Government shutdowns. Economic downturns. Election years.
We watched our clients navigate those tricky times.
And then….
A year ago COVID changed everything.
It affected every aspect of our lives and organizations.
- 501(c)3 status delayed
- Fundraising events delayed
- Grants delayed
- Programs delayed
- In-person meetings/programs/everything else delayed
And yet, a year in, nonprofits are still plugging along. Yes, things look different. Here are a few tips to keep you moving forward as we near the year one mark of COVID in the United States.
What Can You Do?
Stay motivated
- It’s easy to get deflated. Don’t do it. Allow you and your staff a mini-pity party. Then roll up your sleeves and make a plan of action (if you haven’t already). Find ways to motivate each other. If you are dispersing staff make an extra effort to reach out to them during the stay-at-home orders.
- Don’t allow yourself to become passive or lethargic towards your work. You know what they say, once you get comfortable …. The last thing you want is to have done nothing and be BEHIND when normalcy returns.
Be financially alert
- Keep scrupulous records of the money spent/lost during this time, particularly if how programs were administered had to change.
Stay organized
- Be aware of what items can wait, what items are needed and what items are wanted. Can you cut back on a specific supply that would save you a large amount over the next few weeks? Is there a program that needs to be put on hiatus? Be alert and aware, now more than ever, how each dollar is spent.
Use the down time effectively
- If you are in the process of applying for grants, keep writing, editing and researching potential grants. Now is the perfect time to research other funding possibilities. When life returns to normal you can be ready to hit the ground running.
- What’s in your I-need-to-do-that-but-never-have-time pile? Take some time and pick one!
While this isn’t what any of us wants or needs, it’s here and we have to deal with it. We can do it!