Coronavirus puts pressure on charities’ fundraising
Howard Lake | 17 March 2020 | News
The Wheel, the national association of charities in Ireland, is calling on members of the public and the corporate sector to donate to charities that are working on the front line to support and protect vulnerable people in communities during the covid-19 crisis.
Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel, which represents over 1,700 charities, community and voluntary organisations, and social enterprises countrywide, said that a combination of surging demand and collapse of normal fundraising income means that charities need public support right now to an unprecedented extent.
The Irish Cncer Society, which provides a wide range of supports to people with cancer and their families, says it is down a projected €4 million having cancelled Daffodil Day.
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Pieta Hous, which supports mental health and anti-suicide measures, say they are down up to €6 million due to the postponement of their Darkness to Light fundraising event.
Church gate collections have been suspended indefinitely, leaving many local charities and community groups without funds for services.
Many other charitable organisations, such as St. Vincent DePaul, foodbanks and rural community groups will be providing support to those suffering immediate hardship and poverty from unemployment because of covid-19.
Deirdre Garvey said: “Our charities and community groups will be facing unprecedented demands to support people in these distressing times. The many others who are lucky to have secure employment and income have an important opportunity to support others by donating to organisations providing services in health and disability, meals on wheels, homelessness, carer supports, poverty relief and other crucial services.”
Ms Garvey said in the spirit of social solidarity, it is important for all of us to rise to the developing challenges by supporting charities and community and voluntary organisations in their vital work.
“Making donations, however big or small, to the many charities that are working to preserve health and social services, and maintain the very fabric of our society at this time, is something that should be expected of those who can afford it,” she added.
Ms Garvey said those who can contribute financially should contact their charity of choice and offer volunteer services or whatever other support the charity needs to continue to work effectively. She also called on the government to put a comprehensive plan in place to support the work of charities through this extremely difficult time.
Ireland’s national online volunteering database can be accessed by downloading the i-Vol app to your smartphone or at www.i-vol.ie.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.