The Biggest Challenge to Healthcare Philanthropy: COVID-19
- According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, philanthropy is "an act or gift done or made for humanitarian purposes." For healthcare purposes, this can applied to different types of nonprofit institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
The biggest challenge to raising money and philanthropy today is the COVID-19 pandemic. But is it really a challenge or has it helped with donations? That's what we are here to talk about in this chapter. Are these challenges to individuals really challenges to these philanthropic institutions?
To continue, what is COVID-19?
- COVID-19 is an infectious disease that is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness (CDC).
- It has taken the world by storm. Now, COVID-19 is the cause of a global pandemic that has caused the United States to have more than "11 million cases and 246,000 deaths" (CDC).
If you or someone you know is currently having symptoms, please contact your local physician. Please check out what else to do according to CDC guidelines.
Certainly, the outbreak of COVID-19 has been the most impactful event to healthcare philanthropy in recent times.
The pandemic has taken a huge toll on nonprofit healthcare organizations because they have to change the way the function to mitigate the negative effects brought on by this disease. Some of the biggest challenges that healthcare philanthropy has had to face are the surge of treatments, rapidly developing new medicines, increase need of healthcare workers, etc.
We are going to focus on 3 healthcare nonprofit organizations on a local and international front, and how they are handling the intense challenge brought on by the pandemic. These institutions are:
