Nonprofits Seek $60 Billion Federal Aid Package

Plus, the coronavirus threatens the financial survival of arts groups nationwide, and now is the time for philanthropy to give more, not less (opinion [Philanthropy Today] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? [Please sign up]( to receive your own copy. Government and Regulation [Nonprofits Seek $60 Billion Federal Aid Package]( [Image]( Getty Images By Dan Parks A letter endorsed by more than 50 nonprofit groups says that many charities will face a substantial strain due to increased demand for services. ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( Finance and Revenue [Coronavirus Threatens Financial Survival of Arts Groups Nationwide]( By Maria Di Mento and Jim Rendon Small arts organizations and especially those that focus on people of color are particularly worried. Some organizations are racing to provide help: A Colorado fund this week mailed up to $6,000 to every organization it has supported in the past 18 months, with no applications need. Opinion [Now Is the Time for Philanthropy to Give More, Not Less]( By Aaron Dorfman and Ellen Dorsey Increased funding must focus squarely on promoting social justice — and provide immediate support to those who have been most negatively (and disproportionately) harmed by the public-health crisis. Corporate Giving [Companies Change Giving and Volunteer Efforts in Wake of Coronavirus]( By Alex Daniels Businesses are looking for new ways to offer pro bono services that help struggling businesses. Plus they are protecting their workers' health by cutting back direct volunteer efforts. But it is unclear whether corporate generosity will continue as the economy tumbles. Letter to the Editor [Grantmakers Must Put Equity at the Forefront of the Coronavirus Response]( Dispelling the racist misinformation, providing general operating grants, and supporting funds that help those who lack sick leave and have been laid off are among the actions that will ensure the neediest are protected, says a coalition of organizations that connect foundations. Resources [Fundraising During the Corona Outbreak: Answers to 5 Pressing Questions]( By Rachel Cyrulnik, Chani Adams, Lauren Cotton, and Sharon Weiss Greenberg Trying to decide if you should to cancel an event? Wondering what to say to donors, how to stay connected, or whether to ask for money? Here’s advice to guide you. More Tools and Resources Plus see more than [1,100 other items]( in our resource center, exclusively available to subscribers. More About the Coronavirus and Nonprofits See all of our[coronavirus news and analysis](. Paid for and Created by Central Park Conservancy [Supporting Green Spaces and Partnerships]( A leader in the field of urban park management and public-private park partnerships, the Central Park Conservancy revitalizes and sustains urban green spaces, sharing its expertise and resources with other park professionals. ADVERTISEMENT [advertisement]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere The Metropolitan Museum of Art expects to stay closed until July because of the coronavirus and estimates it will lose about $100 million as a result. The museum will likely reopen with a smaller staff and reduced programming, its top bosses told department heads this week. Staff will continue to be paid through April 4, but afterward layoffs are probably inevitable. The museum has an operating budget of $320 million and an endowment of $3.6 billion. Meanwhile, the president of the American Alliance of Museums said three-quarters of the country’s museums are closed and a third will shut permanently if the crisis continues. ([New York Times]( Chinese billionaire Jack Ma is extending a hand to the United States and raising his philanthropist profile during the coronavirus outbreak. Ma, a co-founder of e-commerce behemoth Alibaba, has a $39 billion fortune, according to Forbes. His eponymous foundation, together with the Alibaba Foundation, is distributing a digital handbook based on the success of a hospital in China’s Zhejiang Province in fighting the coronavirus. Ma has also pledged to send 1 million face masks and 500,000 test kits to the United States. Ma stepped down as chairman of Alibaba in September to focus on philanthropy. ([Forbes]( More Coronavirus News Group Run by Former Google CEO to Hold Meetings with Venture Capitalists and Philanthropists About Ways to Fight Coronavirus ([CNBC]( This Nonprofit Is Taking Unused Food From Events Canceled Due to Coronavirus and Giving It to Those in Need ([Billboard]( What You Can Do to Help Ease the Coronavirus Suffering (Editorial: [Los Angeles Times]( Arts and Culture N.Y. Performers Improvise as Coronavirus Keeps Crowds Away ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription) Straining From Shutdowns, Theaters Ask Playwrights to Return Payments ([New York Times]( What Everyone Else Is Reading [Experts Urge Charities to Talk to Their Donors Now]( Fundraisers might struggle with what to say, but in times of crisis, it’s critical to maintain open lines of communication with supporters. The future of the relationship may depend on it. [4 Ways to Engage Major Donors During the Covid-19 Crisis]( Tips for building and maintaining strong relationships with big donors when face-to-face interactions are not appropriate [Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak: Resources to Help Nonprofits]( A collection of advice and tools to help nonprofits deal with the uncertainties surrounding the virus, including managing and leading, communicating, fundraising in a crisis, taking events online, and remote work. [Help for Nonprofits During the Coronavirus and Uncertain Economic Times]( The following stories from the Chronicle can help your nonprofit plan and prepare for the impact of the coronavirus on your workers and volunteers — and your finances. [Coronavirus: 6 Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover (Opinion)]( Lack of flexible funds and reserves will cripple many nonprofits; grant makers can help by loosening reporting rules and restrictions and maintaining grant levels even as the stock-market swoon hurts their endowments. Subscribe to Our Other Newsletters [Sign up online]( - Fundraising — Briefing on news and ideas (weekly) - Philanthropy This Week — Roundup of news, opinion, and features (weekly) - Nonprofit Adviser — How-to’s for nonprofits (weekly; subscriber only) - Chronicle Insider — Highlights from each new issue (monthly; subscriber only) Subscribe to the Chronicle As donors become increasingly selective in their giving, it’s more important than ever that you have unlimited access to the tools and resources needed to show your impact. A subscription to the Chronicle of Philanthropy provides you with the knowledge you need to generate excitement for your nonprofit, grow your donor base, and stay ahead of emerging trends. [Subscribe Today]( Briefing on Diversity in Giving For subscribers only: Join us on April 7 to learn how cutting-edge nonprofits are [building ties with donors of color.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Sign up]( for other newsletters, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2020 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy](