[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Even though some facilities are beginning to reopen, many of the digital services will remain available. Here are a few examples of how our nonprofits have adapted to the challenges:<\/p>\n
La Piana Consulting<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>advises nonprofits to try non-linear approaches to planning as they begin to create their new normal. For example,\u00a0<\/span>Real-Time Strategic Planning and Portfolio Strategy<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can provide quick, realistic ways of moving forward without extensive data-gathering.<\/p>\n To strive for a higher degree of adaptive capacity, La Piana suggests nonprofits consider possible changes in client needs, behaviors, and the operating environment over the next six-12 months, and how your organization could respond.<\/p>\n Set short-term financial and impact goals, along with plans for what you\u2019ll do if you don\u2019t meet them. As you consider creative new approaches or solutions, think about experimenting with\u00a0rapid prototyping<\/a>\u00a0approaches, rather than launching major initiatives that require extensive analysis and proven track records.<\/p>\n Over more than two decades of helping hundreds of nonprofits merge, La Piana has observed the prevalence of mergers to be 1 percent or less of the sector in any given year. However, in response to the COVID challenges, their research shows that 23 percent are now considering such partnerships.<\/p>\n One of them said they had been thinking about a merger with another group for years, and \u201cCOVID-19 has finally pushed us to begin those discussions.\u201d Another respondent described it in job terms: \u201cIn order to keep staff, we are exploring a partnership with another nonprofit to share [an] employee’s time and cost of employment.\u201d<\/p>\n In Santa Barbara, we have seen the successful\u00a0<\/span>merger<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of the\u00a0<\/span>Goleta Chamber of Commerce<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce<\/a><\/span>. Geoff Green, CEO of the\u00a0Santa Barbara City College Foundation<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and chairman of the Chamber of the Santa Barbara Region explained that \u201ccombining our two organizations and our memberships ensures our region\u2019s business community will be in the strongest possible position as we work toward economic recovery from the pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n Many people are wondering what the \u201cnew normal\u201d is going to be. Working from home seems to be a big part of it. La Piana\u2019s research shows that eighty-two percent of survey respondents reported the majority of their staff are now working from home. Another 12 percent reported that half of their staff were working from home.<\/p>\n Going virtual doesn’t stop there\u201482 percent reported digitalizing some or all of the programs and services they offered. This trend generally held across all subsectors. As one respondent wrote, the pandemic \u201cinspired us to be more agile, to pivot and approach issues more innovatively, and challenged us to look at our work differently going forward.\u201d Another noted that \u201cit’s been very difficult in many ways but also very positive in adapting our culture to be more fluid, nimble, and paperless.\u201d<\/p>\n Even though many organizations have demonstrated remarkable creativity in continuing to serve our community by pivoting to new service delivery models, they are suffering financially. Many depend on revenue from annual fundraising events that had to be canceled. Of course, several chose to offer a virtual version of their auction but that still doesn\u2019t cover the shortfall.<\/p>\n Thankfully, many donors are stepping up to give at higher levels to their favorite charities because they realize the pandemic challenges are endangering sustainability. I encourage everyone to give what you can to support our many valiant nonprofits that provide such critical services for our community.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Each morning brings new stories of the critical role many nonprofits are playing in trying to address the impact of COVID-19.\u00a0Nonprofit Quarterly has recognized\u00a0how nonprofits under these extremely trying circumstances are quickly adapting their service systems to fit the reality of social isolation and physical distancing and have stretched to meet the increased need they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":533,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=532"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":535,"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532\/revisions\/535"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nonprofitkinect.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}>>Mergers and remote working may be part of some nonprofits\u2019 new normal.<\/h3>\n
>>Our nonprofits need our financial support more than ever.<\/h3>\n