Since our launch in 2017, Rethink Charity has always been a remote team, but now this feels critical to our safety and well-being. While closely monitoring our own mental health and emotional responses in this troubling time, we are thankful to be able to continue our work moving money to high-impact (and relevant) charities, providing important and neglected research to the community, and supporting promising initiatives with our fiscal services.
Now more than ever, it’s crucial to foster communities that are empathically dedicating their time and efforts towards doing the most good. We’re excited about supporting these efforts in a number of ways:
Supporting the fight against COVID-19
RC Forward provides COVID-19 giving opportunities for Canadians
While continuing to support our current partner charities, we have also opened up routes for Canadians to give to organizations that are leading research and relief efforts for COVID-19 and the prevention of future pandemics. These include organizations like the Center for Health Security (CHS) at Johns Hopkins University and the Combating COVID-19 Fund at the Gates Foundation. Additionally, we’re supporting our partner charities like GiveDirectly and Development Media International in their COVID-19 initiatives, as well as our other global health partners whose programs continue to promote the health of vulnerable communities.
Rethink Priorities consolidates and summarizes relevant ongoing research
Our research team has begun devoting significant resources towards projects relevant to the ongoing crisis. There’s a lot of information circulating and not all of it is relevant, current and reliable, which is why we have been taking time to filter the most important information into semi-regular Consolidated Briefs. Read the most recent here.
Additionally, there is information important specifically for nonprofits who may be facing difficult times ahead financially. Governments are aiding nonprofits and charities, but it can be difficult to figure out how to take full advantage of that aid. RP has written an instructional post for US nonprofits.
Finally, the team is currently working on a summary of the effects of COVID-19 on nonhuman animals, to be released in the coming month.
Rethink Charity offers to fiscally sponsor relevant initiatives
We have recently been exploring ways to support up-and-coming initiatives through fiscal services that we already have the infrastructure to support. This could include creating tax-advantaged funding routes through which Americans and Canadians can support promising and underfunded COVID-19 projects. If you’re interested in learning more or suggesting a project, please email [email protected].
Supporting our team
We may be in a more fortunate position than many, but no one is immune to the effects that this pandemic is having on our communities. Our staff are no exception to this. We are therefore implementing and continuing a number of measures to promote staff well-being, including:
Encouraging mental, physical, and emotional health: We’re encouraging our team to take the time and space they need to maintain health and a sustainable work-life balance. This has been standard practice at Rethink Charity since before the pandemic, but has been emphasized in recent weeks.
Flexibility of working hours and time off: Another staple of RC’s workplace culture, flexibility is moving front and center. As our staff adjusts to recent events, we will continue to encourage them to work when they’re at their best and take breaks when needed.
Frequent video check-ins: Recent stay-at-home orders have left many of us feeling isolated. That’s why we’re continuing to meet virtually to help our team feel more connected and meet everyone’s needs as much as we can.
From all of us at Rethink Charity, we hope you’re staying safe, and we’re looking forward to a healthier future ahead.