Corporate Giving in a Pandemic

The COVID-19 coronavirus has now claimed over 175,000 lives and approximately 30 million jobs, according to an estimation from the U.S. jobs report from the Department of Labor released in July. In the resulting economic crisis, families and individuals are hurting financially. However, with revenue and job losses, corporate America is not unaffected, including the nonprofit sector. 

Some reporting suggests that nonprofits and charities have seen a drastic reduction in donations and revenue, which means that they in turn are less able to provide help and aid to the most vulnerable during these difficult times. This isn’t even addressing the job losses the nonprofits have suffered themselves; 1.6 million nonprofit jobs were lost from March through May, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy. With so many people and entities suffering financially, it’s a time to stop and reassess what’s really important. 

Corporate Giving

Although nonprofits and charities are suffering financially, that isn’t to say that corporations or people in positions of power have failed to give of their plenty. Near the beginning of the pandemic’s effects in the U.S., Forbes published an article showing great donations and corporate giving from big names like Microsoft and Google. Special charitable funds have been established to deal with specific needs as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Individual philanthropists also did their part to meet needs and lend aid to nonprofits as well as donor-advised funds, according to a New York Times article published in June. But there’s still so much to do in the fight to provide basic human needs to those suffering.

While it’s apparent that many individuals, philanthropists, and even some corporations are doing their part to help during these unprecedented times, it’s also clear that there’s more to do. The time for giving is far from over—if anything, it’s just beginning. With larger corporations stepping up to the plate of giving, it’s also necessary for mid-level corporations and beyond to join in the effort. Only through the collective impact of multiple corporations, entities and individuals giving can we provide basic human necessities to those in need. 

What are Basic Human Needs?

When you think of necessities, you might immediately jump to things like food and shelter. It’s true that these things are vital, but they aren’t the only types of aid that are essential. Think about healthcare, education, and elder care. Someone in a wheelchair who relies on home care aid to bathe, dress, eat and function can’t live without that type of help, even though it’s not directly related to food and shelter. Corporations large and small can do their part to contribute to meeting these basic human needs for so many. 

Sometimes in order to make a big impact, you need to start small. Thousands of smaller nonprofits aren’t getting the funding they require to achieve their aims, which means that the people they serve won’t be helped. The Live Care Foundation is just one such organization that uses donated funds to create charitable grants for those with extended care costs. Visit their webpage to make a donation today. Every little bit helps, whether it’s on an individual or corporate scale.