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Next week the Prime Minister is set to publish a roadmap of stages out of lockdown indicating what sectors may open when. Similar plans are underway in all UK nations.
So, what might it mean for charity fundraising and strategic decision-making? Some thoughts and questions...
So, what might it mean for charity fundraising and strategic decision-making? Some thoughts and questions...
1. Whatever is in the roadmap, it will be subject to change. Use it to help inform planning and decision-making, but be ready for it all to change. There are too many unknowns and variables for you to be able to put too many absolutely definitive dates/activities down
2. In all cases, don't just think of when you can do a particular fundraising event/activity, but think about whether it's right for your organisation and your supporters. Don't rush before you are ready - it might need a bit longer to prepare so that it can be a brilliant event
3. If you would be working with volunteers & supporters there then think about when they will be ready. Some will wait until they've been vaccinated, some volunteers may be more cautious. You can do some research now about how your supporters and volunteers are feeling.
4. If you're thinking about events, then what venues would be using? What safety measures are in place? Does this make a fundraising event feasible and practical? What insurance and safeguards would you need in place? There'll be a lot to think about.
5. Public fundraising (street/door/shops) more likely to be able to return ahead of other activity. But again, are you, ready? If you're bringing people back from furlough they may need time to get back up to speed with refresher training.
6. For all activity, @CIOFtweets and @FundrRegulator will be working to get guidance out asap so that charities can plan activity safely. These will provide a framework for decisions, but it will still be for individual charities to decide on the right approach for them
7. The (anticipated) end of furlough brings up lots of questions. How many furloughed jobs will be kept? What does the future of fundraising teams look like? Where to invest in teams and skills? This is going to be different for different organisations, so start thinking now!
8. No one quite knows how the public will respond after lockdown. Will there be this anticipated rush to activity and spending, particularly on social events and experiences? Maybe, but maybe not. Respond flexibly as you go, and to respond to supporters
9. Keep an eye out for other research and public polling. What is the public view about about going back to shops, the level of savings, the rate of unemployment? These are all key bits of insight to help you think about what your supporters are going through
10. The work of charities and recognition of their role has been heightened during the pandemic. And lots of indications that people have continued to give when we've been able to ask. How can we carry that through to the months and years beyond?
11. The pandemic will have changed some things. We won't go completely back to what we had before. But at the same time, the future won't be completely different. The key will be learning what's worked during the pandemic and identifying what's new, and what will return
12. What's your contingency for if this all happens again? Variants and mutations of coronavirus, or the emergence of another pandemic, are possibilities. Build it into your risk register and your plans - if you had to do this all again (please no!) how would you do it?
13. @CIOFtweets will be looking at what comes out across all UK nations and be working to help you both with appropriate guidance on running fundraising events/activities, as well as more on the strategic decision-making. Let us know what you want and need to help, and good luck!
