Engagement Surges at Regional Associations as Funders Collaborate During Pandemic

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Regional associations of grantmakers across the country are proving vital to philanthropy’s response to COVID-19, as the immensity and urgency of the crisis have driven more institutions to prioritize coordination, partnerships and sharing knowledge.

“In a crisis like this, to be effective requires a whole different level of collaboration among institutions,” said Phil Buchanan, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, who is also on the board of Philanthropy Massachusetts. “Regional associations are uniquely positioned to be able to facilitate that collaboration.”

Unlike past disasters, COVID-19 has reached into every community in the nation, prompting engagement from a wide swath of grantmakers with varying priorities. But the impact of the crisis has been profoundly unequal, with systemic inequities leading to disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities. These range from higher rates of infections and deaths among African Americans and Latinos to undocumented individuals facing the overlapping challenges of high unemployment, ineligibility for federal aid, and lack of access to healthcare.

Regional associations, which have long brought together diverse stakeholders and applied local analysis to national issues, are well suited for the moment’s needs.

“They are able to really regionalize, down to their unique population, their unique vulnerabilities, and their unique strengths,” said Regine Webster, vice president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. Regional associations can bring together groups “that are facing the same challenges, walking the same walk, and seeking the same good. That’s pretty powerful.”

Weekly Check-ins, Surging Attendance

Regional associations’ programs have become critically important as more funders than ever seek out information about the crisis and opportunities for collaboration. Most organizations we spoke with are holding weekly calls for members, offering a mix of updates and group discussion, along with more traditional sessions on key issues or geographic areas.

Most associations have had to postpone or cancel some previously planned programming, while repurposing as much as possible to focus on coronavirus response. But volume of activity and member engagement are higher than ever. Philanthropy Massachusetts, for example, hosted 30-plus convenings in just the past two months, versus about 80 all of last year. And attendance across all programs has doubled or tripled, according to multiple regional associations.

“Funders are far more engaged and wanting to get out of their silos,” said Dawn Melchiorre of Forefront, which serves as Illinois’ regional association of grantmakers and its state association of nonprofits. “Funders who maybe only did human services want to understand the wider landscape of what is happening. They’re looking for answers in a more holistic way.”

Shepherding Response Funds

Tracking local response funds has been an essential element of COVID-19 response for regional associations of grantmakers, with virtually every organization listing local funds on their websites. Many are also providing expertise to these efforts.

Philanthropy California, the alliance between the state’s three regional associations, is vetting every response fund in the state—now more than 100—and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office is relying on their work in directing resources. Philanthropy Massachusetts advised the group that launched the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund. The state, though it has received minimal national coverage, has some of the highest rates of infection and death in the country.

Several regional associations have also joined with partners to launch response funds. Philanthropy Northwest partnered with Governor Jay Inslee’s office to launch the WA Food Fund, which has raised more than $3.5 million. Forefront helped to launch the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, which has raised approximately $30 million and is Illinois’ first-ever statewide rapid response fund, according to Melchiorre. Forefront’s CEO serves on the fund’s steering committee, and another staff member serves on the grants working group.

Tracking Nonprofit Needs, Grants

Many regional associations, particularly those that count nonprofits among their members, have taken the lead in gathering information from organizations about their needs. Philanthropy Massachusetts, whose membership includes 500 nonprofit members, partnered with the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network to survey the state’s sector three times in the past eight weeks. Similarly, Forefront developed a survey for Illinois nonprofits that got more than 1,400 responses, and Philanthropy California partnered with volunteer match organization Catchafire to determine needs in the state.

“Funders should not forget that we’re still in rapid response,” said Jeff Poulos, chief executive officer of Philanthropy Massachusetts. “Nonprofits are asking, ‘How do we keep our lights on? How do we keep our doors open? How do we pay our employees?’ before they can think about ‘How do we shift our business model?’”

Some regional associations are also tracking the giving within their regions, particularly those in virus hotspots. The Connecticut Council on Philanthropy and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers have both mounted such efforts, with the latter partnering with Candid to track both grants by foundations in their state and grantmaking to their state.

“It’s incredibly important for philanthropy to be thinking about the urgent needs of now, but in coordination and across sectors with other community leaders about how communities are going to recover from this crisis,” said Karla Fortunato, president of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.

Government Partnerships and Advocacy

In addition to partnerships with state governments on response funds, regional associations are looking for other levers to influence and inform policymaking. Several have initiated or joined efforts to advocate for nonprofit and philanthropic needs to state officials and federal representatives.

In Illinois, Forefront is partnering with other state associations to coordinate their advocacy with state and federal representatives. Philanthropy California is working closely with Governor Gavin Newsom’s liaison to the nonprofit sector, and Philanthropy Northwest has partnered with tribal communities on economic development, among other efforts.

Some regional association representatives have joined more formal government responses. In Connecticut, Fortunato participates in twice-weekly calls with the state’s subcommittee on unmet needs. It has allowed her to both share what philanthropy is doing and keep her members closely informed on the state’s response. She is also recruiting foundation representatives for the local recovery committees that are being launched due to Connecticut’s lack of a county government structure.

The Power of Relationships

A major theme from regional association representatives is that this moment has made clear the value of their long-term work to build connections, not only between funders, but also with nonprofits, government and other partners in their communities. From unsolicited donations to notes of thanks, many are seeing appreciation for that work.

“Many folks have been around the table with each other for years—on funder tables, in cohorts, or collaborations. Now, they’re able to pick up the phone and easily get down to business and trust the validity of what’s being put in front of them,” said Anjana Pandey, vice president of strategy and operations at Philanthropy Northwest, in an email.

A Focus on Equity

Whether it is meatpacking plant workers in Minnesota, the diverse communities of the Chicagoland region, or immigrants in California and beyond, regional associations are working to highlight and respond to the unequal impacts of this crisis.

“This pandemic is just as inequitable as our system and as the systemic issues that we’ve been fighting for a long time,” said Phuong Pham, director of knowledge and communications at Southern California Grantmakers, one of the three Philanthropy California partners. “For a regional association, our end goal is really to build an equitable world.”

What’s Ahead

To respond to the pandemic, many foundations have taken measures—removing grant restrictions, shifting from project to operating support and reducing reporting requirements—long advocated by experts, including regional associations. The goal for many organizations is to preserve those shifts.

“How do we keep all of the stuff that worked really well and move that into reality?” said Melchiorre. “What we don’t want to see is it to go back to the old way.”

Like many players, regional associations see the larger possibilities created by this crisis. Major policy decisions are being made almost daily as governments at all levels attempt to address the fallout from the pandemic. Solutions once outside the mainstream, from universal basic income to paying for hotel rooms for those without housing, are increasingly on the table. Many regional associations are working on ensuring that philanthropy and the communities they serve have a seat.

“There’s going to be opportunities for innovation. This is a chance for philanthropy’s financial and social capital to be used to promote the social change goals that many organizations have, whether it’s advancing racial equity, ending homelessness or reforming our justice system,” Fortunato said. “If now isn’t the time for trying new things, I don’t know what is.”