Utah nonprofits report financial woes, inability to deliver services

Nonprofits in Utah report layoffs, lost revenue, cancelled events and curtailed services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced revenue from events, combined with decreases in donations and the need for social distancing, have led 24 percent of nonprofits surveyed by the Utah Nonprofit Association (UNA) to temporarily suspend services.  Seventy nonprofits from 11 counties participated in the UNA survey.

“There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and will have, a major impact on nonprofits of all sizes in Utah,” said Kate Rubalcava, CEO of UNA.

Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of nonprofits told UNA that in response to social distancing, they had slowed, temporarily suspended or decreased services — even as the demand for their services increased.

Nonprofits’ finances have been hard-hit in the pandemic because of canceled events and lost revenue. Fifty-two nonprofits canceled 1,493 events which eliminated $11,795,501 in revenue, the group said. Another $4,091,941 was spent to restructure events and move them online.