COVID-19 is a global blow to lives, livelihoods and economies and though the gravity of the respective health emergencies in countries across the globe varies, there are shared impacts in both the areas of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility.

In this crisis, organizations that care about purpose, be they nonprofit organizations, corporations, foundations, or other organizations interested in producing solutions to the most pressing problems of people and planet, have the opportunity, often the obligation, to lead. They have unique capabilities using their scale and resources to alleviate financial, logistical, emotional and health-related challenges.
But big questions and decisions remain as to how best to accomplish this; how to, in a timely and targeted way help to alleviate the burden of the trials COVID-19 has brought upon us all. The ways in which they can achieve this will vary:

For nonprofit organizations that rely upon philanthropy, understanding context and perspective for this situation is critical. While we can look to points in history such as the global financial crisis to understand implications for the nonprofit sector, COVD-19 is fundamentally different; this is an unprecedented public health crisis, not a flaw in the market. This makes it even more difficult to know with any certainty when our economies will recover, but we do know that, in these moments of crisis, it is the nonprofit organizations that stay the course that succeed. It is important to take this time to experiment with or strengthen existing digital fundraising and engagement tools. These tactics will continue to be relevant beyond this moment in time. Transparent, humane communication is equally critical right now as nonprofits navigate an ongoing and post-COVID-19 world. Donors and community members want to know how your organization is handling this crisis, how it impacts your work, and what is being done to support the current situation. It’s important to continue to stay thoughtfully engaged with donors.

For funders and corporations there is an opportunity here to contribute meaningfully to long-term health and economic outcomes, as well as to lend a badly needed sense of coherence and solidarity to society’s response. As the pandemic has rapidly evolved, and the scale and impact of this crisis has become apparent, companies and funders have been readying their philanthropic responses. With needs so vast and deep, however, how do companies and funders determine where to focus their efforts? Of course, there are important calculations each must make on its own, not the least of which are its budget and areas of focus. But, regardless of the specifics, one of the most important things all companies and funders control right now is how they give. In this time of extreme burden and stress, all organizations should treat their nonprofit partners as we should all be treating one other: with flexibility, generosity, creativity, kindness and, importantly, the willingness to be proactive.

In essence, “business as usual” is out the window. Nonprofit organizations must pivot to respond to the moment and many face quickly growing needs where they may need to find entirely new ways to deliver services to vulnerable groups. Now is not the time to hold fast to project deliverables agreed upon in a different reality; now is the time to empower your community partners to do what they deem necessary to serve the community, which may include support to stay in business themselves.

ONE HUNDRED believes that regardless of which side of the equation you find yourself on, maintaining momentum for your organization’s long-term priorities will be paramount in the post-COVID-19 recovery. Given how rapidly the situation surrounding COVID-19 is developing, and to further explore these ideas and insights in real time, we have a series of intimate web conversations titled FORGING FORWARD: A VIRTUAL PHILANTHROPIC CONFERENCE SERIES FOCUSED ON IDEA SHARING, INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND A PATH FORWARD.

The series is an opportunity for frank discussion around how COVID-19 is impacting philanthropy, healthcare, the global economy, and corporate social responsibility and what we can collectively do about it. For these conversations, we’ve brought together leading experts in communications, marketing, CSR, philanthropy, media and government relations so that we might find points of intersection that move us all closer to solutions.

Thus far discussions have included: Responding to a Crisis While Planning for the Future; How Organizations are Adapting in the Midst of a Pandemic; COVID-19’s Impact on the Global Economy; and Implications for Educational Institutions. Future topics we intend to explore include Managing Change; the Corporate Response; Communicating in the Midst of a Crisis; Storytelling and Virtual Engagement; Reactions and Responses from Front Line Fundraisers; and the Intersection of the Consumer and Donor Journeys. Register here for future sessions, which occur Fridays, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET.