This page provides a wide range of resources related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its impact on the nonprofit sector. Click the links below to be directed to:
Go to State Policy Updates
Go to Actions and Resources for Nonprofits
- Guide to the Evolving Workplace – reference guide for reopening businesses.
- CDC Workplace Guidance – information on COVID-19 and the workplace, vaccination programs, prevention strategies, and more.
- Employer Takeaways following OSHA updates in August 2021.
- COVID-19 Return to Work Resource Guide– multi-part series covering planning and legal guidance.
Vaccine Mandate Information
- Vaccination Requirement Considerations for Nonprofits – from North Carolina Center for Nonprofits.
- Momentum Nonprofit Partners’ letter in support of implementing vaccines mandates across nonprofit sector.
- Chart providing basic information on vaccination mandates issued at the federal and statewide levels.
Philanthropic and governments across Massachusetts are setting up funds to support organizations and communities that have been impacted by the coronavirus. See below for a list of funds. MNN is updating this list as often as possible.
*To see this list as an interactive Google map, click here. For a complete listing of COVID-19 grants for Massachusetts nonprofits, click here.
- Cape & Islands Major Crisis Relief Fund
- Cape and Islands United Way Community Response Fund
- Charlesview, Inc. COVID-19 Emergency Fund
- Essex County Community Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund
- Greater Lowell Community Foundation – COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
- Greater Worcester Community Foundation COVID-19 Response Fun
- Harvard University Allston-Brighton Emergency Response Grant
- MetroWest Health Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Grants
- Open Road Alliance COVID-19 Grants
- Ropes and Gray COVID-19 Relief Coalition
- Tufts Health Plan Foundation
- United States Small Business Administration – Economic Injury Disaster Loans
- United Way of Central Massachusetts
- United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
Additional philanthropic funds can be found on Philanthropy Massachusetts’s website here.
PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS RESOURCES
- The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued interim final guidance on PPP loan forgiveness. Our national partners at the National Council of Nonprofits have conducted a thorough analysis of this guidance. Click here.
- AAFCPAs has additional information–including step-by-step loan forgiveness calculation instructions–here.
- PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculator: click here.
Vaccine Guidance
- Trust the Facts, Get the Vax Campaign Materials
- COVID-19 Vaccine Facts
- The Boston Foundation Vaccine Resource Map
- Vaccine eligibility checker
- Vaxfinder
- Black Coalition Against COVID-19
ACTIONS AND RESOURCES FOR NONPROFITS
How should nonprofits in Massachusetts respond?
Nonprofits should consider rescheduling or canceling programs or events, revisiting their work from home and sick leave policies, and thinking through ways to effectively communicate COVID-related updates with employees and other stakeholders. Nonprofits should also stay informed throughout the duration of the outbreak from reputable sources like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. See the National Council of Nonprofits page of resources for nonprofits and COVID-19.
Virtual Event Tools and Resources
- Auctria – online fundraising / auction platform
- CauseVid – nonprofit video email platform, now with a free version for nonprofits
- Give Lively – free fundraising platform
- Funraise – online fundraising platform / donor database
- GiveSmart – online auction / event software
- “13 innovative fundraising ideas for nonprofits & Charities” (CauseVox)
- Comcast is opening its Xfinity WiFi Network for free, and is offering unlimited data for free for two months. They are also offering new, low-income Internet Essentials customers with two months of free internet. Learn more.Determine if the program or event can be hosted virtually (e.g. a webinar or live stream). See below for resources:
- Ask donors to convert sponsorships and ticket sales to donations, rather than refunds. See guidance on how to do so from AAFCPAs here.
- Consider the impact of canceling a program or event on revenue, including whether or not to explore event insurance to mitigate the costs of a major event cancellation (e.g. fundraising events). (See “What you need to know about coronavirus and special event insurance” from Insureon.)
- Manage contracts with event venues, caterers, and other event stakeholders. (See “Managing Contractual Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis: Force Majeure Clauses and Other Approaches” from Hemenway & Barnes.)
Revisit work from home and sick leave policies
Nonprofits adjusting their work from home and sick leave policies should:
- Read the United Way of Massachusetts Bay’s comprehensive listing, “Remote Work Resources for Nonprofits.”
- Review their policies related to illness and sick leave to ensure that they are consistent with public health recommendations.
- See a sample remote work policy on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s website here when reviewing your own.
- Read the CDC’s “Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to the Coronavirus Disease.”
- Read Littler’s “Coronavirus: Employer Action Items.”
Remote Work Communication Tips
Nonprofits play an important role in educating and reassuring employees, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
- Talk with your team. Reassure your team that you care about their health and safety.
- Make telecommuting options available for as many employees as possible. For businesses in which telecommuting is not an option or for particular duties that cannot be performed remotely, follow proper steps above to limit close contact, and prevent the spread of disease.
- Remind employees of your organization’s policies related to illness and sick leave, and be flexible with sick leave benefits for those who are ill or who are recommended to stay home because they are high risk.
- Be mindful that different members of your team may perceive the threat differently or have special concerns based on their life circumstances. For example, persons with elderly family members may be especially concerned, and Asian Americans are likely facing increased racism. Leaders should be prepared to recognize, respond to and prevent stigma and discrimination in the workplace. Do not make determinations of risk based on race or country of origin, and be sure to maintain confidentiality regarding the health of specific employees. Speak out if you see this happening.
- Read the Communications Network’s free “Coronavirus Crisis Communications Triage Kit” for how to communicate about the disease clearly, accurately, and effectively.
Financial planning
- COVID-19 Tools and Resources for Nonprofits – Nonprofit Finance Fund
- COVID-19 Resource Center – BerryDunn
Organizational Resources
- Nonprofit Resources List “#NPCOVID19” – open-sourced Google document containing additional resources, tools, and more to help nonprofits respond to COVID-19.
- Hemenway and Barnes – how to hold a member meeting when you can’t meet in person
- Chamber of Commerce – Coronavirus Small Business Resources Guide
- Bringfood Initiative – Bringfood is designed to help food pantries (and others) respond to the need for home delivery services brought on by COVID-19.
Resources for individuals needing assistance
- COVID-19 Behavioral Health Information Hub – Network of Care Massachusetts
- Network of Care MA – Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Resource Hub
- Mass211 – free hotline available 24/7 that connects Massachusetts residents with assistance programs. Dial “2-1-1”
- Massachusetts Health Connector – if you need health insurance, you may qualify for coverage through the Health Connector if you’ve lost coverage from a job: Enrollment is now open until May 23, 2021.
- FoodSource Hotline – free hotline available through Project Bread that provides referrals to food banks and pantries across Massachusetts. Dial “1-800-377-1292”
- MassLegalHelp – resources from Massachusetts legal aid programs to help residents with legal matters.
- Nursing Home Abuse Center – Report nursing home abuse
- The Phoenix – offering live-streamed classes for people looking for addiction recovery services.