The novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, is creating an evolving situation with varied impacts around the world and across the states. We are updating this page regularly with the latest information and resources that nonprofits can use to prepare and respond.
Arguably the most popular provision of the CARES Act for businesses and nonprofit organizations was the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans, which provided these organizations with a necessary lifeline to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic. The original program provided employers with loans of up to $10,000,000 based on 10 weeks (2.5 months) of their average monthly payroll. The loans were intended to be used to cover payroll and certain other costs, and, subject to certain guidelines, were eligible for forgiveness to the borrower.
As the pandemic has continued into 2021, many businesses and nonprofits are still suffering from reduced operations and revenues. As result, included in the 2021 appropriations & COVID-19 relief bill passed in late December 2020 was the “Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act”, which had a goal of continuing the PPP loan program and contained other small business support.
Welcome to 2021 (and beyond?) where the hybrid event in-person/virtual event has entered the picture. As vaccines are starting to be rolled out, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and what is hopefully the end of the pandemic. We have been working with our non-profit partners to plan their fundraising events for the year and while we may be able to gather in larger numbers as the control COVID-19 has over our world wanes, many people may still not be comfortable doing so.
To that end, we have been preparing for the hybrid event concept as our template for the next year or two. If you haven’t already heard the term, hybrid events consist of the more traditional in-person gala/5k/concert/etc. (albeit much smaller in scale), coupled with a virtual program that we’ve all gotten much more comfortable with in 2020. Hosting a hybrid event allows your donors to participate in the way they are most comfortable with whether that is attending an in-person gathering or supporting your organization from the comfort of their own home.
We created a hybrid event checklist for you that highlights a few of the things you should keep in mind when deciding if a hybrid event is right for your non-profit. While there are many benefits to hosting a hybrid event to fundraise for your charity, we also included a few possible pitfalls that you will want to avoid in your event planning process.
Finding the right tech partner is now more important than ever. Look for a partner that will excel at both the in-house A/V as well as the livestreaming to an online event page. You can find more info on what to consider when picking your tech platform in our tech solutions blog post.
How will you’re in-person program translate to a virtual setting? Will you pre-record portions (or all) of the program or will you have a live stream from the venue for your viewers at home?
This is not the same as above and may be more important! For maybe the first time, your charity’s in-person event will be broadcast to a much larger audience. How can you connect the folks in the room with those who are at home? Remember a hybrid event is one event, so we want to make sure to link everyone who is coming out for the same important cause together on this special evening.
Should all your speakers be in the same room at the venue? Make sure you are respectful of your speakers’ comfort level with being in a larger group. As always, safety protocols should be strictly adhered to!
This is really taking the time to stress AGAIN how important your tech partner is. Consider pre-recording any live speakers just in case. Cover all of your bases ahead of time including confirming that your venue has the bandwidth for any live streaming you will be doing.
Be very clear about the various levels of attendance and what each option entails. Will there be exclusive opportunities only available to in-person attendance? What if government restrictions change, or someone’s travel plans do? Be as flexible as you can to allow for the maximum number of attendees.
It should not matter how or where you attend meaning that you want to have consistent same messaging throughout your event experience. Virtual attendees now are more virtual-event savvy, so you’ve got to make sure that the content online is engaging, while also allowing the in-person attendees to connect, network, and take advantage of any features your tech platform may have.
And lastly, the costs may stack up very quickly as you once again pay for a venue, catering, AND tech platform. Plus, there will be two guest lists now – one for in the room, and one for online. Ease some of that burden by building out a comprehensive timeline and sticking to a budget.
Now is the chance to take the best of the best – what worked best for physical in-person events, and what worked best throughout this season of virtual events and build the “perfect” event with all the best components! There are cost effective ways to do this as well and we are happy to talk this through with you. Let Powered by Professionals help you navigate these uncharted waters, as we all find our way back to a new normal.
As our government works to determine the details of how the COVID vaccine will be distributed throughout the City and State, HSC has put together an organizational sign on letter to Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo, asking them to prioritize the human services workforce in receiving the vaccine and develop an equitable and transparent system in which essential workers understand where they land in the distribution of the vaccine to avoid confusion and build support for the vaccination process.
Sign your organization on by COB Friday, January 8!
It is vital that the human services workforce is protected, sustained, and empowered as the collective services provided by these nonprofits make the difference between success and failure for countless individuals and families, especially with the economic impacts of the pandemic. We hope you will join us in this fight by signing your organization onto the letter!
Link to sign on: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSds0OnAXdvFPlPTEXdpma9y2CJHB3qTxMM0S13z_KLT-1XTgQ/viewform
2021 Nonprofit Trend Guide Now Available!
We have spoken with industry professionals to prepare the 2021 Guide, which covers such areas as Fundraising/Marketing Trends, Operational Trends, Changes in Technology, and so much more!
Hello Nonprofit Resource Hub!
The Little Saint Nick Foundation (LSNF), a registered 501C3 non-profit organization, has the mission of “Kids Inspiring and Helping Kids”. This mission is to not only help kids and families in need who are ill, but to inspire kids and young adults to give back to those kids in need. LSNF has developed many anxiety relief programs that include an emergency department gift bag program, family care package program, hospital toy give-away parties, and wish granting, all centered upon improving the lives of sick kids and their families. Check out our website: www.littlestnick.org
LSNF was founded by myself at the age of six in 2004. I had suffered from a rare childhood hip disorder but was fortunate enough not to have any life-threatening illnesses and fully recovered. I decided that I needed to give back to the kids who I had left behind at the hospital, and my goal was to ease the anxiety and fear of those kids in need. For the past 16 years, LSNF has helped over two million kids and families in need. Check out our organization ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange last year and other videos: https://littlestnick.org/videos/
We are currently based in New York and Florida, as we are expanding our mission across the country by opening up chapters and student organizations at universities. We are seeking guidance on how to scale our organization and new fundraising ideas other than traditional events. We are also looking to partner with other nonprofits. We believe there are many ways nonprofits can work together and help more people, even if the missions aren’t exactly aligned.
I look forward to making connections and building relationships on this great hub!
-Ray Mohler