Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1367413
Identified Needs Immediate Revenue Shortfalls The most common identified need of organizations was, unsurprisingly, financial. 93 or- ganizations (79%) reported significant revenue shortfalls. These came in two main forms: 1. 53 organizations (41%) reported needing to postpone or cancel major fundraising events such as galas, golf tournaments, or dinners due to shelter in place and social distancing orders. Many are planning on rescheduling these events, but uncertainty about when the shelter in place orders will be lifted or when people will be comfortable congregating are complicating planning. Some are looking to virtual events but are anticipating less enthusiasm and giving from those. 2. 48 organizations (38%) are facing immediate revenue declines, mostly from decline in fee-for-service, ticket sales, or contract revenue. For example, edu- cational or after-school programs lost their students when schools closed and were forced to refund parent fees. Organizations that rely on contracts based on people served, especially reimbursable ones, face their revenue drying up with their service numbers. Finally, some nonprofits reported individual donations already declining as people became concerned about their own financial status. Increased Costs The flip side to decreased revenue was reflected in increased costs. While a majority of applicants, (113 organizations (88%)) reported that they were still able to offer services, most had to adapt service delivery to the new reality (this is discussed further in a following section). Additionally, providing these services have become more expensive than before the outbreak, for a variety of reasons. For community clinics, the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) forced them to either reuse equipment or purchase it at inflated prices. Organizations that rely on donated goods – especially the 28 applicants which distribute food – also suffered. As people became concerned about their own supplies, donations of food and other donated resources declined dramatically, forcing organizations to either purchased goods or decrease their distributions. Organizations that switched to or increased delivery of services via the telephone or internet often needed to spend money on software, hardware, training, and/or compliance to do so. Homeless shelters that cannot follow social distancing procedures in their regular sites are moving high-risk residents to motels at increased cost. They also have increased needs for PPE as they may support afflicted clients. Some organizations face increased staff costs. Organizations that rely on volunteers lost many due to social distancing and often had to replace these functions with paid staff. Staff on sick leave has increased, and staff that are high-risk to COVID-19 are self-iso- lating, leading to increased overtime to fill gaps. Housing programs that support home- less individuals or at-risk youth are required to retain certain ratios of staff to clients at all times; if clients are not going to school or work due to closures, they must increase their staff presence.