Giving Compass' Take:

• Here are a couple of ways that philanthropists can provide charitable dollars for organizations serving their communities, such as food banks and medical clinics. 

• Are there opportunities in your area to give to these types of organizations? Which services in your community need critical support right now?

• Read how funders can help nonprofits weather coronavirus.

The vicious combination of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and ongoing wild market and business disruptions is creating great uncertainty across all demographics. It also presents many opportunities where philanthropy can help.

Private philanthropy (and private business) are leading the way in developing methods for detection of the novel coronavirus and in finding treatments. The Gates Foundation has contributed more than $100 million toward the effort, and more than a billion in private dollars has been spent globally, according to Chronicles of Philanthropy. Individual sports stars have collectively pledged millions to support workers at sports arenas and venues that have gone dark.

You don’t have to be a billionaire or a celebrity to help, though. If you have charitable capital you are ready to deploy in the face of the virus and financial turbulence, here are four main areas to consider.

The food bank, free medical clinics, and other direct-aid charities in your city and state can always use support, and doubly so in an emergency. These vary widely from community to community, but here are a few of the types of organizations you might look for:

  • Food banks: With gig work drying up, restaurants and schools closing, and major companies furloughing employees without pay, those living paycheck to paycheck will be in a tight spot – even if they avoid getting sick.
  • Aid for the elderly: Given how vulnerable older people are to COVID-19, charities that bring food and supplies to the elderly are in desperate need.
  • Local charities in general: Charities you support that may have nothing to do with the coronavirus response or even direct aid may well still be in a tough spot, perhaps by being thrown into telework or because their sources of income dried up.
  • Support businesses and employees: While focus primarily on philanthropy, let’s also not forget that being charitable sometimes goes beyond giving to charities.

Read the full article about supporting civil society during coronavirus by Peter Lipsett at Philanthropy Daily.