Giving in times of need - balancing immediate and longer-term philanthropy

WHAT does one of the world's biggest pop stars have to do with the coronavirus emergency? Behind this headline How Taylor Swift's Chinese fans are helping fight the Coronavirus is a touching story about communities coming together to assist those in need. The Swift fanclub's approach to identifying immediate needs (phoning hospitals to ask what supplies were needed); their ability to mobilise and organise quickly and effectively; and their transparent approach to ensure accountability (carefully tracking all donations) leave a lasting impression. They are all best practices in designing and managing philanthropic projects.

Like community groups, many multilateral institutions, national governments, businesses and philanthropists have also come together to arrest the pace of the outbreak, deliver protective gear and equipment to responders, and support the development of vaccines and treatments for those affected.

The World Health Organization has set aside US$675 million to develop a preparedness and global response plan. Complementing its efforts, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation committed US$100 million to work with governments and researchers to help find a vaccine, strengthen detection and limit the spread of the virus, especially in nations with weaker health infrastructure. In Asia, the Jack Ma Foundation is working with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering and other scientific institutes to develop a vaccine.

Similar to the Swift fanclub, these organisations spent time listening to needs, spoke with partners to identify areas where they can make the greatest difference, considered their strengths, and coordinated their funding to see to the strategic allocation of resources. The user-centric and science-based approach enable governments and non-governmental organisations to take immediate measures to manage the outbreak.

There are many other ways for individuals to support organisations that are helping communities affected by the health emergency. While fast, flexible and catalytic funding is integral to providing immediate relief measures, there is still a need for thoughtful and longer-term financing to support recovery and enhance preparedness as the situation evolves. It will take time for all types of needs to emerge. Here are some areas for would-be funders to consider:

Long-term thinking will be required to restore economies with the view of building more resilient communities. Support will be needed, not only in addressing health-related issues, but also in policymaking, strengthening social ties and building sustainable infrastructure. As Taylor Swift's fans showed, a coordinated and data-driven approach is integral to maximising impact when resources are limited.