On April 14th, Chris Strayer, Executive Vice President of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce hosted a webinar titled “Nonprofit and Community Resources” featuring Leah King, President and CEO, United Way of Tarrant County and Mitch Whitten, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategy, Visit Fort Worth. We listened in and gleaned these excellent tips and resources for you.
Tips for Continuing Your Organization’s Work:
Lean on your board.
Keep them informed.
Keep them briefed. (Example: Leah shared that she sends the United Way of Tarrant County board a weekly email with three primary topics: 1) what’s going on in the office, 2) what’s going on with the organization’s work in the community, and 3) what is needed from them -- the board members -- individually or collectively.)
Communicate with donors and supporters… and then, communicate some more.
Just as with your board, keep in touch with your organization’s community of donors and supporters. Leah suggested, “It’s almost impossible to over communicate.”
Call to check in with people to make sure they are okay. Typically, after hearing from you, they will want to know if you and the organization are okay, too. This provides an excellent opportunity to give an update.
Use a variety of communication methods. Calls are the most personal for checking in on how someone is doing. Updates can be distributed through emails, online newsletters, and social media. Consider incorporating video into your updates.
Partnerships have never been more important.
Many companies are looking for nonprofits to partner with in serving the community.
If your organization is a member of the Fort Worth Chamber, leverage the Member Organization section to post updates and partnership opportunities. (The Chamber has 1,700+ members.)
Think holistically about what your organization’s assets are and creatively about who you might partner with to leverage respective assets in a way that will be beneficial to all involved.
Visit Fort Worth may also be a resource for identifying potential partners.
Use Voly.org to post and locate virtual volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups.
Share your organization’s availability as a community resource during this pandemic by reaching out to be listed on the City of Fort Worth’s “COVID-19 Community Resources” web page. To add your organization, email the Community Engagement Office at engagement@fortworthtexas.gov.
Look ahead.
The effects of this pandemic will likely last into the fall, if not much longer. Your executive leadership team should look now at your potential risks under different scenarios over the next 6 – 12 months and think creatively about how your organization can mitigate those risks.
Organizations will need to plan for a different fundraising environment. Fall fundraising events may need to “go virtual” or be presented in alternative ways. Employer-based fundraising campaigns – which usually kick off in the fall (e.g., United Way campaigns) – may be as much about giving assistance to corporate partners’ employees (services, resources, and referrals) as receiving assistance (donations and volunteers).
Mitch offered, “If you have questions about moving an event, such as checking dates against other things for fall, contact Visit Fort Worth at localrequest@fortworth.com.”
Organizations could use the scheduling of national sports events as an indicator of what is possible/acceptable in terms of hosting large gatherings, according to Mitch. For example, while games are still cancelled, organizations may need to continue pivoting away from having large events.
Resources for Funding and More:
North Texas Cares is a collaboration of funders, including local family foundations, corporate funders, other private foundations, and United Ways. Through one common online application, nonprofits may submit a request for emergency funds that can be accessed and reviewed by all participating funders for potential support. Organizations may receive support from more than one funder using the common application. Focus is on supporting organizations that “work with people and communities who may be most negatively affected by COVID-19.”
CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act
The presenters recommend nonprofit organization leaders have conversations with their bankers as soon as possible to prepare and submit an application for the Paycheck Protection Program to help maintain staffing levels and salaries and prevent furloughs and pay cuts. The potential loans will turn into grants if loan recipients meet the requirements (e.g., maintaining staff levels). Funding is expected to run out, so submit asap. However, a second round of loans is expected but the exact details of when and what that second round will look like are unknown.
The Paycheck Protection Program was established by the CARES Act to help 501(c)3 organizations and small businesses with 500 or fewer employees.
Guidance is available from the Small Business Administration (designated by the CARES Act to implement the Paycheck Protection Program).
Voly.org provides a platform for organizations to find volunteers to meet urgent needs.
Other General Operating/Business Resources (e.g., guidance on various forms of assistance)
Social Services/Resources and Referrals to share with your Organization’s Clients
We know this is a challenging time for all, and we remain very grateful for clients, collaborators and community leaders like the Fort Worth Chamber, Visit Fort Worth, and United Way!
If the Project Partners team can be of assistance to you, please know that we are an email or phone call away. Stay well.