COVID Guide ▸ Questions to ask to help charities adapt post Covid-19

Adapt

To fit, adjust, alter, or modify

COVID-19 is changing the way that people work, communities function and society interacts. Charities need support to evaluate these changes and consider how to adapt to provide their services safely for beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and the wider community.

They need funding to invest in innovative solutions, technology, training and processes to ensure they can continue to meet the new needs that are emerging through the pandemic.

They also need resources to enable them to monitor and evaluate the changing environment continually so they can respond agilely to the changing context and beneficiary needs.

These organisations need both restricted and unrestricted funding to re-tool and re-skill and to prepare for longer-term needs.

10 Questions to ask TO ADAPT

What changes has the organisation already made?
What analysis has the organisation done on the likely future needs of its beneficiaries, users or clients? Will it update this analysis regularly?
What analysis has it done on its own likely future needs?
Has the organisation identified, specifically, the resources it needs to adapt effectively (e.g. technology, volunteers, staff, premises, safety equipment, training, etc)?
Has the organisation developed an operational plan for implementing these changes?
Have cost savings been found?
Have the risk register and policies been reviewed and what contingency planning has been done?
Has the organisation developed a fundraising plan to implement these changes through restricted and/or unrestricted funds?
Have relationships with existing funders been proactively managed to take into account of changes due to COVID-19?
Has the organisation considered opportunities for collaboration and partnerships that could help it in the longer term?