Organizations have wrestled with approaching supporters during this time. Julia Kathary, CEO of Coburn Place shares seven ways. Here are two:

Communicate, communicate, communicate. Communication to supporters is more important now than ever. We are personally updating our donors weekly by email or phone – Every donor we’ve “met” with by phone or video has increased their financial support. I'm planning virtual house parties with four to five major donors at a time to keep people in the loop.

Go to your most ardent ambassadors for help. We were running out of beds because we couldn’t pick up donations and people understandably don’t want to haul large items into our building. We had an urgent need for six beds, so we reached out to one generous donor, who put a call out to his network of friends. Within 24 hours, we had 12 mattresses and bedframes ordered for us from Amazon. And a board member is doing a birthday fundraiser on Facebook to raise funds for more furniture. They amaze us.

To read all seven, click here.

This is an unprecedented time and capturing it for future generations is what StoryCorps designed its platform to do. StoryCorps Connect enables a 1:1 remote interview using video conferencing, and the audio and a still photo from each interview will be entered into StoryCorps’ archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. To learn more and access the toolkit, click here:

https://storycorps.org/participate/storycorps-connect/

Youth MOVE National is interested to learn how youth-peer support or youth-recovery coaching is being affected by the pandemic. Sharing experiences now will help the organization better understand what skills, support and policies youth-peer providers have or need to have to support youth through crisis. Participate in a 45-minute interview (via Zoom) to share your experiences. A $25 stipend is available for those who complete an interview. Complete form.

Check out our website. We are highlighting the best resources and tools we can find, and then add to our website for future reference. More info.

DEADLINE TODAY: Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is offering SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and still has the capacity to support Indianapolis nonprofits through its affiliate, immito. Interested nonprofits should complete LISC's survey by 5 p.m. today (May 5). Click here.

Ball Brothers Foundation Rapid Grant funding to targeted healthcare organizations, emergency responders and public service providers. Ball Brothers Foundation is also continuing to provide Rapid Grant funding to other targeted healthcare organizations, emergency responders and public service providers. Examples of support include $5,000 grants awarded for: Delaware County Emergency Management Agency’s creation of a “Local Strategic Stockpile” of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic and future disasters; purchase of COVID-19 tests for Meridian Health Services and N95 masks for staff at Open Door Health Services facilities.

Foster Success has created an emergency fund to help older foster youth who are coping with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund is made possible thanks to an initial $10,000 grant from Carmel-based the Zotec Foundation. Foster youth in need can apply for emergency funds here.

The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced the Indiana Arts Emergency Relief Fund to support Indiana’s arts organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fixed amounts of approximately $2,500 – $3,000 will be awarded and are not competitive. All eligible organizations will be awarded funds upon the successful completion of a required form assigned in the online grant system. The deadline for eligible organizations to request funding is May 15. Learn more, here.

By Cody Lents, change manager, Covi

The past few weeks have sent us disruption after disruption and change after change. Most of us have experienced a massive shift in incoming business, a migration of our workforces from the office to work from home, and an influx of administrative tasks and emails. Not only has the work force made a shift, so have students and teachers and now home is the classroom with e-learning.

As we continue work and classes in home spaces, it may be beneficial to remember the ergonomics and body posture in the office and classroom don’t always translate to the home work spaces.

To avoid discomfort in the upper and lower back and a pain in the neck adults and children alike should think about the following tips:

Read more.

Hamilton County Community Foundation has awarded Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry a $3,000 grant to fund processing fees on donated large game and livestock, serving Hamilton County residents. Read more, here.

Friends of Indianapolis Animal Care Services Foundation received a $30,000 grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Read more.

Refugee incubator farm of Northeast Indiana (Fort Wayne) has secured a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to found a small-business incubator program for Burmese refugees, most former farmers. The nonprofit has secured an agreement with Save Maumee Grassroots Organization to use nine acres of an 11-acre former corn field in New Haven. Learn more.

Indy Reads, School on Wheels, and TeenWorks were approved for United Way of Central Indiana accreditation and can apply for United Way grants in basic needs, family opportunity and social innovation as well as access training, technical assistance and capacity building programs beginning this month.

United Way of Central Indiana released its community-wide analysis to shed light on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nonprofit community in central Indiana. A snapshot of the COVID-19 community analysis will be updated regularly on United Way’s website.

COVID-19 relief funds awarded

Ball Brothers Foundation awarded a $75,000 grant to the IU Health Foundation as the number of cases continue to rise in East Central Indiana. The grant will support the needs of hospital employees in Delaware, Jay and Blackford Counties who are working around the clock to fight COVID-19.

The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded more than $380,000 in grants to 25 educational institutions and nonprofits throughout the state. The funding is designed to support K-12 programs focused on summer reading, STEM and experiential learning. For a complete list of recipients, click here.

The Community Foundation of Elkhart County received a $300,000 anonymous donation from “Secret Santa” to support nonprofit organizations and community members in its geographic area amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.

Glick Philanthropies made a $250,000 donation to the Indy Chamber’s Rapid Response Loan Fund. Read more.

The Indianapolis E-Learning Fund will provide aid to Indianapolis public school districts and public charter schools. The advisory committee for the fund approved the release of $1.5 million to help schools with their most urgent needs, which were determined to be device and internet connectivity for students and families. Read more.

Indiana Rural Health Association has been awarded $828,000 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support its efforts against COVID-19. IRHA plans to add staff and additional resources to help physicians, providers, medical professionals, clinics and hospitals integrate and leverage telehealth resources. Read more.

Tangram received C-CERF funding to pull clients from day services to reduce contact and has increased the number of hours to provide services through tele-services and telehealth. Tangram is also providing life coaching to help with behavioral health services and in-home care.

SPONSORS' INSIGHTS

Charitable Allies provides insight on insurance claims, specifically related to event insurance and business interruption and considerations related to the pandemic. Click here for the article.

JGA: Keep your fundraising team engaged during social distancing.

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Chief Executive Officer - LifeSmart Youth