Nonprofits get creative to maintain fundraising, presence

Springtime on the west coast of Florida usually means a full schedule of events, from luncheons to galas to sophisticated soirees, all benefitting nonprofits. For many organizations, the events are some of their biggest moneymakers of the year.

Cancelling or in some cases postponing them in the face of the coronavirus crisis has caused financial headaches and uncertainty. But many organizations aren’t sitting idly by. They’re altering plans and turning to virtual events to help gather an audience of supporters and continue to raise money.

“We thought, ‘Maybe we can make some lemonade from lemons here,’” — Mary Ellen Mancini, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center