April 8, 2020—Along with small businesses, major industries, and pretty much everyone on the planet, local nonprofit organizations are struggling right now to figure out how to meet their bottom line. For nonprofits, however, doing so means the continued ability to serve their communities in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, even as demand for their critically-needed services skyrockets.
At Valley Humane Society, a scaled-down operations team continues to take in and adopt homeless dogs and cats from municipal shelters expecting an imminent population boom. The anticipated influx is due as much to Covid-19 as to regular kitten season. At other nonprofits, similar scenarios play out, resulting in families continuing to be fed, foster children protected, survivors supported, and more, despite the challenging times.
“Nonprofits are often working in the shadows during challenging times,” said Melanie Sadek, Executive Director. “Valley Humane Society is focused on modifying our programs and services to ensure human health is protected, while maintaining the greatest positive impact for those animals and people we serve.”
Making a donation to support the work of a nonprofit organization feels like a luxury when every penny counts. Nonprofits like Valley Humane Society appreciate every donation they receive in the best of times, because every little bit helps. And because they understand the uncertainty of troubled times, they are reaching out in particular to individuals with donor advised funds.
Donor advised funds, or DAFs, are like special investment accounts exclusively held for making charitable contributions. Donors make tax-deductible donations to account providers (such as Schwab or Fidelity), who then grow the funds in tax-free investments until the donor requests money be sent or granted to a charity. In 2019, there was an estimated $121.42 billion of undistributed funds in DAF accounts.
But funds sometimes stall in DAF accounts, since donors have already received their tax deduction when they funded the account and have no time requirement to distribute the funds. Some people also may simply enjoy watching their legacy grow over time.
Right now, however, this is money that can be used to save the world.
Since no other use is allowed for donor advised funds, using some at this time to support much-needed services within the local community could go a long way toward ensuring others receive the help they need. Individuals with donor advised funds who are inspired by the mission of a nonprofit in our community are encouraged to contact the manager of their charitable fund for distribution information and to make a grant recommendation.
For Valley Humane Society, continued operation means saving lives by reducing the burden of unwanted or ownerless animals in the municipal system. The organization has also taken its Canine Comfort programs for people online, offering videos on its YouTube channel of Paws to Read, to encourage reading by children stuck at home, and “A Moment of Comfort,” a virtual pet therapy visit for anyone craving that special soul-healing magic of a pet. Visit valleyhumane.org for more information.