Facing Historic Challenges in Philanthropy
In the face of overwhelming challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic , West Virginia ’ s philanthropic community has rallied and collaborated like never before . Through the partnerships forged by Philanthropy West Virginia , the state ’ s grantmaking foundations , United Way organizations , corporations , private donors and other philanthropies have come together to respond to the tremendous challenges created by COVID-19 and the subsequent economic downturn .
Since March 2020 , the philanthropic community , in partnership with nonprofit partners , began monitoring needs and challenges such as school closures and remote learning , public health needs , business shutdowns , workforce layoffs and the significant increase in demand for local nonprofit services . At the start of the pandemic , the West Virginia Nonprofit Association surveyed its 300 + nonprofit members , finding two major concerns . Number one , 90 % of the state ’ s nonprofits have either been unable to hold fundraising events or have been forced to cancel revenue-generating programs , resulting in significant declines in income . Number two , nonprofits were facing a 300-400 % increase in services to meet the needs of West Virginia ’ s citizens due to the pandemic .
Noting these monumental challenges , the philanthropic sector put collaboration in action , making strategic grants and funding available to help respond to the needs of hundreds of thousands of West Virginians across all 55 counties .
Not surprisingly , they worked collaboratively , quietly and humbly . More importantly , the philanthropy sector lifted up and promoted the critical work of the nonprofits that were on the ground saving lives , caring for those infected with COVID-19 , protecting first responders , assisting the unemployed , boosting small businesses and serving the hundreds of thousands impacted by the pandemic and economic downturn .
West Virginia ’ s nonprofits and foundations have always been the trusted partners and resources that communities relied upon to provide accurate information , life-saving and sustaining services , community support and places for comfort and care for decades . In crises and disasters , West Virginians know how to rally and work together . In the nonprofit and philanthropy sectors , they work together exceptionally well to maximize impact and ensure the quality of life of every citizen is preserved and improved . During the pandemic , they have exceeded expectations and leveraged tremendous impact in :
• Small business grants and support for survival and pandemic navigation
• Securing certified personal protective equipment and health care supplies for organizations serving seniors , children , health care centers , food service and frontline workers
• Providing remote learning resources , tools , support and broadband to thousands of students , teachers and homes
• Expanding telehealth and broadband access to homes and rural communities
• Increasing food supply and food access for hundreds of thousands of West Virginians
• Increased demand for social services with utility and rental assistance
• Facilitating COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites
In a recent report commissioned by Philanthropy West Virginia that tracked the grantmaking and giving coordinated specifically for COVID-19 pandemic response in the West Virginia since March 2020 , 58 % of members reported that more than $ 15 million has been funded by the philanthropic community to respond to the impacts of the pandemic . That ’ s nearly 25 % of the usual collective grantmaking across all foundations in the Mountain State .