# Unexpected impacts on fundraising of coronavirus

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/13/unexpected-impacts-on-fundraising-of-coronavirus/
- Published: 2020-04-13T21:35:41+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The novel coronavirus of 2020 will have a profound impact on charity fundraising
for the foreseeable future. Some of this rapidly became apparent but there were 
also some unexpected challenges and opportunities.**

 

 

## Advertisement

 

Here is UK Fundraising’s collection of the surprising developments that challenged
fundraisers even more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

## 1. Cash avoided

 

 

 

![Two Halifax cash machines](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2020/04/cash-machines-
unsplash-1024x683.jpg)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The switch from cash to contactless giving has been a challenge for charities for
a while, but the Sunday Telegraph’s allegation that the WHO had recommendation that
no-one handle cash because of the potential infection of COVID-19 (which the [WHO rejected as misrepresentation](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/who-we-did-not-say-that-cash-was-transmitting-coronavirus-2020-03-06))
yielded yet another challenge for fundraisers, many of whom still receive donations
in this way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> Some shops are refusing cash payments as an extra precaution against [#COVID19](https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
> But many Britons rely on cash for everyday payments, (and it's still a popular
> way to donate to charity) A double whammy for vulnerable people without access
> to cards [https://t.co/Tq3eORWnLd](https://t.co/Tq3eORWnLd)
> — John Thompson, aka Johnny Five (@JTCHANGINGBIZ) [March 16, 2020](https://twitter.com/JTCHANGINGBIZ/status/1239614644974739456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 

 

Use of cash, which has been declining for some time, is dropping even faster during
lockdown, given we have less access to cash machines and opportunities to spend 
it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> Weekly ATM withdrawals are due out on Monday from [@LINK_ATM_Scheme](https://twitter.com/LINK_ATM_Scheme?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)–
> [#Covid_19](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> is having such an impact on our daily lives that we’ve not been out to spend any
> money – any predictions on this weeks volume of ATM transactions? My guess: 18million
> [#cashless](https://twitter.com/hashtag/cashless?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#paytech](https://twitter.com/hashtag/paytech?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#money](https://twitter.com/hashtag/money?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [#cash](https://twitter.com/hashtag/cash?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/awjS5Ifcgz](https://t.co/awjS5Ifcgz)
> — Mike Chambers (@_mike_chambers_) [April 11, 2020](https://twitter.com/_mike_chambers_/status/1249070243051212800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nevertheless, despite the significant drop in the use of cash during the lockdown
period, [several banks and LINK have committed](https://www.insider.co.uk/news/banks-pledge-keep-atms-running-21844098)
to keep cash machines (ATMs) running. Barclays, NatWest, PayPoint and Sainsbury’s
Bank are supporting the commitment to ensure no community loses free access to cash.

 

 

 

Together these providers operate nearly 16,000 ATMs, which represents 30% of Link’s
total ATMs.

 

 

 

> Banks pledge to keep ATMs running as cash demand dries up [https://t.co/WM1qx8cnfp](https://t.co/WM1qx8cnfp)
> — LINK Scheme (@LINK_ATM_Scheme) [April 10, 2020](https://twitter.com/LINK_ATM_Scheme/status/1248507403382841345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In contrast, the contactless payment limit is being raised to £45 in response to
coronavirus:

 

 

 

> Limit to rise to £45 from next week. [https://t.co/YMxOXzDr7g](https://t.co/YMxOXzDr7g)
> — George MacDonald (@GeorgeMacD) [March 24, 2020](https://twitter.com/GeorgeMacD/status/1242359134844059648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

## 2. People before profit

 

 

 

The spectacle of major companies reacting to coronavirus before government restrictions
were introduced – and some companies like Sports Direct choosing to take the opposite
approach – is public. Companies that took the enlightened approach, at the expense
of profits, dividends etc, might well benefit from public support. 

 

 

 

But the window in which to act honourably closed on 23 March when the Prime Minister
instituted the lockdown and stay at home policy.

 

 

 

Charities will have one more criteria on which to judge potential corporate partners:“
what did you do during the coronavirus outbreak?” If they don’t, perhaps many of
their supporters will.

 

 

 

> Class from Byron (sent prior to BoJo's address). The theme of putting people before
> profit will define this period for retail. Society will remember those who do 
> and those who don't [pic.twitter.com/9b77NeqgeU](https://t.co/9b77NeqgeU)
> — Luke Tugby (@LukeTugby) [March 23, 2020](https://twitter.com/LukeTugby/status/1242195422669570049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

## 3. Forgetting charity shops are closed

 

 

 

Charity shops have long had a problem with people leaving donated goods outside 
on the street. Now that charity shops have closed in the UK, some members of the
public have failed to notice and are still dropping goods outside shops that are
due to be closed for weeks or months.

 

 

 

> We hope everyone is well during these difficult times, but please share this, 
> to raise awareness about leaving donations in the doorways of charity shops….
> Thank you ⭐️ (sound on ❤️) [pic.twitter.com/UhYGlwLjlF](https://t.co/UhYGlwLjlF)
> — Charity Retail Association (@CharityRetail) [March 25, 2020](https://twitter.com/CharityRetail/status/1242837090137669633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the message finally gets through to everyone, charity shops might benefit from
a sudden rush of donations once lockdown is lifted. Unfortunately, some charities
that operate shops might not remain in business that long, given the [modest scale of the government’s emergency funding package](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/09/government-announces-750m-covid-19-package-for-charities/)
for the charity sector.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

## 4. BBC takes on the mantle of promoting giving and volunteering to charities

 

 

 

The BBC promptly stepped in to announce new approaches to content to serve the UK
public under lockdown. This included promotion of arts and culture “withpartners
to keep the Arts alive in people’s homes”.

 

 

 

In addition it committed to creating “live fund-raising events, to raise money for
coronavirus good causes”. The first significant event in this regard is [The Big Night In](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/08/bbc-to-host-big-night-in-for-comic-relief-children-in-need/),
a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need 
on 23 April.

 

 

 

> Good to see fundraising on this agenda. [@IoFtweets](https://twitter.com/IoFtweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> [https://t.co/O22ExXMvkG](https://t.co/O22ExXMvkG)
> — Elizabeth Balgobin (@balgobinthinks) [March 19, 2020](https://twitter.com/balgobinthinks/status/1240613361567633408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

## 5. Greater interest in death cafes

 

 

 

The [Guardian reports](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/13/death-cafes-see-surge-of-interest-in-online-events)
that “hosts of “death cafes” are reporting a global surge in demand for honest conversation
about “the nitty-gritty of dying”, and say the coronavirus pandemic has made frank
discussion about our mortality more necessary than ever.”

 

 

 

The venues are closed of course during lockdown but many are now providing services
online.

 

 

 

Death cafes are a welcome development as locations where discussions can take place
that include the importance and practicalities of writing a will and leaving a gift
to family, friends and possibly charities too.

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