Finding an industry or sector of society that has not been impacted by COVID-19 would be difficult, and the nonprofit sector is no exception. This ever-changing situation has hurt nonprofits while also bringing many to the forefront of charitable and community safety efforts. When the crisis has lessened, the face of nonprofits will have changed. By taking a look at the immediate COVID impact on the nonprofit world, charitable organizations can face the future with the right planning in place.

When we last caught up with Johnson & Wales College of Online Education alumna Julia Abbiss ’15 ’17 MS – Nonprofit Management, she was on a steady track to graduating with her master’s degree. After completing her undergraduate degree in Tourism and Hospitality management with JWU in Providence, Julia’s inner travel bug was itching for a new setting.

Even after graduating with her BS – Accounting from Johnson & Wales University and a successful 10-year career working as an accountant for nonprofits, Monica Leeming ’19 MBA was hungry for more. “I didn’t feel that my bachelor’s was enough for me,” she says. “I wanted to keep growing professionally so I felt that I need to do more to advance a little more.”

Charitable donations are at an all-time high. Data from Giving USA 2018 reveals that total charitable giving exceeded $410 billion in 2017.

Alright, y’all, let’s get frosty. We’re heading into one of the testiest event-based fundraiser debates, ever: open bar vs. cash bar.

As you may well know, my nonprofiteers, putting on a black-tie fundraiser requires extensive planning, strategizing, and stewardship. Don’t let the night of the event spoil your mojo! Anything and everything that happens during your event is a reflection, positive or negative, on your organization and on you.

Having worked in nonprofit operations and fundraising for two decades, I have experienced the good, the bad, and the unbelievable.

To ensure a streamlined and successful event, the following pitfalls can easily be avoided:

Your time is precious. Many college students, especially in the online classroom, are tasked with keeping up with their studies while holding down a full-time job. So, when I tell you that volunteer work can be the essence to a fulfilled collegiate career, you may think, “Who has the time?”

Pursuing an online undergraduate degree or online graduate degree takes determination, self-discipline, and hard work … and a reliable Wi-Fi connection. The reach is surprising — just ask Julia M. J. Abbiss ‘15, ‘17 MS – Nonprofit Management, who discovered during a study-abroad experience that she could complete her coursework from just about anywhere, even halfway around the world in Nepal.