Planning a Philanthropy during a Pandemic

With COVID-19 social distancing requirements, philanthropic events on college campuses will look a lot different this year.

Phi Kappa Theta - Nebraska Pi Chapter, Facebook, 19 Sept. 2018.

Every Fall, Kappa Delta and Phi Kappa Theta of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln team up to put on a philanthropy and raise money for the charities that they sponsor: Prevent Child Abuse America, CEDARS Home for Children Foundation and Teammates. This year, the event will look much different than previous years, with added temperature checks, limited group size and required masks.

Ainsley Smith, the Vice President of Community Service for Kappa Delta has been thinking creatively so they can still put on the event that will raise thousands of dollars for children in need while staying safe.

“With having at-home schooling this year, children aren’t around adults that they can trust or have as much access to things like free lunch. It’s more important than ever to raise money for CEDARS and help give kids these resources,” says Smith.

Across the country, greek life is trying to find ways to raise money and get people excited about charity work while being socially distanced and safe. Greek life in America raises over $7 million and donates over 10 million hours of community service annually, according to https://thefraternityadvisor.com/greek-life-statistics/. Without the support of the greek system, many charities would not have the funds to make the impacts that they do.

Smith has been working diligently with Phi Kappa Theta’s community service chair, Cameron Downey, to limit exposure while still being able to host the event and provide these charities with funding.

“At the event, we’re doing a lot of things [to limit the spread]. We are going to have mandatory temperature checks before they come into the event, it’s going to be all outside and have little six-feet-apart markers on the ground, and they will have to sign up for a time to come to make sure there isn’t a rush,” says Downey.

Kappa Delta and Phi Kappa Theta are also limiting the amount of workers that are going to be at the event to reduce possible spread.

Smith talked about how she has been in contact with the university, Kappa Delta headquarters and the Kappa Delta chapter president to ensure that the event will be safe and successful. Kappa Delta members are anticipating lower crowds so they are doing internal fundraising, as well.

“Since we expect a lower turn-out because of COVID-19, we are setting higher expectations for our members to raise money prior to the event by reaching out to friends and family for donations,” says Smith.

Smith hopes that the event will be able to happen and run smoothly. Smith talked about how the university or Kappa Delta headquarters could cancel or postpone the event at any moment. If cases spike on campus or in greek houses, the event could get moved. “The philanthropy date has already been moved twice so I really hope everything goes well,” says Smith.

All of greek life is getting creative with how to raise money in these times, with some fraternities having car wash philanthropies.

‘It’s the perfect socially-distanced event, honestly. The guests stay in their car and the workers are all outside and spread apart,” says Downey.

The Kappa Delta and Phi Kappa Theta Funnel Cakes Philanthropy is planned to take place on Oct. 23.