In this year of extreme uncertainty and suffering, nonprofits have continued to step up to support our communities as circumstances and needs change swiftly.

The challenges facing individuals and families this year – including job loss, unexpected medical expenses, eviction, and more – will continue to impact us for years to come. And many nonprofits that offered gathering places and brought communities together, particularly arts organizations, are partially or completely closed down.

In a normal year, end-of-year fundraising is stressful. This year, we put our hearts into every appeal hoping it’ll return with more dollar signs than last year: enough to recover from the canceled gala, or reduced government contracts. The framework for predicting results is shaky, and no one knows what’s coming next.

We – the staff and board of CalNonprofits – want you to know that we see you. We see you wiping down every surface over and over, playing concerts on Zoom, sharing socially-distant conversations with isolated elders, using unexpected tools to support children with disabilities, and continuously adapting to new challenges and ever-changing regulations.

We are a community of stubborn optimists and our belief that the world can be better – more equitable, more kind – is powerful. The nonprofit community will, as always, continue to be how people act on their values.

We wish you the best with your end-of-year campaigns and hope you get some rest.

Together we will tackle the challenges of 2021.