Sharing my personal quick takeaways from Thursday’s (3/12/20) Southern California Grantmakers and Philanthropy CA webinar on How Philanthropy Can Support & Enhance the Government Response to Covid-19:
Two overall priorities per Kathleen Kelly Janus, CA Governor Newsom’s Senior Advisor on Social Innovation: 1) Support the public health response (testing, tracking, treatment and transparent communications; 2) Support vulnerable communities and LISTEN TO vulnerable communities. “Sometimes people offer help without listening to what the need is.” Act now, remain flexible, listen to communities, nonprofit leaders, local health depts.
Philanthropy & individuals can support 1) the CDC Foundation which is working closely with state and local health depts – you can earmark your $ in giving to CDC for particular areas; 2) local community foundations such as California Community Foundation, well poised for local needs & support, will be leading regional pooled approaches; 3) SMALL BUSINESSES – 90% of businesses that close for more than 5 days will never reopen so invest in zero-interest loan funds etc.
Dr. Lauren Smith of FSG: 1) Events like this “lay bare the disparities that were already present” so think about where to invest based on which communities already lack “buffering capacities due to disinvestment over decades or longer.” These same communities are often most disconnected/ distrustful for good reasons so need to invest in trusted messengers for public health info. 2) Adjust your grant requirements for fewer hurdles to critical service orgs in vulnerable communities – including reporting requirements too, this will be going on for awhile. 3) Support “sound, evidence-based journalism” including good data on the pandemic.
Shocking stat from Kathleen: If you divide CA vertically, the west side is the richest state in the US; the east side is the poorest. Only 3% of foundation $ goes to the Central Valley; 1% goes to the Inland Empire. Support regional efforts for these under resourced areas!
Think urgent AND long term. Long term includes: schools shutting down will exacerbate educational disparities that already existed as kids in schools without good online teaching and who lack online access at home will be hardest hit – also impacted if they lose access to their majority source of food (at school) and if parents have to stay home from low-wage jobs to care for them. Families’ entire lives can unravel.
What can you do now to keep people OUT of healthcare system? Feels indirect but SO IMPORTANT to invest in helping people get flu vaccine, control blood pressure, stop smoking – reduce things that put people at risk of worse Covid-19 outcomes.
A big difference from other emergencies: in earthquake, firestorm, flood we see a worldwide outpouring of support. This time the emergency is worldwide everywhere. “Resources must be mobilized within communities” and philanthropy can help to stand up responses in communities that were already vulnerable and under-resourced.
Nonprofits are already seeing drops in fundraising due to canceling events and stock market crash. Reach out to your grantees and to their other funders to meet the needs of the whole ecosystem.
Last words: from Dr Smith @ FSG: “It’s natural in a situation of uncertainty to hold back, wait and see… communities need us to be bold, intentional.” From Kathleen: “Jump in, get started, everything helps. From Dr. Monroe @ CDCF: “Speed matters. Don’t hesitate.”