1. To create a national, state and local focus on the arts and humanities through the media,
2. To encourage the participation of individuals, as well as arts, humanities and other organizations nationwide,
3. To provide an opportunity for federal, state and local business, government and civic leaders to declare their support for the arts and humanities,
4. To establish a highly visible vehicle for raising public awareness about the arts and humanities.

In recognition of National Arts & Humanities Month, America’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members. These nonprofits’ programs inspire, educate, entertain, and enlighten youth, veterans, and individuals of all ages in local communities throughout the country.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Founded in 1974 in Washington, D.C., the Duke Ellington School of the Arts’ mission is to nurture and inspire passion for arts and learning in talented students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to develop their artistic skills. They ensure that students are prepared for post-secondary education and/or careers in the arts by offering an intensive arts-based program. They prepare students to become productive citizens in our global society through a strong focus on academics and community service. Learn more.        

Signature Theatre, Inc.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland, Signature produces contemporary musicals and plays, reinvents classic musicals, develops new work and provides meaningful education and outreach programs for the community. The Theatre is the premiere venue for musical theater in the Washington region and is known for producing large-scale musicals in its intimate spaces and for its premieres of new work, especially new musicals. Learn more.

WETA (Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association)

WETA Television/Classical WETA FM public broadcasting serves Greater Washington. Productions include PBS NewsHour, Washington Week and documentaries by Ken Burns and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.  WETA’s mission is to produce and distribute content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit using a broad range of media to reach audiences both in our community and nationwide. WETA leverages its collective resources to extend our impact. WETA will be true to its values; and respects diversity of views, culture, and heritage. Learn more.

The post Celebrate National Arts & Humanities Month This October appeared first on America's Charities.

In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, click on each of America’s Charities’ nonprofit members below to learn about their past contributions to this country and ways they continue to shape and make history:

• NAACP
• NAACP Legal & Defense Fund
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund
• 100 Black Men of America
• ACLU Foundation
• The National Black Child Development Institute
• The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
• YMCA of Metropolitan Washington

Throughout the month of February, we encourage you to:

1. Join us in celebrating Black History Month! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as we share our members’ posts and highlight the black community’s contributions, culture, and impact on America.

2. Donate & raise money for these nonprofits whose work has and continues to pave the way for inclusion, civil rights, equity in justice, education, and a better tomorrow. America’s Charities is proud of the work our member charities do in these respective areas. One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click below on each charity’s name to learn more about their work, and please donate to them through employee giving!

The post Celebrating the Agents of Change this Black History Month appeared first on America's Charities.

In recognition of National Scholarship Month/National Education Month November 1-30, 2024, America’s Charities is celebrating the following members who are raising awareness for scholarship and higher education opportunities.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

Encourages students to pursue higher education and provides college readiness and career preparation resources and support: 

• Latino Youth Arts Education Fund – (LULAC National Educational Service Centers, Inc.)
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)

Provides access to mentoring and training for disadvantaged youth:

• 100 Black Men of America
• The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC)

Empowers students and provides scholarships: 

• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Scholarship Fund – Point Foundation

Provides support for students pursuing a college education: 

• Generation Hope

Provides lodging and creates stable homes:

• A Wider Circle

The post National Scholarship Month/National Education Month appeared first on America's Charities.

Two Ways to Join Us This #PreservationMonth:

1. Sign the pledge to save the Tidal Basin: Featuring famous memorials to Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, along with its famous cherry trees that attract about 1.5 million people each spring during the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Tidal Basin is an American icon. Unfortunately, because of silt and water from rising sea levels, this incredible landmark is under threat. Click here to take the pledge and help National Trust for Historic Preservation save this historic place.
2. Celebrate places you love with #ThisPlaceMatters: Do you have a place that is especially important to you; a place you really care about? This Place Matters is a national campaign that encourages people to celebrate the places that are meaningful to them and to their communities. The National Trust wants to help you shine a spotlight on all the special places that matter to you – and they’ve made it fun and easy to do! Click here for toolkits, merchandise, and steps you can take to join the #ThisPlaceMatters campaign.

Want to do even more to help preserve and save historic places?

All year round, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is committed to protecting America’s rich cultural legacy and helping build vibrant, sustainable communities that reflect our nation’s diversity. One of the most cost-efficient ways you can help the National Trust for Historic Preservation is to donate to them through your employer’s workplace giving program Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team, and click here to learn more about what employee workplace giving is and how it works.

The post This Place Matters: How to Celebrate Preservation Month This May appeared first on America's Charities.

In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, click on each of America’s Charities’ nonprofit members below to learn about their past contributions to this country and ways they continue to shape and make history:

• NAACP
• NAACP Legal & Defense Fund
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund
• 100 Black Men of America
• ACLU Foundation
• The National Black Child Development Institute
• The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
• YMCA of Metropolitan Washington

Throughout the month of February, we encourage you to:

1. Join us in celebrating Black History Month! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as we share our members’ posts and highlight the black community’s contributions, culture, and impact on America.

2. Donate & raise money for these nonprofits whose work has and continues to pave the way for inclusion, civil rights, equity in justice, education, and a better tomorrow. America’s Charities is proud of the work our member charities do in these respective areas. One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click below on each charity’s name to learn more about their work, and please donate to them through employee giving!

The post Celebrating the Agents of Change this Black History Month appeared first on America's Charities.

In recognition of National Scholarship Month/National Education Month November 1-30, 2022, America’s Charities is celebrating the following members who are raising awareness for scholarship and higher education opportunities.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

Encourages students to pursue higher education and provides college readiness and career preparation resources and support: 

• Latino Youth Arts Education Fund – (LULAC National Educational Service Centers, Inc.) 
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)  

Provides access to mentoring and training for disadvantaged youth:

• 100 Black Men of America 
• The Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC)

Empowers students and provides scholarships: 

• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Scholarship Fund – Point Foundation 

Provides support for students pursuing a college education: 

• Generation Hope 

Provides lodging and creates stable homes:

• A Wider Circle

The post National Scholarship Month/National Education Month appeared first on America's Charities.

1. To create a national, state and local focus on the arts and humanities through the media,
2. To encourage the participation of individuals, as well as arts, humanities and other organizations nationwide,
3. To provide an opportunity for federal, state and local business, government and civic leaders to declare their support for the arts and humanities,
4. To establish a highly visible vehicle for raising public awareness about the arts and humanities.

In recognition of National Arts & Humanities Month, America’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members. These nonprofits’ programs inspire, educate, entertain, and enlighten youth, veterans, and individuals of all ages in local communities throughout the country.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!

Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Founded in 1974 in Washington, D.C., the Duke Ellington School of the Arts’ mission is to nurture and inspire passion for arts and learning in talented students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to develop their artistic skills. They ensure that students are prepared for post-secondary education and/or careers in the arts by offering an intensive arts-based program. They prepare students to become productive citizens in our global society through a strong focus on academics and community service. Learn more.        

Signature Theatre, Inc.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland, Signature produces contemporary musicals and plays, reinvents classic musicals, develops new work and provides meaningful education and outreach programs for the community. The Theatre is the premiere venue for musical theater in the Washington region and is known for producing large-scale musicals in its intimate spaces and for its premieres of new work, especially new musicals. Learn more.

WETA (Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association)

WETA Television/Classical WETA FM public broadcasting serves Greater Washington. Productions include PBS NewsHour, Washington Week and documentaries by Ken Burns and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.  WETA’s mission is to produce and distribute content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit using a broad range of media to reach audiences both in our community and nationwide. WETA leverages its collective resources to extend our impact. WETA will be true to its values; and respects diversity of views, culture, and heritage. Learn more.

The post Celebrate National Arts & Humanities Month This October appeared first on America's Charities.

For nearly 60 years, WETA and Classical WETA have served Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with high-quality, educational cultural, news and public affairs programs and services. Combined Federal Campaign and workplace giving contributions from individual community members have provided vital support to help make WETA’s public service possible.

An independent, not-for-profit public broadcaster and producer, WETA’s mission is to produce and distribute content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit that pique the audience’s curiosity and interest in the world around them, providing opportunities for lifelong learning for all who seek enrichment, inspiration and information.

CFC and workplace giving contributions support the broadcast of WETA’s five TV channels — WETA PBS, WETA UK, WETA PBS Kids, WETA World and WETA Metro. Viewers enjoy popular programs such as Finding Your Roots, Masterpiece, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Frontline, Antiques Roadshow and Nature. Classical WETA is the exclusive home of classical music in Greater Washington, both on air at 90.9 FM and via classicalweta.org. Contributions help fund the inspiring offerings, including radio productions produced by WETA with leading area cultural institutions, opera favorites every Saturday afternoon and a dedicated podcast that explores classical music in-depth.

In addition to broadcasts and productions, WETA has developed valuable national education services including Well Beings, a public media campaign addressing the critical health needs of Americans through storytelling, conversation and events. Projects for parents and teachers include LDOnline.org, ReadingRockets.org, ColorinColorado.org and AdLit.org.

On the ground in the local community, WETA’s services include Ready To Learn workshops that show families, child-care providers and teachers how to leverage public television’s kids shows to help young viewers learn to read. Workplace contributions also support WETA’s acclaimed local and national television productions.

A top producer of public affairs, history, and arts and cultural programming, WETA creates some of the finest, most-watched programming in television, including the award-winning PBS NewsHour, Washington Week and much more. WETA works with a wide range of independent filmmakers to produce and present works including Ken Burns’s Muhammad Ali and Hemingway, Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s Finding Your Roots and The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song, the Peabody Award-winning Asian Americans, and many more.

As a non-profit, WETA relies on members of the community to support the company’s mission of service. It is the collective support of members, donors, listeners, viewers, parents, teachers and many others that sustains WETA’s important work.

Your gift to WETA is a gift to the people of your community.

Through your support, you are helping others in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond, empowering audiences to share the joy of learning, to stay informed as citizens, to benefit from a deeper understanding of the nation’s history, and to experience the nourishment of the arts and sublime music. Your CFC contributions will help WETA continue to provide a unique service to the national capital region, creating content of true consequence and bring important ideas to life on behalf of the public.

# # #

Support WETA through your employee giving program:

As a donor, you can support WETA by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (CFC#99581 if you’re a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign). Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a cost effective and near effortless way to support your favorite charities.

As WETA’s workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

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The initiative features resources designed to help parents provide comfort and manage anxiety, as well as help with creating routines, fostering playful learning at home, and staying physically and mentally healthy. SesameStreet.org/caring will be regularly updated to meet the needs of families as the situation evolves. Families can also watch Sesame Street episodes on HBO and PBS stations, and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, with an expanded offering of free on-demand episodes of Sesame Street on PBS KIDS digital platforms. 

“Around the world, young children’s lives are being turned upside down, and parents and caregivers are looking for ways to give their children—and themselves—a sense of stability in this new normal,” said Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President for Curriculum and Content, Sesame Workshop. “But there are things parents and caregivers can do to face each day with optimism. Sesame Street is here to provide the caring adults in children’s lives with the resources they need to help children, and foster their healthy development at home.”

Sesame Workshop is also creating brand new content on topics like handwashing, how to cough or sneeze properly, and how taking good care of yourself means taking good care of others, which will be available in the US and globally in a wide range of languages and released in the coming weeks.

Sesame Street has long been a source of comfort for children and families during difficult times,” said Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Senior Vice President for US Social Impact, Sesame Workshop. “While we don’t always know what to expect, we know that Sesame Street friends have the power to convey simple strategies and messages to help children and the caring adults in their lives find comfort. With Caring for Each Other, we can help families get through these uncertain times and build hope for the future.”

Additionally, over 110 free Sesame Street ebooks are available on all major ebook platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Nook, Google Play, and Kobo.

Resources will also be distributed through a wide range of partners in the US and globally, including community providers serving vulnerable families through Sesame Street in Communities and PBS stations.

About Sesame Workshop 

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We’re present in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically-funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.sesameworkshop.org. 

Make More Initiatives Like This Possible! Donate to the Yellow Feather Fund through Workplace Giving.

Individual Donors:

As a donor, you can support Sesame Workshop’s programs and initiatives by donating to the Yellow Feather Fund through your employer’s workplace giving program (CFC# 58827 if you’re a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign). Your gift enables Sesame Street to research, create, and distribute materials used by educators, families, and service providers nationwide—and helps us spread the message that every child is unique, and every child is amazing.

Businesses:

As the Yellow Feather Fund’s workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, matching gifts, and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request more information about how we can help you do this.

The post Sesame Workshop Launches ‘Caring for Each Other’ Initiative to Help Parents and Children During Coronavirus Pandemic appeared first on America's Charities.

To shed light on the important ways nonprofits are supporting our communities during this health and economic crisis, and to underscore how people across the country are being impacted in ways big and small, America’s Charities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year working at the nexus of employers, charities, and employee donor giving and engagement, reached out to its community of 120+ nonprofit members for insights. If you don’t see the nonprofit you love listed here, click here to search our full member list.

Below are just a handful of challenges America’s Charities’ high-impact, pre-vetted nonprofit members are facing. Our hope is that this article will bring light to the critical role nonprofits fill in this country; help individual donors identify and support nonprofits supporting coronavirus efforts; and encourage cross-sector collaboration to ensure these nonprofits have the necessary resources, capacity, and support to continue providing help throughout this pandemic and beyond.  

When you’re ready to give to these (or other) nonprofits, visit our Coronavirus Resource Center to learn why workplace giving is the most efficient and effective method to support them.

– Demand for Food and Basic Essentials Rapidly Increases While Support from Donations, Volunteers, and Government Diminishes

School closures, job disruptions, lack of paid sick leave, and the health threat’s disproportionate impact on the elderly and low-income families are only a few aspects of this evolving crisis. As food banks are already seeing a decrease in retail donations, unique product distribution challenges, declining volunteer groups, and increased product demand for vulnerable populations, Feeding America has launched a COVID-19 Response Fund.

“We have seeded the fund with $2.65 million and plan to meet member’s needs and the creation and distribution of staged food boxes in the most vulnerable areas of our country. With the help of our supporters and partners, we are leading a conversation on how to address immediate and long-term needs as well as mitigate the impact on our nation’s most at-risk populations,” shared Teresa Gruber, Director, Employee Engagement, Feeding America.

The most vulnerable among us rely on school meals and feeding programs to survive. Those living paycheck-to-paycheck may not have savings or support systems to help. Feed the Children, which works to alleviate childhood hunger, told us that the coronavirus has already impacted the National School Lunch Program, which typically supplies close to 29 million free or reduced lunches. These meals are a critical lifeline. As school doors close across the country, vital essentials need to reach food-insecure families as soon as possible. As Feed the Children CEO Travis Arnold stated, “Please know that your donation may be the lifeline for a struggling family or child who lives in your community. That’s why every donation matters so much.”

Diane Clifford, Managing Director, Constituency Development at No Kid Hungry, which focuses on policies and programs necessary to end childhood hunger, stated, “We are working to ensure that school administrators and program operators have the information they need on how to keep meal programs running. This post from our Center for Best Practices provides guidance on proactive actions schools can take to meet the nutritional needs of students during school closures related to COVID-19. We have sent it to many schools, state agencies, and community organizations, but we want as many leaders to have this info as possible.”

Nonprofits like Miriam’s Kitchen, whose mission is to end chronic homelessness in Washington, D.C., rely heavily on volunteers and in-kind donations. In the past 37 years, Miriam’s Kitchen has never closed its doors. The population vulnerable to COVID-19—older individuals with complicating health factors—is the very population Miriam’s Kitchen serves, so continuing their services is more important than ever. While making the difficult decision to temporarily suspend their volunteer program, Miriam’s Kitchen staff from various departments will fill in to ensure meal services and streamlined case management continue. They are asking for donations to their Miriam’s Kitchen’s Emergency Flex Fund to help them ramp up and sustain efforts in response to COVID-19.

Virginia-based Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) is operating as usual, but taking extra precautions to keep its clients, volunteers, and staff safe. Clients visiting the food pantry have been offered additional, non-perishable food, and two weeks ago each family received Clean Start kits (hygiene and cleaning items). Additionally, LCAC is providing extra kids packs with additional non-perishable goods (Ramen, Easy Mac, etc…) in the weeks ahead to meet the needs of neighborhood children and teens. Just this past week, a father who frequents LCAC told the nonprofit, “thank you for making sure our kids have what they need.”

The team at Operation Warm, which provides kids with coats and so much more, told us, “This is our outreach time via conferences and we are no longer traveling as conferences are being canceled. So, opportunities to develop new partnerships are hindered. It is too early to have a handle on the impact this will have on corporate giving, but we already know there will be more families in need in the fall and demand for our coats will likely go up, as it did in 2008-2011.” 

– Health, Safety, and Lifelines are at Stake – for People and Pets

Even larger organizations like the Red Cross are feeling the blow, with the Food and Drug Administration urging healthy individuals to donate blood as American Red Cross blood drives are being canceled nationwide. Ivana Krejci, Development Operations Specialist for the American Red Cross of Central & South Texas Region shared, “To meet the constant demand for lifesaving blood, the Red Cross must collect about 13,000 blood donations and more than 2,500 platelet donations every day.

“Through Monday, March 16, we have seen over 2,700 Red Cross blood drives canceled nationwide due to coronavirus concerns, resulting in about 86,000 fewer blood donations,” shared Emily Schricker, Grant Specialist with American Red Cross Eastern Pennsylvania. “As more schools and businesses close their doors, this number will only continue to grow. This blood shortage could impact patients who need surgery, victims of car accidents and other emergencies, or patients suffering from cancer. One of the most important things you can do to ensure we don’t have another health care crisis on top of the Coronavirus is to give blood.”

Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, which serves pediatric patients and their families who travel from throughout the U.S. and the world as their child receives treatment for a life-threatening illness at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, is simply overwhelmed with the demands of responding to this health crisis. With eight facilities that serve immune-suppressed pediatric patients, they have had to make major policy and procedural changes within each of their facilities.

Brian Morrison, President, CEO, and Founder of The Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation stated, “We have had to stop virtually all volunteer services and activities as we greatly restrict the number of people who can enter the Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, which is located on the grounds of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. We are working to completely overhaul our family food service program at the Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, which provides breakfast and dinners to an average of 60 guests daily. Our food program has relied heavily on volunteers coming into the facility to help prepare and serve meals, and we are now switching to meals that are prepared off-premises in restaurants and delivered daily. We are also now purchasing and asking for donations of high quality frozen meals in bulk. Additional cleaning and housekeeping staff are being hired to disinfect surface areas on a continuous rotation throughout the day. Similar precautions and procedures are being implemented in each of our pediatric respite facilities. We are asking for additional funding to support our families, who are often far from home, and due to their child’s illness cannot leave the hospital area. Gift cards to give to families and contributions to support our programs are greatly appreciated. We are preparing for a two to three month period of major instability.”

Humans aren’t the only ones being impacted by the coronavirus. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary made a historic decision this week to close its sanctuary to visitors for the first time in its 36 years of operation. Their Lifesaving Centers throughout the nation are also closing to the public over the next week in an effort to remain conscientious in their attempts to limit and protect their partners, volunteers, and employees from any potential exposure to the illness.

“This will have an incredible impact on national lifesaving efforts as adoptions will slow down but intake will remain steady or potentially even increase,” stated Jane Jetabut, Corporate Engagement Specialist, Best Friends Animal Society. “At this time, we are urgently in need of fosters. As many folks will now be working from home, now is a great time to make an incredible lifesaving contribution by providing a short term foster space for a shelter pet.”

While protective measures like social distancing and self-quarantine of infected/potentially infected individuals are inconvenient for everyone, for victims of domestic violence, they can become life-threatening. Danger inside of the home can increase along with the risks posed by the virus pandemic. When abusers have expanded access to their families, such as during the holidays, reports of domestic violence increase. Additionally, when law enforcement and medical services are forced to focus elsewhere, support services can begin to break down. According to Axios, the number of domestic violence cases reported to police in Hubei province, China nearly tripled in February after quarantine for coronavirus.

For those already experiencing domestic violence, the pandemic will add anxiety and challenges that come with having to ensure childcare, maintain employment and nutrition for their family, and access healthcare. The loss of work and income caused by coronavirus can mean the difference between safety and independence and life with an abuser.

“PCADV is monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic closely and is providing daily guidance to its network of local domestic violence programs across the Commonwealth,” said Susan Higginbotham, CEO, PCADV. Adding, “Our programs will continue providing direct services, and we are collectively making every effort possible to ensure minimal disruption in services.”

Shelter space is a concern. In Pennsylvania alone, PCADV’s domestic violence programs average more than 6,500 unmet requests for housing each year—and that’s when residents are not facing a pandemic. In response to COVID-19, if needed, and when possible, programs will use hoteling and other alternative housing models.

Making Urgent Information and News about the Coronavirus Accessible to the Deaf Community

A far overlooked issue is the dissemination of information about the coronavirus itself. Much of the information shared by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have been in complex college-level English text form. Such information is not accessible to many people in the U.S., particularly those whose primary or only language is another language, as well as those who comprehend plain English rather than complex English.

Many within the deaf community use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary or only language. Yet, the CDC and HHS do not include any videos in ASL that explain the same urgent and critical information shared with everyone else in complex English.

Howard A. Rosenblum, Esq., Chief Executive Officer & Director of Legal Services at the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) stated, “Despite our strenuous efforts in urging both the CDC and HHS to disseminate information in ASL, they have repeatedly told us “it is coming,” yet the crisis is at critical levels and many places are closing. It’s not okay to share ASL information a month after everyone else has information. This is not acceptable and it is also illegal under federal disability rights laws.”

Moreover, Rosenblum shares, “We [NAD] have been expending time and effort to ensure that state and local governments hold accessible press conferences that advise their local populations on what to do during the epidemic. Too often, such press conferences are not accessible. Some are captioned, which is good but is not accessible for those who only understand ASL. We urge all such press conferences across the country to have both captioning and ASL interpretation. Nothing less.” 

– Keeping Educational and Arts Programs for People with Disabilities and Underserved Populations Operational

While some nonprofits have made the tough choice to cancel or suspend their own programs, having that choice has not been the case for all. Susan Slattery, Director of Outreach at Art Spark Texas, which provides programs supporting people with disabilities – including veterans and wounded warriors – shared, “There is a general feeling of uncertainty because, in many cases, we are not the ones who made the decisions to close. Property owners and program partners are also facing the same dilemmas, and we have to work together for the common good. Not only does this affect the people we serve, who already experience social isolation, it affects our funding streams and impacts staff and family members. We will have to look at ways to streamline programs and services into the unforeseeable future, but are pleased at the outpouring of support we have received from our current funders.”

Generation Hope, which describes its work as a “two-generation solution to poverty,” works with teen parents in college and their little ones. Between college campus and school closures, admission to physical and mental healthcare facilities, and access to food, Generation Hope’s team and case managers are working to ensure the support and services they provide continue without interruption – moving some of their programming to virtual delivery where possible. Generation Hope asks people to sign up to tutor remotely, mail laptops and Wi-Fi hotspot equipment to their office (located at 415 Michigan Ave, NE, Suite 430, Washington, DC 20017), donate to their Scholar Emergency Fund, and help with general operating support.

The National Capital Area Council Boy Scouts of America’s (NCAC) first priority is the health and safety of its staff, volunteers, and Scouts, and their moral responsibility to follow guidelines for social distancing to help stop the spread of this disease. While much is still unknown about how dramatically they will be affected by the coronavirus, they have currently canceled all programs, events, and camps until at least April 30. In addition to technology and resource deficits, this disruption will result in lost revenue. A donation of $240 can help NCAC cover the cost of programs for one Scout whose family has been economically challenged by COVID-19.

As is the case with many other nonprofits we’ve heard from, Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), whose programs and scholarships are life-changing for students—many who are low-income and first-generation college students—is having to postpone and cancel critical fundraising events that support TMCF’s overall mission. Not only does TMCF provide unparalleled access to a funnel of opportunities for students to journey to college, through college, and into a career, but TMCF also serves as an essential pipeline, providing corporations with critical exposure to diverse talent. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have long been overlooked as major corporations build their university relations plans largely with predominately white institutions. The programming TMCF offers allows senior leaders, hiring managers, and other corporate stakeholders to engage with the talent they would not normally engage with cost-efficiently, proving to corporate leaders that HBCUs provide a rich and viable pipeline of diverse talent. This process of exposing the value of HBCUs is central to the mission of TMCF and critical to their ability to deepen current funding resources and attracting new ones.

The Need for Sustainable Nonprofit Funding

The event of America’s Charities’ 40^th anniversary has given us an opportunity to pause and reflect on philanthropy. In all our time supporting nonprofits and businesses and advancing the greater good, we have never seen the social impact community face a crisis quite like this one. While the full scale of the coronavirus toll has yet to be seen, one thing is crystal clear: nonprofits all across the U.S. are playing an absolutely vital role in addressing and mitigating the impact the coronavirus will have on communities across our nation and filling the void made by the lack of government resources.

We know, too, that when a group of social changemakers comes together, wondrous things happen. Since the start of the pandemic, businesses have been looking inward as they evaluate their workplace policies and figure out how best to ensure the safety of their employees while keeping their operations running. Many are beginning to look outward to identify the ways their business and employees can help nonprofits and people in the community. The benefits of workplace giving are more poignant than ever. While we may not be able to interact as we once did, workplace giving becomes an avenue for donors to help, with just a few clicks of a button. Just as we have seen in the case of natural disasters, we expect to see a surge in employers using their workplace giving programs as an outlet for their employees to safely donate to nonprofits with coronavirus initiatives. We are proud to support businesses and their employees in that endeavor, just as we are honored to serve the more than 120 nonprofits that comprise our membership.

As an extra step to support coronavirus response efforts, we are launching the America’s Charities Coronavirus Response Fund as a way for donors and businesses to provide short and long-term support with a single donation. Visit www.charities.org/coronavirus for details.

The coronavirus has already reached its long tentacles into our community. From how we work, to how our children are educated, to how we interact and support each other, to how we advocate for the health and safety of ourselves and our loved ones, we know it’s a stressful time right now. America’s Charities will be with you every step of the way, providing you resources during this fluid time. On our website, we have compiled all of the coronavirus resources and information we can, from this article and elsewhere. We encourage the public to continue visiting this page as we will keep it updated while the pandemic progresses and new needs emerge.

Thank you for all that you do. Stay safe.

The post The Critical Ways America’s Charities’ Nonprofit Members are Helping Communities Respond to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic appeared first on America's Charities.

Recognized on a national level for high quality, groundbreaking programming, Art Spark Texas is specifically designed to annually serve individuals who often face physical, social and attitudinal barriers to participation in the arts. Our goals include: enhancing the personal growth of emerging artists with disabilities; offering access to the creative work of all people with diverse abilities; and supporting the public in their effort to be inclusive and welcoming to all individuals.

There are 20 million people with disabilities in the United States, and over 1.5 million of these people of working age live in Texas. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is nearly 70% nationwide and many of our artists live at or below the poverty line. By providing access to original arts experiences and economic opportunities, Art Spark Texas aims to build lifelong stability through our services and programs.

We touch an average of thirty thousand people with disabilities (of all ages) over a calendar year. These may be individuals who have just returned from the battlefield and are looking for ways to reconnect with their family and friends. These many be young adults who are facing an uncertain future of employment, who are able to find the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams. These may be older adults who are isolated and alone. The opportunity to create simple art projects in community with others brings them happiness and a feeling of belonging again. These people may be you, or someone that you love.

We rely on contributions from people like you to advance our mission. And, because of our workplace donors and their reliable monthly funding, we are able to plan our future projects with confidence. 

Here is just an example of what your donations can support:

• $50 buys arts supplies for our inclusive arts classes with older adults.
• $100 pays for an audio description receiver to assist visually-impaired patrons at theater productions and other events.
• $250 pays for provides professional development training for a teacher in the Creative Learning Initiative.
• $500 sponsors a young person to participate in a New Media Arts event.
• $1000 supports a Veteran Writing Course.
• $2500 supports a teaching artist residency in a special education classroom.
• $5000 underwrites a public speaking training and speaker showcase.

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Support Art Spark Texas through your employee giving program:

As a donor, you can support Art Spark Texas by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (CFC#4508 if you’re a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign). Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a cost effective and near effortless way to support your favorite charities.

As Art Spark Texas’s workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

The post Art Spark Texas: Sparking the Creative in Everyone appeared first on America's Charities.

In 2010, the city of San Antonio closed the building due to code violations. It became clear that saving the cinder block, Arte Moderne building would require an expensive repair process.

Community members formed the Save Lerma’s Coalition to advocate for the club’s preservation. The group hosted a series of fundraising events and received a grant through the National Trust’s “This Place Matters” Community Challenge. Part of the coalition’s advocacy was getting the club listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which can help protect historically significant sites from redevelopment.

>> Read How the Group Saved Conjunto

The post Lerma’s Nite Club: How the Group Saved Conjunto appeared first on America's Charities.