Nonprofits rely on alternative fundraising

More than 12,000 individuals donated to about 400 nonprofits taking part in the Fairfield County Community Foundation’s annual Giving Day last February.

What many didn’t know was the $1.65 million raised that day would help these organizations weather the storm looming ahead.

Only a few weeks later, COVID-19 hit Connecticut hard, prompting the cancellations of events nonprofits rely on for fundraising. Many of these organizations were able to survive using funds they raised during Giving Day, foreshadowing the crucial role virtual giving is playing for nonprofits as they feel the financial strain of

COVID as well as the increased demand for services as many fall on hard times.

“We understand how COVID has impacted the community,” said Danielle Marchione, manager of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, who runs Giving Day for FCCF. “Providing this influx of funds really helped nonprofits during this incredibly stressful time when fundraisers had to be canceled last minute. ... We’re still in a period of increased need for social services and community support. Nonprofits are providing infrastructure to help communities through this.”

The foundation’s Giving Day is entirely virtual which is increasing its appeal to nonprofits. Marchione said they’re already seeing interest as registration opens for Giving Day 2021, which will be held on Feb. 25.

Nonprofits usually pay a $50 fee to register, but this year Marchione said they offered a $35 discounted fee for the first several weeks of sign-up. As a result, registrations are up nearly 35 percent from last year, a trend which Marchione said could possibly continue as the event gets closer

Giving Day 2020 enabled LifeBridge, a Bridgeport nonprofit offering behavioral and youth services to families, to launch an urban after school program and a summer day camp for middle schoolers in Bridgeport as planned.

The money raised allowed for medical exams, COVID testing, personal protective equipment and deep cleaning for the inperson summer program. Giving Day funds also helped the organization transition to telehealth counseling services when things went virtual in March, said LifeBridge President and CEO Alan Mathis. LifeBridge raised about $45,000 across 1,000 individual donors last year.

“We believe long after

COVID, kids really are going to struggle if we’re not able to provide a level of care and attention they need,” Mathis said. “FCCF funding allowed us to do urban after-school and day programs first virtually, and then in person. The families were very, very grateful. ... When we couldn’t have clients coming in for physical counseling ... FCCF was there and they helped. And let me tell you, when you're going through a difficult time, to know you have friends and such great leadership of the foundation...it makes you feel you have substance and helps keep you in the game.”

Lauren Patterson, president and CEO of the New Canaan Community Foundation, said they’ve also seen an increase in interest from nonprofits for both regular grants and those from the foundation’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund. She added the foundation has given out about $500,000 across several rounds of grants from the response fund, with more to come.

Through this, Patterson said they’ve been able to disperse as much money as they would during a normal year, even with the foundation’s annual Giving Day fundraising competition with the Community Fund of Darien postponed to the spring.

“Nonprofits organizations are trying everything to make sure they can raise resources,” Patterson said. “So many organizations are reliant on events and oneon-one engagement and they can’t accomplish in same ways what they have in the past and that goes for us.”

Ann’s Place, a Danburybased nonprofit offering free support for cancer patients, raised more than half its funds from events, said President and CEO Shannon Cobb. With inperson events not looking possible into early 2021, Cobb said the group is trying to find ways to keep fundraising virtually.

Ann’s Place has seen an increased demand for services now that they’ve gone virtual and can reach people beyond Danbury. Cobb said they’re also anticipating more patients in the coming years as COVID has led to more missed screenings and thus, more late-stage cancer diagnoses. Working with a high-risk population also makes virtual fundraising even more crucial. Cobb said they’ve transitioned to events like online auctions, but it can be difficult to engage donors online especially at a time where many have less to give.

“Across the board, all nonprofits are really feeling that and looking creatively at how we can raise funds online and engage work in fun and creative ways,” Cobb said. “Giving Day allows nonprofits to have that venue.”

Ann’s Place raised about $3,000 during last Giving Day with FCCF and plans to partake again in 2021.

“We’ve got some challenges,” Cobb said. “Every nonprofit has made drastic cuts. At the same time, services are needed in many cases at a higher capacity. During a time where people are already stressed because of cancer, COVID has added a lot of mental health challenges. We’ve found many of our families need services more. This puts a spotlight on the first two quarters and help stabilize cash flow during a time that’s less busy.”