Virtual Fundraising in the Age of COVID
With new safety guidelines for businesses and individuals continually evolving, many organizations are taking their business online. For nonprofits, these challenges are particularly unique as they look to maintain services, fundraising, volunteer hours, and more through online and hybrid platforms of engagement.
We checked in with Jerry Ragan of Catholic Community Services, Deleesa Meashintubby of Volunteers in Medicine, and Kristen Bartels of Relief Nursery to gain their perspectives on both the shortcomings and benefits of going online for Springfield nonprofits – check out their insightful answers below.
1. What new digital services and/or technology has your nonprofit implemented in response to the coronavirus crisis, both internally for employees and outward-facing?
RAGAN: We will hold in-person meetings only if social-distancing is possible. When not possible, like many others, we have had an abundance of successful Zoom meetings. In addition, we have purchased DocuSign capability since clients have not been able to enter our two service centers. This program has made it possible to efficiently continue offering rental assistance and utility assistance programs.
The CCS case managers for several programs have not been able to do personal contacts but this did not bring service to a halt. They have stayed in touch through Zoom, e-mail, phone, and social media. The needs of client families have been met in this alternative fashion.
MEASHINTUBBY: We have started working with Doxy.me as a telemedicine tool. We have been having visits with patients through telephone encounters.
2. How has your event, fundraiser, run, etc translated to an online format? Are there any unexpected benefits and/or challenges in this new mode of operation?
RAGAN: Obviously, several of our in-person fund raisers had to be cancelled and the prospect for any event in this style does not look favorable for an indefinite time moving forward. Thus, we adapt.
CCS recently completed a Facebook learning and fund raising event in the week leading up to World Refugee Day (June 15th to June 20th). This effort netted slightly over $7000.00 which the committee felt was a good figure since this was the first-ever venture into online fund raising.
The largest and most important fund raiser CCS has each year is called the “Great Hour of Caring” (GHOC) and it is scheduled for September 24th from Noon to 1:00 PM. This was to take place at Venue 252 but that will not happen. Therefore, the same program will be brought to our guests, mostly live, and in a virtual format. (Details on this are beyond my ability and, if you know of someone with expertise in this arena, please let me know!) GHOC will be billed as a “Virtual Brown-Bag Lunch” and will feature the traditional talks by our Executive Director, Archbishop Sample of Portland, a client testimony, a video, and emceed by Liz and Reilly. This will probably be less than an hour and will culminate in an ask for donations. (Right now I am contacting potential sponsors.)
MEASHINTUBBY: We hosted a virtual fundraiser 2 weeks ago and we feel it was successful. Since we lost both of our events, our one virtual event covered both events.
BARTELS: Relief Nursery’s annual gala was just a few weeks after the stay-at-home order was given so we quickly shifted to an online virtual format with the help of a production company. It was a great opportunity to learn how to implement new technologies and build up our skill set as an organization. One benefit of having it in this format was that it allowed new supporters to engage with us who may otherwise not have attended the in-person gala.
3. How long did it take to roll out these new methods/services, and what was that process like?
RAGAN: As soon as it became apparent that we had to make adjustments (early March) CCS began considering how to do our work virtually. At first, things were slow but, as confidence grew, the pace improved. No one at CCS is an expert but we have gotten much better and less fearful of using technology to continue our vital work.
MEASHINTUBBY: It took us 4 months to put together the virtual event and we are still working on the Doxy.me as we needed to order cameras, get trained and now needing to train the providers and staff, so this is on-going.
4. What lessons will create lasting technology-led change in your organization?
RAGAN: CCS staff has overcome any fear or reticence to turn to technology to fulfill the services that many in our community need. I would anticipate that Zoom will continue to be a convenient way to hold meetings, DocuSign will continue to improve utility and rental assistance, social media will increase as a mode of contact, and more. The pandemic, awful in its nature, has forced healthy adaptations for CCS so that the many and varied needs of our clients can still be met.
MEASHINTUBBY: The lesson we have learned most from is the need for VIM to continue a hybrid of telemedicine encounters as well as face to face patient encounters. This will allow the providers who does not want to see patients face to face to be able to take care of them virtually. We have also learned that we can still communicate virtually in the fundraising world but we will need more guidance.
BARTELS: Relief Nursery focuses on the personal touches with our events and initially that felt like a barrier with implementing new technologies. However we’ve learned there are many ways to personalize communications with the right tools and still have that wow factor.
About Catholic Community Services:
CCS offers immediate help by providing food and other assistance to anyone in need and seeks to instill hope by helping Lane County families take positive steps to move out of poverty.
Website: https://www.ccslc.org
About Volunteers in Medicine:
VIM is a non-profit, community-based clinic dedicated to providing free primary and mental health care to low-income adults whose income falls between 85% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Website: https://vim-clinic.org
About Relief Nursery:
We are a child abuse and neglect prevention organization, providing services to children and families in Eugene, Springfield and surrounding areas.
Website: http://www.reliefnursery.org/
