#GivingTuesdayNow: Generosity Over Fear

One of the many things we’re fully realizing during the COVID-19 pandemic is just how much local matters. Small businesses and small nonprofits provide jobs, support, and services to our neighbors across the D.C. region. And we know that nonprofits in our region need your support now more than ever.

Supporting a local nonprofit was always a great thing to do to help our community, whether it meant volunteering, donating, or advocating. During the current crisis, giving your support to save local nonprofits is an urgent act of kindness that makes a real difference for these organizations and the people they serve.

This support is going to look different for each of us. But every gift matters — no act of kindness is too small. While many of us may be facing economic uncertainty, times like this call on us to choose generosity over fear and community over isolation (even if that community has to be a virtual one).

Local nonprofits are still working each and every day to support our community. Take, for example, Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC). NVRDC is one of our vetted nonprofit partners that’s continuing to make a difference, close to home. They work to support all survivors of crime who need services. In order to continue to work with their clients, the organization has pivoted all but the rape crisis services to a virtual approach.

NVRDC realized early on during the COVID-19 crisis that the sexual assault victims they often support may now have to make a difficult decision: Receive forensic medical care at a hospital or not receive care and, therefore, lessen their risk of exposure to COVID-19. To encourage survivors to still seek needed services, NVRDC provides support and instructions to survivors on how to receive care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, including socially distant seating in the ER. Advocates have been provided personal protective equipment and, despite the mask, their compassion and support still shines through.

NVRDC’s efforts to show up and support their clients are familiar to many local nonprofits. Over 80% of nonprofits in the Catalogue report they are facing financial and organizational challenges. However, 2 out of 3 of our partners have made a shift to virtual or socially distant programming to ensure vital services are still there. From food and housing, mental and physical health, education and mentoring, and so much more, local nonprofits continue to strengthen our community.

But they need your help. So on May 5, we’re hosting the Give Local Together campaign, a virtual day of giving to support local nonprofits. And it won’t just be people in D.C. and suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia — our campaign is the official community partner locally for #GivingTuesdayNow, a global movement of giving back. Communities from across the country and around the world will be joining together to donate, volunteer, and advocate for nonprofits working to make a difference. And we hope you’ll join us.

There are over 150 local nonprofits participating in the campaign, and you can view a list of them and read more about their work at givelocaltogether.org. We need these community partners now more than ever, both to help those most in need today and to rebuild our region tomorrow.

We know the choice to give right now might not be an easy one to make. But times of crisis call for community.

Matthew Gayer helps lead the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington, the region's only locally-focused guide to giving and volunteering. Since 2003, the Catalogue has raised more than $40 million for its network of vetted charities.