Most non-profits help others because of funding from individual & corporate donors, as well as from grants and foundations. Traditionally, fundraising is an ongoing initiative that ensures non-profits can continue to help others.

But for many non-profits, COVID-19 has shifted fundraising from being important to being vital to their very survival. With most live fundraising events being postponed or even eliminated due to social distancing, non-profits are feeling the effect of people not donating as much as they normally do. This is likely due to a reduction in their income or simply because people are consumed with their own change in circumstances -leaving less time to think about supporting non-profit organizations. 

The reality is that the ones who suffer most from the disruption in fundraising are the people who depend on those non-profits. They now worry that the help they used to receive may suddenly disappear. 

The current COVID 19 pandemic has severely impacted the way non-profits function. Like other businesses, many non-profits have had to lay off staff to continue their operations. A study by John Hopkins University estimates that between February 2020 and May 2020, 1.6 million non-profit jobs were lost.

What’s worse, while non-profits are seeing a decrease in financial support, they are also seeing spikes in the demand for the services they provide. Those who have been hit hardest in this pandemic are also the ones who need the most support.  

How COVID 19 Has Affected DSCC and KSC

At DuPage Senior Citizens Council (DSCC) and Kane Senior Council (KSC), we want to make sure every senior we serve goes to bed each night knowing they are truly loved and are not forgotten. We’ve been providing programs and services to help seniors live independently in their own homes since 1975. 

Like many non-profits affected by COVID-19, we too feel the financial impact of canceled fundraising events and fewer individual and corporate donations this year – all the while facing increased demand for our services by older adults.  

We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of seniors requesting home meal delivery because they are worried to go out. We are also seeing an increase in requests by families of older adults who can’t check on their loved ones as frequently as before. 

Our services help seniors and their families worry less.

How You Can Help Us, Help More Seniors

• GIVE – your one-time or recurring donation can help us provide meals and other services to the seniors who count on us. Visit our donate page. 

• VOLUNTEER – most of our services are volunteer-driven. We have many safe and easy ways to give a small amount of your time to help older adults. Visit our volunteering page to see our volunteering opportunities. 

• SHARE – follow us on social media, sign up for our emails, and share the stories and information about the seniors we serve with others. Visit our Facebook page. 

No matter how little or how much you donate, 80 cents of every dollar of your donation will fund the services that directly help older adults. Donating to DSCC / KSC ensures we can continue to help seniors who are also struggling during this pandemic

Resources: 

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/nonprofits-struggle-to-stay-alive-amid-covid-19/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/business/economy/nonprofits-coronavirus-economy.html