Nonprofits have lost billions of dollars this spring and summer due to canceled fundraisers, site closures, and the ongoing fallout of COVID-19. A study by CAF America found that 73% of organizations have seen a decline in contributions this year, and that’s especially problematic as the work nonprofits do is more needed now than ever. Not every nonprofit will make it out of 2020 on two feet; some will shut their doors for the last time, leaving countless individuals in need of support.

Fortunately, nonprofits have about four months to turn their 2020 financial situation around. But they can only do so with a creative and effective approach to end-of-year giving. To the nonprofits reading this: this year’s annual giving campaign is going to need to be different this year. You must be thoughtful. You must be agile. Most importantly, you must embrace a digital-first world. Here are the top things you’ll need to do each month to ensure a successful end to the year and shore up your nonprofit’s chances of long-term survival.

Goal number one to be successful in your end-of-year campaign: don’t sound like a broken record. At this point, donors have heard it all. They know how hard nonprofits are being hit by the COVID-19 crisis, and they know their support is important to your future. If you want to stand out amidst the fray of competing appeals that are all making the same basic ask, you need to bring the hot button topics of 2020 — race equity and health disparities — into focus in the context of your organization’s mission.

COVID-19 changed the way nearly all nonprofits operate and engage with stakeholders.

Ask yourself, “what is my organization doing differently to help people and communities respond and recover?” Draft stories that lean on grit, resilience, and the ways in which the pandemic has caused you to evolve your approach for the good of the people your organization serves.

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Every organization has its sacred cows — those employees considered above reproach. Until now, you may have been able to justify their position. But as organizations are forced to rethink their staffing models, become leaner, and figure out how to move forward in today’s pandemic-ridden economy, it may be time to face the challenge of analyzing your approach to sacred cows.

Many staff members perceive that these sacred cows are able to work according to their own rules with few consequences for various reasons: personal relationships with leadership, strong technical talent, strong relationships with key funders or constituents, lineage to another super star who is critical to the organization. In some cases, these employees are considered sacred cows for reasons no one can ever really figure out. They flaunt their power and, everyone — including you, knows who they are and talks about them in whispers. Unfortunately, these sacred cows are a fact of organizational politics — and highly destructive.

Every employee commitment survey we administer includes some item related to “fairness,” often in the context of “My manager applies rules and consequences fairly and consistently in the department.” Nine times out of 10, this will be among the lowest rated metrics for organizations that are formally getting employee feedback for the first time. And, more often than not, these sacred cows are at the root of the fairness tree.

The perception of unfairness causes many employees to question their own value and how — or better yet, if — their contributions are really being appreciated by the leadership of the organization. Employees begin to wonder why they work so hard and give so much if the rewards are not fairly distributed.

The EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana online portal, Ascend Network, provides a centralized location for dislocated workers to connect with available jobs or training opportunities.

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United Way of Central Indiana’s Over the Edge fundraiser has generated more than $146,000 to support basic needs for Central Indiana families. The event, which included more than 60 participants rappelling down the façade of a building, surpassed its original fundraising goal by 117%.

Crossroads Education and Cathedral High School are collaborating to help students’ educational outcomes through peer tutoring and a project-based STEM program. Learn

A Community Thrives (ACT), a grantmaking and crowdfunding program funded by the Gannett Foundation, is now accepting ideas for community-building initiatives. Last year, ACT awarded more than $90,000 in grants to Central Indiana organizations. Learn more and submit an idea.

ASPIN is accepting applications for its free, grant-funded job training for community health positions. Virtual training and job shadowing are available for participants. Learn more about the chronic care training program at www.aspinaccept.org. Learn more about the opioid addiction treatment program at www.aspinaowep.org.

Indianapolis Business Journal is seeking nominations for its Forty Under 40 annual recognition, which highlights Central Indiana business and professional leaders who are 40 years or younger and have achieved a level of success that is rare at their age. Nominate by Sept. 25.

The Indianapolis Public Library has plans to acquire the site of a former elementary school as part of its long-term goal to build a new Glendale-area library branch to replace the branch in Glendale Town Center. Learn

David Speicher, chief technology officer for Aspire Indiana Health, a not-for-profit, fully integrated health care system, has been honored by the Indianapolis Business Journal as CTO of the Year in the Not-for-Profits and Government category. Read more

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