Covid-19 - lessons for the social services sector

EVERY one is facing the current pandemic challenges for the first time in their lives. There is no template to follow, no prior experience to draw upon on how non-profit organisations (NPOs) should, and can, respond.

It's heartening to note that some S$350 million has been set aside in Budget 2020 to support the social services sector in building up their capabilities and capacities. But, as a volunteer with the Alzheimer's Disease Association (ADA), I often think about other scenarios that may arise. What if the government is unable to continue funding NPOs at the level that they would like to? What if some of our long standing sponsors have to pull back their support as their own businesses are adversely impacted? Or, if they decide to shift their focus to other sectors of need? If we cease operations, who will our beneficiaries - people with dementia - turn to?

These thoughts can't be very different from those of leaders in the more than 480 NPOs in Singapore. It can be quite worrying, and can easily put the leadership teams managing NPOs under duress and panic.