Children’s Museum, YMCA participate in #GivingTuesdayNow
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — “Giving Tuesday Now” is a new partnership to spark an increase in support for communities and nonprofits around the world.
It’s an extension of Giving Tuesday, which usually takes place after Thanksgiving. In 2020, organizers decided to move the day up because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the local organizations involved is the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Lindsay Gramlich, the museum’s associate vice president of development, said, “We’re an organization that relies on a healthy balance of support from the community, so philanthropy is the reason the museum has been able to endure the initial impact of COVID-19, but, as the weeks go on, the funds that are necessary to support and maintain the museum and our staff become even more urgent.”
She says that’s why they started a the Rex Response Fund, a campaign responding to urgent needs of the museum. According to Gramlich, the Children’s Museum is projected to lose anywhere from $4 million to $7 million while its doors are closed during the pandemic, but the campaign was designed to help offset that deficit. The fund will contribute directly to people, programs for children and families, future exhibits and the new “Museum at Home” program where the staff bring the Children’s Museum experience into people’s homes.
“It’s going to be a while for us to navigate this,” Gramlich said about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhille, the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis is also working to serve those in need.
“We just really wanted to participate with all of our local nonprofits to really just share in this day and share our mission,” said Abby Waeiss, director of annual giving for the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis.
Waeiss says they were motivated to participate in Giving Tuesday Now after seeing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its staff and members.
“We’re wanting to support our members and give them the chance to come back with significant financial assistance,” Waeiss said.
She says they’ve always had a sliding scale to support those in need of financial assistance with their memberships, but they believe that need will increase even after they reopen their doors.
Waeiss says, in the meantime, the YMCA has been doing calling and checking in with their members 60 and older to see how they’re dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She’s encouraging people, even those who aren’t members, to participate in Giving Tuesday Now to help serve people in the community facing financial challenges.