A majority of the hundreds upon hundreds of nonprofits working in Nebraska and western Iowa are facing shortfalls in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those organizations are working to help communities combat the effects of the pandemic while they also must adjust how service is delivered – whether that’s legal nonprofits meeting with clients remotely or food pantries using drive-thru distributions.

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands – which provides education, advocacy and collaboration to nonprofits working across the region – conducted a poll finding that a majority of nonprofits in the area face a “significant operational impact” due to COVID-19 restrictions.

For nearly a decade, local and statewide communities have come together in the month of May to support nonprofit organizations through fundraisers, such as the upcoming Omaha Gives! Campaign organized by the Omaha Community Foundation.

Omaha Gives! Will drop its minimum donation from $10 to $1 for its May 20 fundraiser, aiming to promote accessibility and encourage everyone to donate whatever they can afford.

“This year, we know that nonprofits are facing unprecedented need as a result of the impact this community is feeling from COVID,” said Ally Freeman, the foundation’s director of communications. “We know that they need this day more than ever, and we are really hoping the community steps up to support them.”

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands is adding another giving opportunity to the calendar: Giving Tuesday Now.

Giving Tuesday is typically held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, asking the community to give to charity after going shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The new “emergency event,” which is being held today, aims to support businesses and nonprofits through citizen engagement, philanthropy and generosity.

“It was basically brought about as a decision understanding that this is an unprecedented time,” NAM Membership Director Kelly Koepsell said. “I think it was done not as an effort to just gain more money but designed to have individuals to reach across barriers and provide organizations with what they need to get through this pandemic.”

Organizations often rely on an influx of funding from giving days in March, so extending the opportunity for philanthropy may offer a lifeline to struggling nonprofits during the pandemic.

Nebraska Appleseed, a nonprofit working in many sectors of public policy and advocacy in the state, is just one of the many organizations looking towards the giving days for support.

“A lot of the issues coming to focus right now are issues we’ve been working on for a while,” said Edgar Reynaga, development associate at Appleseed. “In terms of the day-to-day, our fundraising plans haven’t changed – it has just elevated how important those contributions are.”

Koepsell emphasized that the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands is seeking support for not only Omaha-area charities but also for rural nonprofits.

“Omaha is one very, very small part of this,” he said. “All nonprofits around the area really have been stretched to the point where they need assistance.”