Portland, OR. During the pandemic, most people are spending more time at home and many have taken up new hobbies or found time to dive back into one they previously enjoyed. Physicians at the American Heart Association say that expressing creativity can be good for your health, especially during the pandemic, because having a hobby can relieve stress.
(Attila Csaszar/Moment, Getty Images)
A mother and daughter practice yoga a home.
James C. Kaufman, professor of educational psychology at the University of Connecticut, says that the process of creativity is valuable for people in many ways, both mentally and physically. Taking up a hobby can help because it’s fun. When people are having fun it’s a break from the stresses and concerns that may be troubled them throughout the day. Writing is also found help; when people organize their thoughts, it also relieves stress. Lower stress levels, lead to lower heart rates and improved mood.
From woodworking to calligraphy, building scale miniatures or collecting coins, action figures or antiques– Hobbies are as unique and varied as the people who pursue them.
Activities that are growing in popularity this year are gardening, exercising, spending time outside, playing a musical instrument, and even knitting. When people vary their hobbies by engaging their bodies and minds in different ways, it keeps both the brain and body healthy. And better yet, the benefit does not come from doing a hobby well or masterfully, it just comes from engaging yourself in the hobby.
Are you looking for a hobby? Here’s a video from Bustle about how to find a hobby as an adult.
From the American Heart Association: “Maybe it was the meme that pointed out how Shakespeare used his time in quarantine to write “King Lear.” Maybe it was all those photos of sourdough bread in your social media feed. Maybe you’re just bored. Whatever the spark – you’re ready to take on a hobby. Good idea, experts say.”
Our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities. We’re committed to ensuring that our workforce, workplace and mission have a shared impact across America’s diverse populations.
Portland, OR. Former President Barack Obama urges financially-able Americans to help those hit the hardest by COVID-19 by sharing the link to Charity Navigator’s Coronavirus relief list. It features highly-rated, trustworthy charities who have created funds to support communities around the world affected by the outbreak. This growing list of nonprofits includes nonprofits like DirectRelief, Children’s Hunger Fund, and Americares.
Obama tweeted, “The best part of my job was meeting people like this— ready to make a selfless act in a time of need. Many Americans are already making deep sacrifices to keep our communities healthy, but if you’re able to, consider helping those hit the hardest.”
Interested in funding response and recovery efforts for those affected and for responders? The Center for Disaster Philanthropy, a charity that has earned a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and is also a trusted philanthropic partner of Google, has a COVID-19 Response Fund. This fund allows donors to give now to support preparedness, containment, response and recovery activities.
Charity Navigator’s Chief Relationship Officer, Kevin Scally, shares that there was a 500% increase in dollars donated through Charity Navigator’s Giving Basket. “Thanks to awareness raised by Former President Barack Obama and other philanthropic leaders, we saw a 500% increase in the dollars donated to a wide spectrum of nonprofits in a year over year comparison of March 19 giving. This is a heartwarming indicator that, even in trying times, Americans band together to help those who help others.”
Charity Navigator analysts work throughout the year to research and rate thousands of nonprofit organizations and share the evaluations free of charge on CharityNavigator.org. Lists of highly-rated organizations are curated by Charity Navigator and published in response to crises as Hot Topics. Charity Navigator users direct millions of dollars of donations to organizations included on these lists which all must have a three- or four-star rating.
ABOUT CHARITY NAVIGATOR:
Charity Navigator is the world’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator. The organization guides informed giving by evaluating the financial health, accountability, and transparency of charities and by providing data for about 1.7 million nonprofits, accessed more than 10 million times annually. Charity Navigator does not charge the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data. As a result, Charity Navigator, a 501(c)(3) public charity itself, depends on support from individuals, corporations, and foundations that believe it provides a much-needed service to America’s charitable givers.
Portland, Or. Harper’s Playground is still open and remains a great place for all kids, including those with physical challenges, to play. But this year, the nonprofit has moved its annual benefit online. From October 1st, through October 8th, the organization will hold a virtual auction and raffle while highlighting recent projects and playgrounds. Click here to check out the offerings.
Harper’s Playground is an organization that helps build all-inclusive playgrounds featuring modifications for kids with physical challenges. The nonprofit usually hosts events like a Community Play Day and Rhythm & Play, but both have been postponed until 2021. Despite recent COVID-19 limitations, the organization’s unique playgrounds remain open due to their wide inclusive spaces that support social distancing practices. These parks give children and families new places to explore during COVID-19, unlike some other more crowed play structures.
Volunteers from Harper’s Playground work with the Portland Timbers during the pandemic.
Volunteers at Harper’s Playground are still able to lend a hand during the pandemic as well. The organization recently worked with the Portland Timbers and held a clean-up at the flagship park, Arbor Lodge which is located in North Portland.
Harper’s Playground began in 2009 with a simple walk in the park. Harper, daughter of founders Cody and April Goldberg, wished to play in the neighborhood park but couldn’t reach the structure when her yellow walker stuck in the wood chips. From then on, Cody and April have dedicated themselves to creating inclusive spaces where all children are free to play. The original Harper’s Playground opened in 2012 and founder Cody Goldberg stated that he would “turn Harper’s Playground into a non-profit that would help other communities build playgrounds like the one we had already built.”
The inclusive playground model.
The organization now helps build playgrounds across the globe, from Anna and Abby’s Yard, a park here in forest grove Oregon, to the Tokyo Sports Playground in Japan. This park is to open in partnership with Nike for the upcoming 2021 Olympics.
Harper’s Playground inspires vital communities by creating inviting playgrounds for people of all abilities. We envision a more inclusive world, one playground at a time.
Portland, OR. The Maurice Lucas Foundation held its 10th annual gala on September 18th. The virtual event attracted over 1,000 foundation supporters, and the nonprofit was able to raise over $600,000. Donations will be used for scholarship programs to support under-served students at six high schools in Portland as well as Harriet Tubman Middle School and Parkrose Middle School. It will also go toward the foundation’s academic, character building, and athletic programs for kids and young adults. KOIN-TV news co-anchor Ken Boddie and auctioneer Johnna Lee Wells co-hosted the virtual gala (as seen above). The gala featured videos of students whose lives have been changed through the foundation’s programs.
The Lucas family toasts during the gala. From left: David Lucas, Maurice Jr., and Pam Lucas.
The goal of the Maurice Lucas Foundation is to challenge students to grow and become resilient people and strong leaders through its programs and with counseling, mentoring, and coaching. The nonprofit focuses on students from middle school up to high school and beyond, working to help the kids learn their own potential through sports and education.
Emcee David Lucas holds a photo of his late father, Maurice Lucas.
Nike exec Howard White receives the Enforcer Award.
During the event, the foundation awards its annual Maurice Lucas Enforcer Award to the person who does the best at motivating and empowering kids, which were characteristics Maurice Lucas was well known for. This year the award was given to Nike executive Howard White of Portland.
From foundation board chair Todd Hanchett:
“Throughout his long career, Howard has always shared his knowledge and experience with others to enrich the lives of children and those around him. He has focused on being a positive role model to children around the world through his Believe to Achieve programs. Howard exemplifies the spirit of the Maurice Lucas Enforcer Award.”
From David Lucas:
“We created the Maurice Lucas Foundation in 2010 to honor my dad’s memory and continue his legacy of helping children in the Portland area. Now, after 10 years, we can proudly say we’ve used tutoring, character development, mentoring, sports and partnership to help 2,238 students and their families and another 4,320 youths through basketball camps and teams. We are committed to serving even more in the years to come.”
A lifestyle story: Portland, OR. Private jet rentals in the Portland area are becoming more popular during the pandemic as people look for alternatives to commercial flying. Not everyone owns their own jet, or “P.J.,” as they’re called. As a result, according to Forbes Magazine, the number of jet rentals across the country is taking off. A spokeswoman for NetJets, a private-jet rental company, says inquiries for flights shot up from the previous year, and have only continued to grow as the pandemic has stretched on. During the pandemic, calls to NetJets have been up over 60% from the previous year.
For those who don’t want to be in America, a recent report found that the superrich are paying as much as $2.6 million for international citizenships, then zipping out to said country on their private jets.
Part of the boom in private jet travel could also the lower price as jet fuel has hit rock bottom. Additionally, the CARES act suspended a 7.5% federal excise tax or FET on air transportation through January 2021. For consumers, this means private jet travel is about 15% – 20% less than normal.
EvoJets is one of the companies which offers service in the Portland area. It flies out of PDX, Hillsboro, Troutdale, and the downtown Portland heliport which is located in northwest Portland, not far from the Steel Bridge. Popular destinations are Vail, New York, Aspen, Bend, and many other locations.
The cost to charter a private jet can range widely in price, based on flight time and the type of aircraft.
Some trips are more affordable, with a cost per seat just slightly more than some first-class tickets.
Breaking down the different ways to jet:
Approximate starting cost
What it actually means
Approximately $3 million upfront (depending on the jet, of course) plus additional maintenance, staff, and regulation costs
Full ownership gives you total control over your jet setting experience. You have access to the jet at any time, typically use the same staff and pilot, and can even rent your jet to other travelers as an investment income stream.
$500,000 upfront plus fixed management and maintenance fees
You’re essentially paying for a share of a plane, rather than an entire jet, not unlike a timeshare. How much equity you purchase in a specific jet often dictates the number of hours you can fly in it.
Depending on the trip and the type of jet, costs hover between $4,000 (shorter trip, midsize jet) to $13,000 (longer trip, large jet)
Chartering means paying as you go, and essentially means booking a one-off every time you jet.
Here a list of Private jet companies compiled by Departures Magazine:
NetJets
A leader in the private aviation industry, NetJets offers fractional ownership programs, which offers travelers the luxury of an aircraft all to themselves, and the ease of near-instantaneous access to a jet. The fleet is comprised of some of the best jets in the business, from the Cessna Citation Latitude and Longitude to the 14-passenger Bombardier Global 6000. They often run partnerships with coveted seasonal destinations (like Cape Cod or Walt Disney World Resort in the summer) and every one of their flights is pet-friendly.
Wheels Up
Wheels Up has a charter marketplace where you can book your next flight through their app or website, with the option to instant book select jets. Core, connect, or business members also have access to members-only jets, including the King Air 350i. The eight-person jet has unprecedented noise cancellation technology and the ability to many lands closer to your destination because of the King Air 350i’s short-field capabilities.
PrivateFly
PrivateFly can jet you to almost any airport around the globe, and provides 24/7 access to a team of experts who can help you find the right jet for any scenario. They make it easy on travelers with top routes to choose from, like New York to Miami, New York to Los Angeles, London to Paris, and more.
Central Jets
Central Jets is working to shake up the private aviation industry, because they’re the first company to allow users to charter jets directly from owners. They’re essentially eliminating the middleman, which seriously reduces fees. And Central Jets offers 24/7 concierge service and up to 50% off flights to those paying €199 to use their platform.
VistaJet
VistaJet owns over 70 large cabin Challenger and Global private jets, and their passengers have flown to 1,900 airports all over the world since their launch in 2004. VistaJet has most recently launched The VistaJet Wine Program, the first global in-air vino program, and VistaPet, designed for passengers who want their four-legged family members to travel in style, too.
Flexjet
Flexjet offers a multitude of flight options, from jet leases to fractional jet ownership. Fractional owners can be on their jet a mere 10 hours after calling for one, and jet card holders can secure one in 24 hours.
Forbes magazine explored the phenomenon of more private jet trips and came up with the following conclusions:
“We’ve seen a massive surge in inbound request and new customer acquisition,” in the last 90 days, said Magellan Jets’ President, Anthony Tivnan. The private jet and charter company reported a 117% increase in customer acquisition for June.
“There are about 8.2 million households in the US with a net worth of two million or more. The majority of them weren’t flying private before,” said Tivnan. “We are seeing a huge shift in that narrative now it is a health and safety concern.”
With some commercial carriers are refusing to close off middle seats, many people who would typically fly passenger airlines are just not interested. In addition, flying private gives customers more control over their entire trip – from avoiding TSA lines to waiting in line for check-in. Chartered aircraft are estimated to have 30 times lower risk for Covid-19, according to GlobeAir.
Instead of ferrying business travelers or offering charters for milestone events like a birthday or football game, private jets are ferrying people to domestic destinations in the United States.
Monarch Air Group, a private jet charter provider, saw an increase in demand based on the total number of booked flights, which rose 125 percent year-over-year; compared to June 2019. And 52% of their secured charter contracts from June 2020 were from new business.
“We used to see New York to the Hamptons, now we see Florida to the Hamptons,” said David Gitman, President of Monarch Air Group. “People who wouldn’t normally charter are chartering.”
Magellan also reported an increase in flights to second-home destinations like Jackson Hole, Boseman, Aspen, the Carolinas or Savannah.
“Last year we would have the vast majority of trips going to Italy or southern France. We just don’t see that,” said Gitman. “We see a lot of people traveling to their second home…These are people who would usually travel commercial. So either there is no flight or they are in a risk category.”
As commercial airlines limit their flights, private is also becoming an easier way to get between locations. “It is not just getting on a direct three-hour flight anymore, now you are talking about a whole day of travel. Two or three congested airports,” said Gitman.
“When you think of the airlines, it is a bigger issue than just the experience on the flight,” said Gitman. “Right now it’s impossible to practice social distancing on a plane. The airlines have to figure that out.”
Seattle, OR. Boeing announced $700,000 in grants from the Boeing Charitable Trust to help local communities with the ongoing humanitarian and environmental crisis caused by wildfires burning along the West Coast. Boeing is providing $500,000 to the American Red Cross to support its fire relief efforts in Washington, Oregon and California. Above, American Red Cross volunteer Kalen Pippins, helps to get meals ready to deliver to evacuees from the Oregon wildfires who are staying in hotel shelters in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross)
“On behalf of Boeing employees across the globe, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those impacted by the West Coast wildfires,” said Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun. “As these wildfires have ravaged the Western United States, the American Red Cross has stepped up to answer the call at this critical moment of need, and we are happy to support them in their critical work. Through our partnership with the Red Cross, we will help bring recovery and relief efforts to those who have been displaced – and whose lives have been impacted – by these destructive fires.”
American Red Cross volunteers deliver meals to evacuees at a hotel that is being used by the American Red Cross as a shelter in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross)
Sifters are loaded into a truck that will deliver them to families affected by the wildfires in Silverton, Oregon. Sifters will be used to salvage items remaining at burned homes. (Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross)
Additionally, Boeing is donating $200,000 to provide food assistance in these states where significant numbers of the company’s employees live and work. $100,000 is being given to Northwest Harvest in Washington, and $50,000 apiece to the Oregon Food Bank and Redwood Empire Food Bank in California.
“Thousands of our families, friends and neighbors have been displaced around the west,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and the company’s senior executive in the region. “We are committed to helping them through this exceptionally challenging time.”
Boeing’s grant to the Red Cross will provide shelter, food and essentials for those who have been displaced from their homes due to the wildfires. These funds will also assist in the ongoing evacuation and aid delivery response in impacted communities.
“The Red Cross is working around the clock to help hundreds of thousands of people forced to evacuate from their homes due to the California, Oregon and Washington wildfires. We have taken extra safety precautions due to the pandemic to ensure people feel safe as we support the communities impacted by the wildfires,” said Don Herring, chief development officer at the American Red Cross. “We are extremely grateful for Boeing’s support, which allows us to provide shelter, food and comfort to help people in need.”
Consistent with Boeing employee gift match programs, the company will also match qualifying employee contributions made to eligible nonprofits for wildfire relief efforts.
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Through purposeful investments, employee engagement and thoughtful advocacy efforts, Boeing and its employees support innovative partnerships and programs that align with our strategic objectives, create value and help build better communities worldwide. This includes improving access to globally competitive learning as well as workforce and skills development and supporting our military and veteran communities.
See how Boeing and its employees give their time, talent and resources in communities around the world.
Portland, OR. Supporters gathered virtually to support Albertina Kerr’s life-saving Children’s Mental Health Services during the 24 Hours of Kerr virtual gala. The community raised more than $400,000 to serve children, teens, and their families in crisis.
Kerr leaders say, “During this historic time, so many kids and families are struggling. From the fear of an invisible illness, the fight for racial justice, and raging wildfires to social isolation and remote learning. For some kids, this new reality is unbearable, worsening their symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation.”
The virtual gala on September 12th was co-hosted by Kerr’s CEO Jeff Carr and Kerr Ambassador Johnna Wells. Evening highlights included: client and family stories, watch-to-win prizes, the culmination of an online auction, and the announcement of the winner of the Golden Ticket ultimate beach getaway. (photo credit, Raise Agent)
Kerr Board Member David Wilson and his mother, Deanne Foster shared their inspiring Kerr story.
Marsha Buono, a Kerr volunteer for 39 years, remarks on what makes Kerr special.
Amy Laing, along with other Kerr families, clients and staff, shared their magic moments.
According to Albertina Kerr, last year, over 600 youth (5-17 years) facing a mental health crisis received life-saving care from Kerr’s dedicated team of mental health professionals. “These unsung heroes help children, teens, and their families survive and thrive. Now, more than ever, we need to ensure youth facing a mental health crisis have access to Kerr’s vital mental health services. Support of Kerr’s short-term crisis care and community-based outpatient services will help expand this essential, life-saving care to serve more children and teens in the coming year and beyond.”
Since 1907, Albertina Kerr has been caring for Oregon’s most vulnerable citizens. Today, empowers people experiencing intellectual and/or developmental (I/DD), mental health challenges, and other social barriers to lead self-determined lives and reach their full potential. Learn more at: AlbertinaKerr.org
Portland, OR. While the school experience has changed during the pandemic, the need for school supplies has not. Rose Haven is a day shelter and community center serving women, children, and gender non-conforming folks, experiencing poverty, trauma, and other issues. The nonprofit held its annual School Supply Giveaway in August. Over the course of two weeks, it supplied 265 children with all they need to get studying again, no matter where they live.
The Junior League of Portland provided volunteers to help with distribution.
Nike donated hundreds of brand new backpacks. Rose Haven converted its outside courtyard to a physically distanced, safe space for families.
Each child was given a grade-appropriate box of supplies. The packages were filled with paper, pens, calculators, binders, and more. This year’s giveaway offered families books, new clothing donated by Macy’s, family hygiene packs and more.
Organizers say that they’re pleased. “In the midst of all that is happening in our world and our community, it was so refreshing to spend time with our children! With them, we find so much hope for the future.”
From Rose Haven: Rose Haven is a day shelter and community center serving women, children and gender non-conforming folks experiencing the trauma of abuse, loss of home and other disruptive life challenges. We break the cycle of homelessness by providing meals, clothing, first aid, mailing addresses, hygiene, restrooms, showers as well as educational programs and guidance through medical and social services. By meeting basic needs and building trust, we empower our guests to explore long-term change.
Portland, OR. The Portland Art Museum (PAM) has some new art on-loan to display this fall. One notable offering is Pablo Picasso’s, Portrait of Lola, The Artist’s Sister. This painting (seen above) suggests how much the twenty-year-old artist rapidly assimilated and innovated upon the techniques of his predecessors and peers.
About the painting:
Maria Dolores Ruiz Picasso was called Lola by her family. Picasso drew and painted his younger sister many times while he was an adolescent and teenager. This work on loan captures Lola at seventeen years old in 1901, the year that marks the beginning of Picasso’s famous “blue period.” The portrait shares the somber mood and cool colors that characterize that first mature body of work, created over a brief, three-year period. It retains some of the realism that Picasso-the-student would have observed and admired in paintings at Madrid’s Prado Museum by Spanish court painters Diego Velazquez and El Greco. He merges this influence with the stylistic trends of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists that he would have seen on his first trip to Paris in 1900.
Another standout is an early painting by the German expressionist painter Max Beckmann, Die Barke (The Skiff) which is on view now at PAM.
Throughout his career, Beckmann painted the sea as a subject matter full of allusion and symbolism. The artist often drew from his own life experiences to create images conveying life’s triumphs and great tragedies. Die Barke (The Skiff, seen on the left) depicts a vivacious party rowing out on calm waters.
In late 1925, Beckmann and his wife Quappi traveled from their home in Frankfurt, Germany to Italy for their honeymoon; the bright color palette and sensuous figures seem to reflect this time of love, promise and pleasure. The Skiff is hanging next to The Mill (1947), a fixture in the Mary Beth and Roger Burpee Gallery. The pair form a compelling contrast. In the 1940s during World War II, the Beckmanns fled to Amsterdam to escape the Nazi regime. In The Mill, the artist depicted people tied to a Dutch windmill and crowded into a cage with a dark green sea churning in the background, serving as a vivid reminder of the destruction and trauma of years just past.
Two very special works on loan are now on view in the Jubitz Center’s Schnitzer/Novack Gallery on the second floor: Morris Louis, Number 38 and Donald Judd, Untitled (DSS 25).
Both paintings date to 1962, and this unique opportunity offers insight into a significant year for each artist. Number 38 is Louis’s final “stripe” painting made in the last year of his life. It demonstrates his masterful control over the process of staining raw canvas with diluted paint. The Museum’s collection is rich in other color field painters, and visitors will see a range of works created with this process hanging near this piece. The Judd wall-mounted work is one of his earliest “specific objects,” a phrase he used to describe his works that were neither painting or sculpture, yet contained elements of both mediums. While Judd came to be regarded as the master of minimalism, this work reinforces his attention to the expressive qualities of industrial materials. The pairing shows how artists took different paths but still moved away from illusionism and the representational in art in the early 1960s, forging the experiments in stripped-down abstraction that characterize Modern art in mid-century America.
From Portland Art Museum:
Welcome, we are excited to see you. We have been thoughtfully planning for our reopening under the guidelines set forth by the Oregon Health Authority and Centers for Disease Control. This planning has been a thorough process that considered many variables and included connecting with medical professionals, government officials, and peer institutions across the city and country. We’ve studied our facilities and infrastructure to understand what’s possible in this time of social distancing and made changes to best serve our staff and public in the safest possible way. Our reopening plan includes a shared belief that each of us plays a role in a safe reopening. The Museum and our community are in this together.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT
In the interest of personal safety and community health, visitors and staff are required to adhere to safety precautions while in the Museum. Thank you for helping our community stay safe and healthy. An inherent risk of exposure to Covid-19 exists in any public spaces where people are present. Covid-19 is extremely contagious.
New Hours: The Museum will be open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (10–11 a.m. Members only)
Face coverings required: Ages 2 and over.
Social distancing: Visitors must maintain 6 ft distance.
Advance ticket sales:Advance tickets are strongly encouraged; capacity is limited and it is possible that some times may fill up by the day of your visit.
Museum Grounds Café closed
Coat/bag check closed: Please leave larger bags and backpacks at home. Individuals experiencing disabilities will be allowed to keep their bags.
For your safety and the safety of the art, please do not touch.
If you have Disability Access Requests and are unable to reserve tickets online please contact us on our Disability Access line at (503) 276-4284 or via email at [email protected].
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
We have taken the following precautions to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff.
Staff wellness checks conducted before shifts.
Hand sanitizer available for guests and staff.
Increased cleaning in high touch areas.
Plexiglas shields at admissions and shop checkout areas.
Designated routes to promote social distancing.
Help us protect our community! Do you have a fever or cough, or are you experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms? Have you been exposed to anyone with these symptoms? If so, please join us at a later date.
Portland, OR. Oregon nonprofits are facing some big obstacles because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonprofits like Boy & Girls Club (seen above) are still serving kids in our area, but fundraising is tougher.
Across Oregon, the nonprofit community is pulling together in amazing ways to combat the impacts
of the COVID-19 pandemic, including responding to emergent needs by establishing new services and programs and responding to new clients. Even as creative as the nonprofit sector has become in moving programs online, investing in PPE, and physically distanced staff and volunteers, a new study indicates many of our vital institutions – domestic violence shelters, children’s museums, food banks, and homeless shelters – are at the breaking point.
The Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO), along with several other organizations, worked to quantify the impact and challenges of the COVID-19 crisis on 501(c)(3) nonprofits through a survey that ran from June 2 to June 28, 2020. This preliminary report is a summary of key findings from responses shared by 490 Oregon nonprofit leaders. The respondents represent a broad cross-section of charitable nonprofit types and sizes from across the state.
Key Findings:
Researched by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO), Portland State University’s Nonprofit Institute, Mercy Corps Northwest, and Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (ORVOAD)
Nonprofits are Essential to COVID-19 Response Efforts: 49% of the nonprofits reported adding new clients, services, or programs since the start of the pandemic. Of these nonprofits, 77% have added
new services to directly assist with COVID-19 response, demonstrating the essentiality and agility of nonprofits in responding to societal needs and emergencies. Additionally, 23% reported they are serving brand new clients from their pre-COVID programming.
Summer at the Club looks different this year at Boys & Girls Clubs with masks and social distancing.
Pandemic significant Impacts on Core Programming:
Nonprofits indicated that their current levels of operations or services have been significantly impacted by the pandemic. 60% of respondents reported functioning at reduced levels of services, while 14% reported seeing no change, and 18% reported an increase in their levels of services or operations.
Changes in Demand for Nonprofits’ Services: 38% of respondents have seen an increase in demand for their services, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. 31% have seen a decrease, with 22% seeing no change.
It should be noted that some demands for services
of educational, arts and culture, and environmental nonprofits have decreased as a direct result of government-mandated shelter-in-place requirements.
“We expect to see a food insecurity crisis… that will be unlike anything we’ve seen for generations. We also expect to see a significant increase in mental health and addiction crisis…”
Impact of COVID-19 on Oregon Charitable Nonprofits Preliminary Report ‒ Key Findings Summary – July 30, 2020
Impacts on Paid Staff and Volunteers: The capacity to serve the missions of nonprofits has been severely impacted by a decrease in the total number of volunteer hours worked, due to state closures and social distancing measures. 73% of nonprofits that rely on volunteers have seen a decrease in volunteer hours. In addition, 38% of nonprofits reported a decrease in the number of hours worked
by paid employees. To cope with resource pressures, nonprofits have implemented several austerity measures, including layoffs (79 nonprofits), furloughs (75 nonprofits), reduced employee salaries/wages (45 nonprofits), and reduced leadership salaries/wages (47 nonprofits).
Impacts on Funding: Charitable nonprofits rely on earned income, government contracts and grants, and charitable contributions to offer their services. The survey showed these streams have been significantly impacted by the pandemic.
54% of nonprofit respondents reported losses in earned income, 35% consist of nonprofits losing more than 50% in earned income. For 28% of the nonprofits, earned income remains stable. Looking ahead through the end of 2020, nonprofits expect this picture to remain relatively similar, with slightly fewer nonprofits (23%) anticipating earned revenue decreases of 50% or more.
Regarding donations from Individuals, 22% of nonprofits reported seeing “No Change,” with 23% seeing an “Increase” in support from individuals. Looking ahead through the end of 2020, only 13% anticipate donations to remain stable, 18% expect an increase, and 38% anticipate losing 16% or more in individual donations, with 17% unsure of what to expect.
Also encouraging, only 12% of nonprofits reported losing more than 50% in donations from foundations or corporations; with 29% reporting no change. 28% of respondents saw an increase since the pandemic started.
Nonprofits also reported positive results regarding government contracts and grants (excluding Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan). 48% of nonprofits did not see any change as of June, and 22% reported an increase. Looking ahead through the end of 2020, nonprofits are less sure of government funding sources, with 18% anticipating cuts of 16% or greater. Interestingly, 40% of nonprofits remain optimistic that they will not see any changes. This was a surprise to the research team in light of announced cuts by the State of Oregon and grim budget forecasts for most counties and municipalities. Permanent Closures: Only four nonprofits reported making the tough decision to permanently close. An additional two organizations anticipate closing permanently before the year is out. Experience with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL): Not all nonprofits are eligible for the PPP or EIDL programs. Out of 480 respondents, 31% did not apply for PPP. Only 58% that applied, reported successfully receiving requested amounts. 89% of respondents will seek full forgiveness, and 8% will seek partial forgiveness. Only 11% of nonprofits successfully applied and received their requested amounts of EIDL funding. 76% of the respondents did not apply for EIDL funding. Some organizations that did apply were still awaiting a determination at the time of the survey.
“We canceled our 2020 season of 50 concerts and school programs, furloughed our permanent staff of 4.5 and did not hire our seasonal staff of 5 tour crew.”
“We work to protect community health from pesticide exposure. Communities of color and low-income communities are already disproportionally affected by pesticides, and now the impact of COVID-19 has increased health risks. We are dedicating more energy and resources to assist front line farm worker communities as they continue to work with inadequate PPE and support.”
Equity, Inclusion, and Access: 40% of organizations reported applying an equity lens to program and operating decisions caused by COVID-19, but only some gave specifics. In an environment where
so many programs have moved online, 35% of respondents indicated serious concerns about the technology available to their clients.
Top Five Concerns for the Future: Nonprofits reported being either “Very Concerned” or “Extremely Concerned” about the following:
Ability to Maintain Program Service Levels
56% of nonprofit respondents had significant concerns in their ability to maintain program service levels.
Mental Health/Stress Reduction for Our Employees
49% of respondents had serious concerns about the mental health and stress of their employees.
Revenue to Cover Operating Expenses through 2020
46% of nonprofits indicated they are worried about covering operating expenses through year-end.
Meeting New Social Distance Operating Procedures
44% of respondents reported they are concerned and sometimes confused by changing social distancing procedures.
Keeping Our Volunteers Engaged
42% of nonprofits are feeling stress in keeping their volunteers engaged.
“We serve anyone homeless or near
homeless due to domestic or sexual violence, or sex trafficking… Our shelter has remained… open and is full…. We are using emergency funds to pay for hotels. This is not sustainable…”
Future Sustainability: 48 out of 56 nonprofits reported significant concerns over their future survival and ability to sustain their funding, fundraising, and programs. This group of nonprofits is dominated by arts, culture and humanities, and human services nonprofits. Of these nonprofits, 40% have budgets between $1K – $5K, and 22% have budgets between $1M – $5M.
Impact of COVID-19 on Oregon Charitable Nonprofits Preliminary Report ‒ Key Findings Summary – July 30, 2020
Returning to pre-COVID-19 Levels of Operations: 28% of nonprofits foresee taking between six months to one year to return to pre-COVID-19 levels of operations. However, all this is based on the COVID-19 pandemic being contained. Only 17% of nonprofits believe they can return to pre-COVID-19 levels of operations in the next one to six months.
Conclusion
The future outlook is that the needs of communities and the resources available for response will simply become incongruent. For instance, while a sizable number of nonprofits are optimistic about the stability of government contracts and grants through 2020, the extent to which this optimism is aligned with the announced cuts by the State of Oregon and the grim budget forecasts for most counties and municipalities remains to be seen.
The data reveals that nonprofits organizations need to work to improve outreach and inclusion efforts in a totally changed environment. Even well-intended response efforts are also dramatically highlighting and exacerbating the damage and harm of the serious racial and social inequities in our nation and state. Lack of access to regular health care has compounded the pandemic for minorities, immigrant communities, the homeless, and the poor. The ‘digital divide’ denies many people both in cities (due to income disparities) and in rural areas access to vital information about the pandemic and online portals for financial assistance. The debacle that is the Oregon unemployment filing system has caused even greater strains.
The sustained support of federal and state governments and foundations with direct and continuous fiscal assistance is imperative. The nonprofit sector is part of our “critical civic infrastructure” and
must be thought of in terms of not only preserving and providing our safety net but also building the quality of life we want in our communities. Unavoidable cuts in state and county budgets due to a down economy and less taxable income from individuals and companies will undercut much of the relief effort for people and communities in need. This is the time when the government and foundations need to release funds from their respective emergency reserves. Without immediate attention and firm commitments of resources to this critical sector, our efforts to recover and move forward as a state will severely be impeded.
“We are having to completely remake our school. The state mandates on stable group size and other health and safety mandates will shift our daily work and ability to provide programming.”
Researched by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon (NAO), Portland State University’s Nonprofit Institute, Mercy Corps Northwest, and Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (ORVOAD)
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