What Nonprofit Leaders Can Do Now: Reader Views

An article by Alex Counts, former head of the Grameen Foundation, outlining what nonprofit workers could do when their work had been halted by the Covid-19 crisis has prompted a sharp debate on philanthropy.com and social media. The article featured eight things nonprofit leaders could do during the crisis, such as staying in touch with key advisers, creating weekly video updates, and taking care of themselves.

While readers agreed with the ideas Counts offered for outreach and self care, many readers were angered, saying they had little time to do the things Counts suggested as they worked 24/7 to keep their nonprofits afloat — especially while juggling other tasks, such as caring for children out of school. But many also had their own ideas about how to help one another and advance the common good.

We’ve gathered some of the most interesting suggestions below, but we hope you’ll read all the comments, which are featured directly under the article. We have identified the authors by the names they used to register to participate in our comment section.

Stephanie Maurice wrote:
“1. recognize that we are going through an individually and collectively traumatic experience
2. give ourselves grace
3. rest as much as possible”

Elissa Bassler wrote: “I don’t know a single nonprofit leader with time on their hands. Everyone I know is busier than ever. But if by chance one does have time on their hands, here’s a better list:

• Brush up on or learn to sew and make masks

• Organize an advocacy campaign to get Congress to pass a nonprofit bailout bill

• Call one of your colleagues at another nonprofit who is working 15-hour days and ask how you can help

• Organize your community to set up a ‘Give and Take Bin’ system, like little free libraries but with food: pop-up food pantries

• Raise money for any of a zillion nonprofits who are on the front lines of this crisis.Use your relationships, skills, and expertise in any of a million ways to help in this mortal crisis.”

Kevin Feldman offered this advice: “I don’t mean to seem like I am over-simplifying this issue, but the first thing that every nonprofit leader and his/her board should have been asking is . . . ‘How can we go on to fulfill our mission and serve our cause in the midst of this crisis?’ Then once the nonprofits adapt and make the necessary changes to continue serving their causes and communities, promote and publicize the hell out of it, and be sure that your donors are informed of what you are now doing.”

Meanwhile, another writer, Jenn3628, summed up how many nonprofit leaders are spending their time these days: “Some organizations are working exhausting hours with or on behalf of people desperately affected, perhaps putting themselves or their staff at great risk; many nonprofit leaders are themselves from and of communities that are most affected; some are laying off staff and closing down operations temporarily or permanently, which does actually entail work; some of us are completely re-inventing how to do the work, each day over and over as the situation changes.

“Some of us are losing people to the pandemic and grieving, while doing a combination of these things and more. I think, again respectfully, that the reactions you are getting to this well-intentioned piece are conveying that you cannot put yourself in the shoes of those who are in the hot seats right now, whatever other crises you have weathered; and the tone of the piece and its content reflect that gap in awareness and perhaps also in humility.”

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and perspectives. We welcome additional comments and letters to the editor. See other articles about nonprofits experiencing financial stress, how board members can help, advice from financial and management experts on how to weather this crisis, as well as Covid-19 coverage to date and the collection Chronicle Advice on How to Respond to Covid-19.