In the midst of the chaotic scenes caused by COVID-19, there’s no denying that it did bring out the best in many philanthropists and charity donors across the board. While the pandemic was leaving its indelible mark on the lives of millions, the non-profit community was ramping up its efforts to counter the crisis and lend a helping hand to those who need it the most in these difficult times.
Micah Raskin is a pre-eminent U.S. poker player, having ample experience since 2007. He is also a philanthropist who does and has done a lot of community work. As part of this charity work, Micah has demonstrated a dedication to managing, establishing, and evaluating performance standards, maintenance controls, and work procedures as well as ensuring compliance with policies and procedures. “Despite the catastrophic impact of the pandemic,” he explains, “I see a silver lining in the great charity work that philanthropists have put out so far.”
The Impact on Charitable Work
If charity was important before, in the age of the coronavirus pandemic, it can literally be the difference between life and death. It’s no surprise then that many donors have decided to increase their donations and charitable work after the pandemic hit the nation. A recent study found that about 25% of donors had already put in motion plans to double and even triple the amounts they donate for charity.
Non-profits rely on the support of philanthropists to keep contributing to the community and help save lives, says Micah Raskin. So, it’s heartening to see generations of donors including Millennials and Gen X reaching into their deep pockets to give out more in response to COVID-19 and the ensuing recession.
Unfortunately, it’s not all rosy on the charity front. Due to the lockdown and stay-at-home orders, many volunteers are finding it hard to keep up their volunteer work of delivering critical and life-saving services. Young and older volunteers are the backbone of charity organizations and without their time and dedication, help will not reach those who need it.
At the same time, health-related non-profits are probably the hardest hit of all charity sectors. According to Micah Raskin, this is due, in part, to the highly contagious nature of the virus and the need for social distancing to prevent its spread. Other sectors such as the environment and human services will also see a reduction in their activities as a result.
Micah Raskin on the Way of the Philanthropist
As the pandemic rages on and many sectors of society struggle to cope with its impact, many philanthropists are determined to stick to their favorite charities and non-profits. The majority of these non-profit organizations happen to be local ones. This is a crucial point in charity work, explains Micah Raskin. When the philanthropist is familiar with the work, conditions, and needs of the organization they support, they’ll be able to support it in a better and more meaningful way.
But not all charity sectors are affected by the pandemic in the same way. Those on the frontline, for example, need the support of the donors more than others. That’s where many non-profits, especially health and human services ones, need to reach out to donors to explain the nature of their work, shares Michah Raskin. “In many cases, donors don’t know where to direct their contributions and while the environment is important, health-related charity work should be front and center right now,” he says.
Donors Power Ahead
Most individual philanthropists work alone. This puts a dent in the efficacy of their efforts, valuable as they are. Compared to donors partnering together, it’s clear how single donors’ efforts can be scattershot. When a group of philanthropists or institutional organizations work together, they can make a change. “Think about it,” Micah Raskin says. “A dedicated team that develops initiatives, researches the charity landscape, and directs their grants where they’re most needed are more effective in their concerted efforts than single donations going in different directions but not necessarily where they’re needed the most.”
The need for philanthropists to come together is a direct response to the pandemic. Many donors realized that collaborating on funding platforms would mean not only that their donations pour into the national pool of resources but also that the funds will be deployed faster. It’s no wonder then that, since the start of the pandemic, local community funds have blossomed all over the country. Or as Mr. Raskin puts it, in the age of COVID-19, every donated cent counts and we need all hands on deck.
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