COVID-19 has brought huge challenges to all sectors and foundations are no exception to this. In fact, NGOs are largely stepping up to face the unprecedented challenges presented by the pandemic. We asked several experts to share their opinions on how COVID-19 will impact foundation grants and what foundations should do to help their grantees.
How will COVID-19 impact foundation grants?
“So far, we have observed in several cases that a number of foundations have stepped up their response to fight the pandemic. In several cases they have adapted and given their grants a more or less “COVID-19 oriented objective” in order to align with funding sources. With massive funds released to deal with the emergency and the “response” mainly in the health, research and medical fields but also for sensitization, foundations might be forced to show flexibility in their intervention framework. The impact of the pandemic and political measures on activities, deliverables and results will be heavy and will have to be taken into account in project evaluations. An impact has definitely been seen on resources as well as the exceptional measures that have had to be taken by grantees to continue to implement projects while doing their best to keep staff safe from the virus. This has led to unusual costs being incurred and a modification to the structure of expenses such as the cost of sanitation products and teleworking (more internet costs) and less use of the workplace, less traffic movement and the development of new, innovative ways to carry on working as much as possible despite the situation.”
“The context demands that we think about the different types of impact of COVID-19 on our sector. The most specific is the operational one, whether activities are totally or partially suspended, we are seeking to adjust and respond to this situation. Another type of impact is in the discussion of strategies within organizations and between foundations and the grantees, as well as in the framework of their collaboration.”
What should foundations do to help their grantees?
“Foundations should cope with the new situation and adapt their scope taking into account the pandemic and encourage their grantees and applicants to consider this data in the short term and integrate the threat of a pandemic more generally in the future. They should be capable of empathy, understanding and clemency toward the results because of the impact on activities, in most cases due to political decisions, which can largely be considered a case of force majeure. Also, try to apply the lessons learned from the pandemic in the future and try to integrate aspects of the risks of pandemics in funding approaches, policies, rules and regulations. This could probably include policies for budgeting for sanitation measures (i.e. hand sanitizers, gloves, masks, protective clothing) as allowable expenses and recommended actions etc. During the pandemic, several donors have tried to recommend preventive actions to support their grantees but this could be more formalized and institutionalized in order to systemize reactions in the future. Pandemic crises should now be integrated and considered as a potential risk that needs to be prevented in the same way as other security risks. Support should be offered for grantees’ advocacy initiatives to maintain awareness about matters regarding the raising of international funding and to avoid disinterest for international causes.”
“Many non-profit organizations and movements are fighting for survival. We have a great responsibility as we must, together, address the challenge. This means finding opportunities in an uncertain environment, adjusting our perceptions of risk, removing restrictions, building trust, being flexible in our criteria and processes, and accelerating the pace of our investments.”
“CSOs or NGOs in different countries are trying to adapt to the new way of working and to the new normal which, for most, means that field-work, advocacy and off-line campaigns are becoming more challenging. Most grantees who do not work in the health sector are finding the shift in the foundations’ grants in response to COVID-19 to be particularly challenging, not only do they need to realign their strategy, some will also need to postpone their ongoing projects. I think the best advice for foundations at the moment is: be flexible. COVID-19 ultimately affects everyone; therefore, for your grantees and direct and indirect beneficiaries flexible grants could be used not only to support project implementation but also to ensure the sustainability and resilience of organizations.”
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