hub of resources and information for funders seeking to address the unique needs of LGBTQ communities in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) announced two emergency funds to help Latino organizations offset unexpected costs incurred by the rapidly-changing situation concerning Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Native Americans in Philanthropy, in partnership with the Decolonizing Wealth Project and the National Urban Indian Family Coalition, has established a rapid response fund to provide emergency support for the most vulnerable Native American families and communities impacted by COVID-19.
The United South and Eastern Tribes (USET), a nonprofit inter-Tribal organization representing 30 federally-recognized Tribal Nations, offers a resource list with a wealth of helpful information for those working with Native American communities in the Southeast U.S.
The Disability Rights Fund compiled a list of resources on responding to COVID-19 to support individuals with disabilities.
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) has published recommendations for philanthropy on how to support immigrant families and communities in the United State during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) has issued a joint statement co-signed by many national organizations decrying racial bigotry and xenophobia directed towards Asian American communities in the U.S. alongside the physical impacts of COVID-19.
The Racial Equity Tools site hosts a compilation of resources related to COVID-19 and racial equity, including analysis of the impact on under-resourced communities, resources and tools to shape response to the pandemic, resources for self-care, and links to response funds.
As the nation comes to the realization that people of color are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and its economic fallout, PolicyLink is providing commentary, principles and actions to guide an equitable response to the pandemic.
Nat Kendall-Taylor and April Callen, FrameWorks Institute: Here’s How Nonprofits Can Get Americans to Fight the Racism Laid Bare by Covid-19
Rich Besser, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Darren Walker, Ford Foundation: In Covid-19 Crisis, Philanthropy's Attention Must Focus on People With Disabilities
Keecha Harris, Nonprofit Quarterly: Will Philanthropy Stand Up for Black America?

Nonprofit Impact Surveys:
National:

La Piana Consulting provides a summary of findings from a survey of their social sector contacts, which received 433 responses, painting a picture of the current impact of COVID-19.
Americans for the Arts has created a dashboard, The Economic Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Arts and Cultural Sector, reporting on the latest results from Americans for the Arts' ongoing survey to capture coronavirus-related economic impact reports from artists, arts organizations, and arts agencies of all types, genres, sizes, and tax statuses.

Regional:

The Florida Nonprofit Alliance (FNA) and Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN) have an active flash poll to learn about the experiences of nonprofits and about the steps that they are taking in response to COVID-19.
The Nonprofit Leadership Center in Tampa surveyed leaders of nonprofits serving Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties to share how the COVID-19 crisis has initially impacted their organizations and communities, nonprofit leaders. Key findings are discussed in this blog post.
On March 19, 2020 the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida hosted a webinar with more than 150 staff members from nonprofits across Northeast Florida participating in a discussion about the impact of COVID-19 on their operations. A summary of the discussion and recording of the call are available here.
The Georgia Center for Nonprofits is conducting an ongoing survey of Georgia nonprofits on the impact of COVID-19. GCN held a town hall to discuss findings as of March 18, 2020. Slides from the presentation are available here.
The Kentucky Nonprofit Network's survey report analyzes results gathered from 420 nonprofits organizations across Kentucky and southern Indiana as of March 26, 2020. KNN has an active survey here.
North Carolina Center for Nonprofits: summary of responses from a survey of North Carolina nonprofits between March 16-23, 2020.
Together SC and the South Carolina Community Loan Fund are surveying organizations on the impacts of COVID-19 on South Carolina's nonprofit community..

Resources for Foundations/Nonprofits as Employers:

PrepareRespondServe.org (from Tech Impact & 501 Commons) offers links to technology tools and resources for redeploying staff to work remotely. Watch the recorded webinar on preparing for COVID-19 for additional tips and guidance.
Tech Impact/Idealware offers helpful reviews of software and applications for the social sector. See their page devoted to COVID-19 resources here.
TechSoup provides a range of technology services for nonprofits, including private foundations. TechSoup’s product catalog offers discounted or donated software and hardware to qualifying organizations, including refurbished PCs and laptops, networking equipment, and productivity software. See TechSoup’s collection of COVID-19 resources here.
Tech evangelist Beth Kanter of Beth’s Blog offers techniques and guidance on How To Facilitate Effective Virtual Meetings.
Nonprofit HR’s Coronavirus Digital Information Portal includes a town hall presentation template for sharing information with constituents. The page also offers best practices for organizations on preparing for remote work and ensuring a safe workplace for employees.
The National Council of Nonprofits provides tips on what to include in a remote work policy, along with links to several examples.
The Coronavirus Comms Triage Kit from the Communications Network offers best practices for crisis communications and links to a crowd-sourced collection of best practices, resources, and examples of effective messaging from foundations and nonprofits.

Resources for Reopening:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Considerations for Reopening Workplaces serve as a decision tree to assist employers in making reopening decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, with special consideration for protecting vulnerable workers. The CDC also provides guidance on cleaning and disinfecting workplaces and other shared spaces.
Reopening the Workplace: A Preliminary Guide for U.S. Employers - law firm Morgan Lewis offers detailed guidance for organizations on resuming office operations.
Work Design Magazine provides practical advice for employers on rearranging workspace to accommodate social distancing, implementing phased workday schedules, communicating safety protocols to employees, and ensuring proper sanitation of shared spaces.
In Take 10: Resume and Thrive Strategies, the Nonprofit Risk Management Center offers ten tips on resuming business operations following the easing of shelter-in-place restrictions. The article includes links to helpful resources throughout.
Cushman and Wakefield, a global real estate services firm, has created a checklist of workplace readiness essentials for building owners and employers to ensure a safe return for employees and clients.
ThinkHR offers a resource library with sample documents for employers, including a sample notice regarding face coverings for employees.

Virtual Opportunities

COVID-19: Impact on Care for Persons with Serious Illness
Presented by Grantmakers in Health
May 29 at 1:00pm (ET) / 12:00pm (CT)

Ratcheting Up Rural Response, Recovery and Resilience: Five Good Ideas for Philanthropy Right Now
Presented by Aspen Institute and United Philanthropy Forum
June 2 at 2:00pm (ET) / 1:00pm (CT)

Collective Impact: Where is it now?
Presented by National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers
June 9 at 12:00pm (ET) / 11:00am (CT)

Grantmaking Strategies for Family Funders: Supporting Resiliency and Recovery
Presented by National Center for Family Philanthropy
June 9 at 12:00pm (ET) / 11:00am (CT)

Grantmaking to Support Children and Older Adults
Presented by Center for Disaster Philanthropy
June 9 at 2:00pm (ET)

Grantmaking Strategies for Family Funders: Supporting Resiliency and Recovery
Presented by National Center for Family Philanthropy
June 12 at 12:00pm (ET) / 11:00am (CT))

State Policymakers Respond to COVID-19
Presented by Grantmakers in Health
June 17 at 1:00pm (ET) / 12:00pm (CT)

When Two Public Health Crises Collide: COVID-19 and Gun Violence
Presented by Grantmakers in Health
June 18 at 3:00pm (ET) / 2:00pm (CT)

Managing a Global Response
Presented by Center for Disaster Philanthropy
June 23 at 2:00pm (ET)

Using an Equity Lens in COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Presented by National Center for Family Philanthropy
June 24 at 2:00pm (ET) / 1:00pm (CT)

How Funders Can Support Bereavement and Grief
Presented by Center for Disaster Philanthropy
July 14 at 2:00pm (ET)

Webinars

Blog Feed

Responding to COVID-19, and More, in... Nashville, Tennessee

5/21/2020 3:29:00 PM

This post continues a series highlighting the responses of SECF members to the COVID-19 pandemic in their communities. We will use this series to highlight partnerships, coalitions and innovative examples of giving that help those affected by this crisis. This installment was provided to SECF by ... Read More..

Responding to COVID-19 in... Hartsville, South Carolina

5/14/2020 4:53:00 PM

This post continues a series highlighting the responses of SECF members to the COVID-19 pandemic in their communities. We will use this series to highlight partnerships, coalitions and innovative examples of giving that help those affected by this crisis. If you are involved in a program you woul... Read More..

Responding to COVID-19 in... Asheville, North Carolina

5/7/2020 3:03:00 PM

This post continues a series highlighting the responses of SECF members to the COVID-19 pandemic in their communities. We will use this series to highlight partnerships, coalitions and innovative examples of giving that help those affected by this crisis. This installment was provided to SECF by ... Read More..

May 2020 Public Policy Update

5/5/2020 3:42:00 PM

Each month, SECF provides members with monthly updates on the latest public policy developments in Washington and state capitols around the region, analyzing their possible impact on the charitable sector. If you would like to see an issue featured in a future Public Policy Update, contact Jaci... Read More..

Responding to COVID-19 in... Charlottesville, Virginia

4/30/2020 4:16:00 PM

This post continues a series highlighting the responses of SECF members to the COVID-19 pandemic in their communities. We will use this series to highlight partnerships, coalitions and innovative examples of giving that help those affected by this crisis. If you are involved in a program you woul... Read More..

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