Our goal is to raise awareness how the coronavirus pandemic has affected thousands of people’s lives at a sociological standpoint.

SPEAKERS:

● Gerard Reilly, Managing Director & Founder of Mantra Strategy and Founder of the Lunchtime Circle

● Lisa-Nicole Dunne, Senior Statistician Head at Income, Consumption and Wealth Division

● Avril Kennan, CEO of Irish Health Research Charities & Board Member at Rare Diseases Ireland

The COVID-19 pandemic is proving devastating to non-profit organizations across Ireland. The key services they provide to Ireland’s communities have never been more vital. Yet organizations are facing limited resources and collapsing fundraising streams as they strive to deliver. For some, this crisis is challenging not only their reach, but their very existence. According to the Charities Regulator, 74% of charities reported a severe impact on their organisation’s income for 2020. And The Wheel has published that 82% of charities are very concerned about whether they will have sufficient funds to provide their services in 2021. In order to recover stronger from the uncertainty of the pandemic, space to think, plan and strategize is crucial. Furthermore, with the uncertainty and even greater marginalisation created by the pandemic, research and advocacy is essential for creating a more equal and resilient society. Charities Institute Ireland and Amárach’s survey of a representative sample of 1,000 adults revealed:  Younger people (18-24), among all age groups, are leading the way in responding to requests for support from charities hit by the Covid crisis;  A major shift to online donations;  Confidence in online giving;  A strong preference for supporting charities focussed on providing services in Ireland rather than overseas. With a specific focus on the sociological impacts of Covid-19 on the non-profit sector in Ireland, this panel will discuss the changes brought by the pandemic, the current difficulties faced by non-profit organizations and the possible solutions for them to recover.