Jordan Covid Q6
The fact is that vulnerable communities had been burdened with systematic disadvantages such as concentrated crime, trauma, economic inequality and a lack of access to shelter and crisis support long before the spread of COVID-19 became a national and global crisis. The sad reality is that this outbreak and its economic fallout have the capacity to exacerbate exponentially these pre-existing hardships, hurting more people more quickly in communities already on the margins. In a health crisis like the one we are facing now, the further destabilization of already vulnerable communities puts all of us at direct risk. The philanthropic community has a critical role to play in ensuring crisis assistance service organizations not only continue to be funded and operate, but also have the ability to expand as the number of people in crisis and in need of support will surely grow in the weeks and months ahead. It is crucial that philanthropy engage with local partners in the most impacted communities to develop thoughtful and immediate responses that will have the broadest possible impact and meet the most need. Additionally, I would encourage philanthropy to take the three critical steps. 1) Convert current project-specific grants to general operating support to allow nonprofits the flexibility to respond as needed to the current crisis. 2.) Make new grants as flexible as possible to allow organizations to meet the evolving needs of their communities and 3.) Maintain or expand future giving to support nonprofit organizations through the upcoming recession. Together we can begin to address the effects of this crisis in ways that enable service providers to move quickly to meet the escalating need in communities most impacted.
