How Non-Profits Should Respond to COVID-19

The news right now isn’t great. Especially for our clients who serve the poor and marginalized and those who are struggling to find hope even on a good day – let alone during times of crisis. Stock market instability can mean that donors see their funds as unreliable, and restrictions around coming together mean that long-planned events are cancelled, events that might be an organization’s main way to raise awareness, prayer support and funds for the whole year.

So, how do we respond? What do we do? We’re people that walk into the face of suffering and heartbreak every day and bring hope. We were made for “such a time as this,” friend. We need to walk into this situation wisely, and it may be with a bit of fear and trembling, but this is why we exist: because life is hard and God is still good and faithful in the middle of it all.Here’s what I’m reminding myself – and you:

1. When times get tough, people get generous.

It seems counterintuitive, but people seem hard-wired to respond openhandedly during times of crisis (unless they’re stockpiling toilet paper and hand sanitizer). While most of us in Canada will be only marginally affected, many of the people we serve are those who are truly in the margins and they’re the ones who are really affected by world crisis. It’s worthless to remind people to wash their hands to prevent a virus’ spread when they don’t have water to wash their hands in. My house, on the other hand, has countless bottles of fancy-smelling soap. It makes sense to remind us of how fortunate we are and how we can step into the gap generously in times of crisis, like this.

2. We are people who know the transforming power of relationships.

Picking up the phone can seem like insanity in a time of text messaging and email. When we’re pressed though, we find out how much we really need human connection. Just today, we talked to two clients who are not able to make their major spring events happen because of quarantines and the current health crisis. What an incredible opportunity to pick up the phone, or meet people one-on-one and really find out what their donors think, or pray for them, and pray for the work together! We will miss those events, for sure, but relationships at the next ones might just be a bit deeper based on how we respond in light of not having them. And, here in Canada – let’s not forget those who are really affected by this crisis and may be facing terrible isolation, especially those who are elderly or immunocompromised, and in quarantine by necessity.

3. We’re creative people (although we might forget it).

If necessity is the mother of invention, like Plato said, it might be good to remember that our Father is also the greatest creative of all time. When we put that God-inspired wisdom to use, because how we’ve done things just doesn’t work anymore, it’s amazing what we are able to create and develop. I’ve seen it here in our work – when new legislation meant that we, along with all our clients, would no longer be able to send email to the people we relied on communicating with, we had to figure out a solution. And we did. Today, 5 years later, our network of leaders that we connect with every week on behalf of our clients is almost 19,000 strong. By that token – I’d not even have this job if it wasn’t because of the global financial crisis in 2008.

4. Remember who we are.

The news can be terrifying, and every day right now, it seems to be getting worse. I’m reminded to recall exactly who we are, and what we do – and why we do it. For me, I believe I’m called to use the tools in my hands and the people in my circle, and join God in the work He’s doing at home, in my community and around the world. Rather than shrinking back in fear, I’m praying for perspective and wisdom about how to step up and help. I’m praying that for our clients, too, and the donors that equip them to do incredible work around the globe – seeing children fed, seeing prisoners literally set free, seeing justice done, and seeing true hope and joy communicated. And that’s really worth investing my time and energy in, more than endless terrifying news feeds, isn’t it?What else would you add? Leave us a comment, below. This too shall pass, friend. It might not be easy – but we’re walking through it with the most Faithful of all.

Warmly,

Ellen

Ellen Graf-Martin - Founder/President

Ellen Graf-Martin