Fundraising during COVID-19
Outcomes & Impact
The campaign, which lasted four months, successfully raised over $60,000 CAD, exceeding the hospital’s urgent fundraising target and allowing all staff to remain employed for several months until usual funding streams returned to normal. The funds also enabled the purchase of critical medical supplies, PPE, and equipment to safely continue surgeries during the pandemic. In addition, Jo-Ann strengthened the capacity of CoRSU’s PR and marketing staff to run social media campaigns, leaving the hospital better equipped for future digital fundraising efforts.
Background & Challenge
CoRSU Hospital, a leading provider of orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation for children with disabilities in Uganda, relies primarily on funding from international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). During the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, funding flowing into INGOs decreased substantially, putting CoRSU’s grant funding at risk. At the same time, Uganda’s lockdown measures caused a sharp decline in patient revenue, further straining the hospital’s finances.
CoRSU hosts multiple visiting physicians and other health specialists each year who train and mentor Ugandan healthcare providers. All visiting professionals consistently speak highly of the hospital, its services, and the exceptional skill level of its local medical staff. With both major funding streams under threat, CoRSU faced the urgent challenge of securing alternative resources to maintain essential services, support staff, and ensure continuity of care during an unprecedented global crisis.
Approach
Jo-Ann, as Program Director for CUSEM, partnered with CoRSU Hospital leadership to design a targeted fundraising strategy that would resonate with international donors. The key to the approach was engaging international specialists to share the impact CoRSU had on them personally and on the children they had treated.
To bring this to life, Jo-Ann:
Recorded Testimonials: from international orthopaedic professionals, plus CoRSU staff, highlighting the hospital’s critical work and the skill of Ugandan providers. These videos were used to illustrate both the personal and systemic impact of the hospital.
Leveraged Partnerships: Collaborated with organizations such as the Canadian Academy of Sport & Exercise Medicine (CASEM), which contributed net proceeds from their “remote marathon” to the #keepcorsuopen campaign.
Digital Campaigns: Distributed the stories via social media, email outreach, and virtual events to engage a broad international audience.
Streamlined Donations: Implemented user-friendly online tools to make donating simple, fast, and secure.
This multi-pronged approach emphasized urgency, credibility, and the human impact of CoRSU’s work, inspiring donors to act despite global uncertainty.
