ICYMI: I’ve been speaking to people across civil society for the @caf Giving Thought podcast about their experiences of the coronavirus crisis, how it's affecting CSOs & how they are responding.

Here’s a brief thread on key points for me in the conversations so far:

1) This is a potentially unprecedented crisis for many organisations, in terms of massive funding drops at the same time as increased demand.

But most are more concerned about the risks to those they fund/serve rather than themselves.

2) Many organisations will need short term help in the form of grants to weather this storm.

Additional support from funders/philanthropists is needed, but won’t be enough- govt support is urgently required #EveryDayCounts

3) Other forms of finance such as loans may be helpful too, and the inclusion of charities in govt measures aimed at business sector is welcome BUT these will not help many charities, who simply need unrestricted funding asap.

4) Following a period in which philanthropy has been heavily scrutinised & criticised, it has an opportunity to prove its value to society through its response to this crisis.

But that won't be automatic & greater scale & urgency is needed in the philanthropic response.

5)This crisis may be different in nature to normal crises that elicit a philanthropic response- because everyone is feeling effects, rather than group of those unaffected giving to help those affected.

This makes fundraising ask more complicated.

6) Many funders have shifted strategy & approach v rapidly- turning programmatic funding into unrestricted grants and focussing on addressing immediate critical needs.

However not all have done so, and there is plenty more work to do.

7) Funders, philanthropists & CSOs should be aware of the extent to which they may be judged in the future by how they act and respond during this crisis, just as many businesses are finding.

8) Many I spoke to highlighted how encouraging it is to see so much collaboration between organisations that have put any thoughts of ego or competition to one side.

The hope is that this can continue beyond the crisis.

9) Coordination of philanthropy & voluntary effort to make sure it is well-aimed & avoids duplication remains a big challenge- there is far more we could do through harnessing data on where volunteering and financial resources are going.

10) Many orgs have had to make a rapid pivot to digital and remote working & the learning curve is steep. They need support now to navigate the short-term challenges and potentially also to adapt their ways of working longer term.

11) Many interviewees highlighted as a cause for optimism the huge upsurge in informal civil society activity & the rediscovery of mutual aid/values of neighbourliness & suggested that longer term qn was how to ensure this continues past the crisis.

You can listen to the 4 compilation episodes here:
https://givingthought.libsyn.com/the-covid-19-pandemic-voices-from-civil-society-part-1

Here:
https://givingthought.libsyn.com/the-covid-19-crisis-voices-from-civil-society-2

Here:
https://givingthought.libsyn.com/the-covid-19-crisis-voices-from-civil-society-part-3

And here: https://givingthought.libsyn.com/the-covid-19-crisis-voices-from-civil-society-part-4

And my thanks again to @FranIndigo, @willperrin, @RobCFTyne, @clare_kiely, @sccceo, @UNITEDinHF, @nicktemple1, @CAFVenturesome, @Sortified, @FullFact, @GlasgowGinny & @CarolJMack for taking the time to talk.