How is COVID-19 impacting
local nonprofits?
54 organizations
responded
Significant disruptions have already
been felt in operations and revenue
throughout the nonprofit sector.
Understanding how the COVID-19
pandemic affects the operations of
local human service nonprofits is an
important step in determining where
support is needed most.
United Way of Central Ohio and
Human Service Chamber of
Franklin County have partnered to
quickly survey the local nonprofit
community. The results of our first
survey are included in this report.
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO liveunitedcentralohio.org HUMAN SERVICE CHAMBER OF FRANKLIN COUNTY humanservicechamber.org
Survey date
March 21-24, 2020
Additional surveys will be conducted
to track how needs may change and
expand. Results will be shared with
public officials, stakeholders, donors
and other decision-makers to provide
important data as community
responses are developed and
implemented.
Survey results show that many local
nonprofits are already experiencing
significant disruption because
of COVID-19. Lost revenue from
cancelled fundraising events and
fee for service operations are
among the factors that have led to
initial reductions in staff—and more
reductions are anticipated.
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO HUMAN SERVICE CHAMBER OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

Q1 Which services have you temporarily stopped providing?

Addiction Services 0 Behavioral Health Services  4 Financial Literacy  9

Emergency Shelter  0 Physical Health Services  4 Mentorship  9

Rental Assistance  0 Refugee/Immigration services  4 Social Enterprises  10

Food Pantry  1 Hot Meal Service  5 In-School  11

Housing support  2 Advocacy  6 Early Education  11

Reentry Services 2  Childcare  6 Life Skills  13

Legal Services  3 Summer Camps/Programs  6 After-school  17

Senior Services  3 Job Training  8 Volunteer Programs 25

Takeaway:
While few basic need supports have been interrupted, significant interruptions have occurred in workforce
development and education-related services. Due to social distancing, significant disruption has occurred to
volunteer activities.

Q2 Which services have you moved to a virtual platform?

Responses included:
Outpatient behavioral health services
Case management
Employment coaching
Personal mentoring
Support group meetings
ESL classes
Information and referral
Financial literacy
Job training
After school programming

Q3 Have you had to cancel or postpone a fundraising event?

Answered: 63 Skipped: 2 Takeaway:
No: 33% Yes: 66% 66% of respondents have cancelled or
postponed fundraising events. Of those
who have cancelled, events represent
from $8,000 to $325,000 in revenue.
NO Organizations identified a concern with
moving events to the fall and now having
to compete with fundraising efforts
YES already scheduled for fall.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

COVID-19 SURVEY RESULTS MARCH 21-24, 2020

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO HUMAN SERVICE CHAMBER OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

Q4 Have you laid off or furloughed staff since effects If yes, number of employees:
of COVID-19 reached our community?
Answered: 64 Skipped: 1
5
No: 76% Yes: 24%
4

O RG AN I Z AT I O N S
NO 3

YES 1

0
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Under 5 6-10 11-20 +21

Takeaway:
25% of organizations have already laid off or furloughed staff.

Q5 If you have not laid off or furloughed staff yet, If yes, number of employees:
do you anticipate having to do so? 10
Answered: 59 Skipped: 6
9
No: 46% Yes: 54%
8

NO 7
O R G AN I Z AT I O N S

5
YES 4

3
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
2
Takeaway:
1
The majority of respondents anticipate having to lay
off or furlough staff in the near future. 0

Under 5 6-10 11-20 +21

Q6 If yes to question 5, do you anticipate laying Answered: 43

Unknown: 72%
Skipped: 22
April: 12% May: 16%
off or furloughing staff before:
Takeaway:
Before April 1 28% of organizations who plan to layoff or furlough
staff believe that would occur before May 1. The
remaining 72% anticipate layoffs/furloughs, but
Before May 1 don’t know when.

Unknown
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

RE S P O NDE NTS

COVID-19 SURVEY RESULTS MARCH 21-24, 2020

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO HUMAN SERVICE CHAMBER OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

Q7 Have you already started to lose revenue sources and what Answered: 56 Skipped: 9

percent of your budget do these revenues represent?

20
RESPO N DENTS

15

10

0
Less than 5% 6-10% 11-20% 21-30% +31%
Takeaway:
41% of respondents are already reporting losses of more than 10%.

Q8 Where are you experiencing the greatest loss of revenue? Answered: 63 Skipped: 2

30

25
R ES P O N D ENTS

20

15

10

0
Contributions Fee-for-Services Fundraisers Reimbursements Retail
Revenue
Takeaway:
Due to social distancing, organizations that receive a fee for in-person service are especially hard hit.
Continuing these services virtually could potentially help organizations maintain this revenue.

Q9 Recognizing that many volunteer activities needed to be stopped, what volunteer

needs do you have currently (or needed to start) that are not getting fulfilled?
Responses included: Conversation partners
Emotional support
Sorting donations
Food delivery
Assisting seniors
Food pantry support
Client medical appointment drivers
Virtual mentors and tutors

COVID-19 SURVEY RESULTS MARCH 21-24, 2020