Philanthropy New York & Funder Programming
PNY has moved to virtual programming, utilizing Zoom webinars and meetings. We are hosting weekly webinars for members to share information on philanthropic responses to COVID-19. The calendar of events includes upcoming webinars and recordings of past webinars.
Given how quickly things are changing, we are making decisions about programs week by week and will communicate with members through our website and weekly emails.
Funder Networks
PNY's networks and working groups are also convening virtually and sharing information over their listservs. Interested funders should reach out to the group contacts noted for each group.
Funder Responses
What Are Our Members Doing?
PNY Members: Please share steps large and small you are taking in response to COVID-19 and to support grantees during this time.
Members have shared the following practices as action steps they are taking or are in consideration.
Operational Support:
- Communicating to grantees your funding plans (i.e., sustaining funding levels, increasing funding levels)
- Purchasing virtual meeting licenses for grantees or reimbursing for technology needs
- Inquiring about the best way to send grants (i.e., moving to wire transfer)
- Providing technical assistance support for remote operations
- Holding virtual office hours for grantees to touch base with the foundation on any topic or concern
- Deploying rapid-response funds to communities where low-wage workers will be impacted by a reduction in travel to a canceled philanthropy conference (through community foundations or nonprofits serving low-wage workers in that community)
- Providing technical assistance to grantees to help access federal loan funds
Grantmaking Practices and Financial Support:
- Asking grantees what they most need at this moment and connecting with peer funders to limit the number of asks to any single nonprofit organization
- Converting project-based grants to general operating grants (for project-based grants that set a cap on admin expenses, removing that cap or increasing the percentage)
- Simplifying or eliminating application and reporting practices (i.e., moving to phone calls instead of written materials)
- Moving up distribution of renewal grants to provide additional cash on hand for organizations
- Providing an additional year of funding across the board to all grantees without requiring new applications
- Deploying rapid response funds to grantees to recover from the losses of canceled fundraising events
- Supporting community-based funds and funding through intermediaries (particularly in areas that are new to the foundation)
- Supporting national and local nonprofit sector groups that are advocating for nonprofits to be included in federal and local relief provisions
- Providing flexibility with grant disbursements, deadlines, grant periods
- Offering bridge grants to grantee organizations that would have cycled off in 2020
- Accepting applications on a rolling basis
- Increasing payout
- Funding reserves to provide some protection against the expected financial downturn
- Working with local CDFIs to establish lines of credit for grantees
Advocacy
- Leveraging relationships with city and state officials to voice your support for nonprofit grantees' needs (i.e., more flexibility with contracts)
- Supporting advocacy efforts around nonprofit inclusion in federal, state and city relief packages and legislation (and financially supporting nonprofit advocacy organizations to continue this work)
- Supporting advocacy efforts around employment-related support and reform (i.e., paid sick leave, access to health care)
- Organizing / advocating within the field of philanthropy for practice change