The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench in to the fundraising plans of charities at a time when many of them are in need of an influx of cash to continue their operations.
Having worked for a little over a decade in the charitable sector I can say it isn’t built for a crisis such as this. Very few organizations have reserves, and if they do, they are not very deep. Unquestionably revenues are down. Most importantly, charities need cash to make sure they can keep their vital services going.
Like many small businesses, the lack of cash and reserves has forced many organizations to close their doors or lay off employees. Layoffs can be especially challenging, as physical-distancing guidelines during the pandemic are preventing volunteers from stepping in to help in roles they once would have been able to support.