Remote Work Resources For Nonprofits
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and in accordance with CDC guidelines, those of us fortunate enough to do so have transitioned to working remotely. While some companies are set up in a way that makes this easier than for others, many nonprofits are struggling to find the new normal. In a recent survey from Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, more than half of nonprofits reported the need for resources to support remote work. So, to that end, here’s a running list of resources to help you navigate the transition.
LogMeIn Emergency Remote Work Kits
LogMeIn has long created innovative products that power remote work for people all around the globe. They’ve also created this remote work toolkit to guide you through. You can count on reliable productivity and communication, even when working conditions are unpredictable or unexpected.
Free 90 Days of Adobe Connect
As of March 9, Adobe is providing free 90-day access for Adobe Connect, until July 1st, 2020. Individuals and businesses who aren’t customers can now use Adobe Connect rooms with up to 25 participants for free for up to 90 days if they sign-up for a trial license between now and July 1st. Join virtual meetings, conferences, and trainings all from home to keep productivity and communication up despite the distance.
Collaboration & document management tools
TechSoup has created a blog post with mostly free resources that are easy and quick to implement. This includes tools for communication, document management, and collaboration.
Choosing the right meeting platform
Working remotely means meetings have moved online as well. As such, choosing the right software for your meetings and trainings is a crucial part of a successful transition. Nonprofit learning lab has compiled this list of pros and cons for different platforms to help you choose the right fit for your organization.
Tips for making remote life work
Montana Nonprofit Association‘s Suddenly Working From Home gives practical tips for how to make the best of this challenging situation. From setting up your home office to keeping up team morale, this post is all about the functional aspects of working remotely.
Internet access
Lack of internet access shouldn’t bar anyone from making ends meet. Comcast is helping all families get connected to the internet at home by offering two months free to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month plus tax.
Additional support
On March 14, United Way of Massachusetts Bay established the COVID-19 Family Support Fund to help families impacted by the pandemic. While we will deploy these funds as effectively as possible, we also know that there are many more organizations in need than we can support alone. Here are some additional resources for organizations looking for funding amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Cambridge Community Foundation’s Cambridge Emergency COVID-19 Fund
This is for Cambridge nonprofits that work with low-income families and can make cash transfers for needs such as rent, food, utilities, medical.
The Boston Foundation
Agencies can now apply for funding from The Boston Foundation’s Covid-19 Response Fund. Click here for current grantmaking focus, FAQs and a brief form for support requests.
Women’s Foundation of Boston Response Fund
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Women’s Foundation of Boston has launched a new fund to support women and girls in Greater Boston. In Boston, as in most cities, the most vulnerable are disproportionately women and girls. We know that women and girls in Greater Boston face growing challenges over the next few months and beyond. A public health emergency such as COVID-19 dramatically increases the risks for women and girls already in poverty. Current partners who would like to request a relief grant to mitigate the impact of the global Coronavirus crisis on their operations should fill out and submit a COVID-19 Response Fund Letter of Inquiry.
US Small Business Administration
Nonprofits can now apply for disaster loans from the US Small Business Administration. Any Massachusetts nonprofit or small business may apply. Click here to access the application.
New England Grass Roots Environment Fund
Grassroots groups, apply for rapid-response grants from the New England Grass Roots Environment Fund’s COVID-19 Rapid Response fund. Available for community-driven efforts (volunteer-driven, budget of less than $100,000 and no more than two full-time staff equivalents), with a minimum of 3 people involved. The project must respond to a need as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Deadline is on a rolling basis.
