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Disaster & Emergency Relief Resources
This will serve as an ongoing resource page for funders with ways to respond to natural disasters and other calls for emergency relief. If you have any additional resources to add, please contact Gail Pinkham, Senior Director of Communications.
SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE IAN and FIONA (September 29, 2022)
Disaster Guides: Hillsborough English, Hillsborough Spanish
Florida DBPR Hurricane Guide
FEMA Hurricane Tips
Giving Done Right podcast on effective (and ineffective) disaster response.
Center of Disaster Philanthropy
Diaspora for Puerto Rico
DirectRelief
Hispanics for Philanthropy
Puerto Rico's Community Foundation
Puerto Rico Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters
Stronger than Maria
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE RESOURCES (July 15, 2022)
ARTICLES/RESOURCES
Sixteen Grantmaking Characteristics to Effectively Support Public Policy Advocacy
Here's How Philanthropy Can Protect Access to Abortion in a Post-'Roe v. Wade' World
Life After Roe in Massachusetts
With Roe V. Wade Overturned, Who is Funding the Fight for Abortion Rights and Access?
A Look at Nonprofits and Their Services in Light of the SCOTUS Roe v. Wade Decision
Roe decision a wake-up call for philanthropy
Roe vs Wade, and a wake-up call to progressive funders everywhere
Women's Fund
Beyond Roe Coalition
Abortion Finder
Center for Reproductive Rights
FUNDS - This list is not exhaustive, please email Gail Pinkham to add resources to this list.
Abortion Rights Fund of Western MA
Provides financial assistance to people in Western Massachusetts seeking abortions.
The Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund
Helping people living in or traveling to Eastern Massachusetts access abortion.
Fund for Reproductive Health
This fund will support local organizations with general operating support and technical assistance as they prepare for the future ramifications of the Supreme Court decision. This includes ensuring access to reproductive rights for Massachusetts residents and those who travel here to obtain services they cannot access in their own state, as well as supporting legal defense expenses for those facing unjust prosecution. The funds will be used over the next two years to respond to the evolving needs of women and others affected by this decision, as well as to support the organizations that are scrambling to serve them.
The Jane Fund
Funds Central MA residents, people traveling to Central MA for their abortion, and have limited resources for other out-of-state patients.
National Network of Abortion Funds
Search abortion funds by state/region through the National Network of Abortion Funds.
Philanthropy's Emerging LGBTQ Leaders of Color (ELLC) Fund
Philanthropy's Emerging LGBTQ Leaders of Color (ELLC) Fund and the Emergent Fund have set up Rapid Response Funds to get emergency funding into the hands of reproductive justice organizers who are working at the intersections to ensure the right to bodily autonomy for all people.
UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS (Updated April 4, 2022)
We are all saddened and concerned about the events unfolding in Ukraine. As we look for ways to help, below are some resources available to provide support and assistance for those in need:
Airlink works with aviation and logistics partners to transport relief workers and emergency supplies for reputable non-governmental organizations (NGOs) responding to rapid-onset disasters and other humanitarian crises around the globe.
Americares provides millions of people around the world access to medicine and supplies. Americares has an emergency response team in Poland to support health services for families affected by the escalating humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
Amnesty International works to protect the human rights of Ukrainians and protect Ukrainians at risk.
CARE's Ukraine Crisis Fund will reach 4 million with immediate aid and recovery, food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support, and cash assistance — prioritizing women and girls, families, and the elderly.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy's (CDP) Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recovery Fund will focus on addressing humanitarian needs that arise, particularly among the most vulnerable, marginalized and at-risk internally-displaced peoples (IDPs) and refugees. CDP also provides an overview of the crisis.
Council on Foundations offers comprehensive summary of resources and response funds.
Doctors Without Borders is an independent, global movement providing medical aid where it's needed most. The organization has set up emergency response activities in Ukraine and dispatched teams to Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.
Fund for Ednannia, a network of community foundations in Ukraine that know best what the needs are in their communities.
Funders Concerned About AIDS has formed funder working group focused on Eastern Europe.
GlobalGiving is a nonprofit supporting other nonprofits. All donations to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund will support humanitarian assistance in impacted communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled.
HelpAge USA, whose mission is to advance the wellbeing and inclusion of older people in the world's poorest communities, is providing humanitarian relief in food, medicine and hygiene supplies for older people in Ukraine.
The International Committee of the Red Cross's priority is to assist those in need. The security situation permitting, their teams now in Ukraine will continue their work to repair vital infrastructure, support health facilities with medicines and equipment, and support families with food and hygiene items.
Joint Distribution Committee is providing emergency services to Ukraine's Jewish communities.
The Philanthropy Europe Foundation (Philea) is tracking information and responses to the crisis in Ukraine.
The Razom Emergency Response fundraiser was created to provide urgent help and support in face of extreme and unforeseen situations in Ukraine.
StandforUkraine.com Ukrainian Military & Humanitarian Organizations: Support Ukraine in the face of Russian military aggression, Donate to verified projects to help Armed Forces of Ukraine or humanitarian charities, and Inform the public by sharing our newslets.
Support Hospitals in Ukraine have sent over $4.05M in cargo to hospitals since 2014. They continue their operation to support this key infrastructure in Ukraine at a time of war.
The Ukraine Emergency Fund will provide direct support to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and our partners on the ground in Ukraine to help the most vulnerable. Assistance will include food, shelter, medicine, and other basic needs.
Unicef, USA supports UNICEF's global work through fundraising, advocacy and education
United Help Ukraine is working to provide life-saving individual first aid kits (IFAKs) containing blood-stopping bandages and tourniquets and other emergency medical supplies to the front lines and is cooperating with other emergency response organizations to prepare humanitarian aid to civilians that might be directly affected by Russia's attack.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugess (UNHCR) is working with the authorities, the United Nations and other partners in Ukraine and is ready to provide humanitarian assistance wherever necessary and possible.
United Ukrainian American Relief Committee is gathering funds to provide humanitarian aid to victims of war in Ukraine.
CYBERSECURITY PRECAUTIONS
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued warnings on the risk of Russian cyberattacks spilling over onto U.S. networks.
Through the Cybersecurity Essentials for Philanthropy series, Technology Association of Grantmakers aims to reduce your organization's risk. The practices and suggestions shared are those of peers at philanthropic organizations throughout North America.
Haiti Earthquake (Updated August 20, 2021)
On August 14, 2021, an earthquake of 7.2 magnitude struck Haiti. As of Aug 18th, the death toll has risen to almost 2000 with over 9900 reported injured. UNICEF estimates that approximately 1.2 million people, including 540,000 children, have been affected by the earthquake and about half a million Haitian children have limited or no access to shelter, safe water, health care and nutrition. If you would like to help those affected in Haiti please consider:
Haiti Development Institute
CDP Haiti Earthquake Recovery Fund
New England International Donors (NEID)
Hispanics in Philanthropy - Here are some organizations working immediate response on disaster relief
HAITI EARTHQUAKE 2021 - https://bit.ly/3AN0VK6
Located in most affected areas: COFHED in Camp Perrin - https://bit.ly/37LpXfV
PRODEV network of schools in south and Grand Anse - https://bit.ly/3iQa1PS
FONKOZE, throughout the affected zones - https://bit.ly/3CQ3Wel
Members of Haiti Response Coalition collecting funds and/or supplies to be channeled to affected areas:
Beyond Borders - https://bit.ly/3yUtt3N
Quixote Center - https://bit.ly/2VZQ2oS
FOKAL - https://bit.ly/3CMLR0R
Ayiti Community Trust - https://bit.ly/3xMK1cF
Haiti Communitere, based in PAP near the airport; free lodging for medical patients - https://bit.ly/3m8u4LJ
Advocacy and Campaigning:
The Haiti Support Group (UK) - https://bit.ly/3g8phG4
Community Organized Relief Effort - https://bit.ly/2VZ5rpA
What If Foundation – Transforming the lives of Haitian children through food and education programs - https://bit.ly/37LQGJx
COVID-19: VIEW Funding and Resources in Response to COVID-19 - UPDATED 5/5/2021
Resources for Anti-Asian Violence (March 24, 2021)
Chronicle of Philanthropy: Letter by Patricia Eng, CEO of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP), and Erik Stegman, ED of Native Americans in Philanthropy, As Violence Againts Asian Americans Intensifies, the Moment for Philanthropy to Act is Now.
Center for Effective Philanthropy's Post by Grace Nicolette, Vice President: It's Time for Philanthropy to Address Its Erasure of AAPI Voices and Perspectives.
6 things we can do to stop Asian hate right now: Leticia Barr from Tech Savvy Mama
7 ways that parents can support kids through this wave of anti-Asian violence: Writer, Christine Koh
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Offering one-hour Bystander Intervention Virtual Training.
Anti-Asian Violence Resources – find resources that have been gathered to help individuals educate others, take action, donate, and more.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Asian American Commission – Anti-Asian Hate Resources
The Communications Network – Crowdsourcing anti-racism statements, resources, tools, and guidance.
Georgia's Asian American Community - donation
Weather Crisis in Texas (February 23, 2021)
OneStar Foundation: Winter Storm 2021 - How to Help Texans Recover
Communities Foundation of Texas: Purpose to support nonprofits with emergency assistance and long-term recovery needs related to the weather crisis in North Texas
Wildfires on West Coast (September 11, 2020)
Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington - https://gosw.org/united-way-wildfire-relief/
The Red Cross: On the Frontlines of Wildfire Response - www.redcross.org
Overview Philanthropy California Response - www.philanthropyca.org/2020-california-wildfire-response
General Disaster/Emergency Relief Resources for Funders:
www.BBB.org/GivingAfterTragedy - BBB Wise Giving Alliance encourages generosity, with a helpful tips to donors to take steps to avoid questionable efforts that often emerge after tragedies.
Center for Disaster Philanthropy - a full-time resource to help donors make more thoughtful disaster-related giving decisions and maximize the impact of their gifts.
Disaster Response - a watchdog organization that curates lists of organizations that are working in response to a disaster, helping donors vet where to give. It uses a tool called SmartResponse – a searchable database.
Giving in Times of Disaster - Bank of America resource for Philanthropy in a time of disaster —preparing, responding, recovering.
Australian Fires (January 2020)
How to help the victims of Australia's wildfires: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/how-to-help-the-victims-of-australias-wildfires
Supporting bushfire-affected communities: https://www.frrr.org.au/cb_pages/supporting_bushfire-affected_communities.php
Donation sites to Local State Fire Services:
NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE
QLD FIRE AND RESCUE
SA COUNTRY FIRE SERVICE
VIC COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY
TASMANIA FIRE SERVICE
California Fires (October 2019)
Northern California https://ncg.org/news/kincade-fire-how-help
Southern California https://www.socalgrantmakers.org/news/2019-tick-fire-impacting-santa-clarita-and-castaic-los-angeles-county-how-help
Hurricane Dorian (September 2019)
The Miami Foundation has a Hurricane Dorian relief page with a number of relief and recovery resources.
The Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties has a fund that a donor will contribute matching dollars to support the Bahamas.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has launched the CDP 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund to support communities that will be affected by Hurricane Dorian. This fund focuses on medium- and long-term recovery, with the understanding that individuals and communities will need the support of private philanthropy for months or years as they navigate the road to recovery.
North Carolina Network of Grantmakers has a resource page that will be updated with more information as Hurricane Dorian approaches North Carolina.
The Jessie Ball duPont Fund resource Creating Order from Chaos: Roles for Philanthropy in Disaster Planning and Response provides a framework for steps that can be taken for philanthropy to response to disasters.
PEAK Grantmaking - https://www.peakgrantmaking.org/news/funder-alert-hurricane-dorian-response/
Council on Foundations - https://www.cof.org/news/hurricane-dorian
Southern California Grantmakers - https://www.socalgrantmakers.org/news/hurricane-dorian-how-help
The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is a compilation of philanthropic strategies, promising practices and lessons learned that help communities be better prepared when a disaster strikes their community. In particular, it is aimed at helping philanthropic organizations and individual donors be more strategic with their investments and recognize the importance of supporting long-term recovery for vulnerable populations.
The New York Times has released an article sharing multiple ways to help Hurricane Dorian Survivors in the Bahamas.
Charity Navigator has created a list of high-rated organizations providing aid and relief for Hurricane Dorian for both short-term and long-term relief.
El Paso Victims Fund
On the morning of August 3, one confirmed shooter entered several busy retail locations and opened fire killing 21 people and wounding others. El Paso Community Foundation is accepting funds to help the families of those affected. The foundation will waive all administrative fees, and pay all credit card fees associated with this fund. They are working with the County of El Paso and the City of El Paso to try to help in any way possible. Donate to the Fund
Dayton Ohio Oregon District Tragedy Fund
In response to the mass shooting that occurred in the early hours of August 4, 2019, The Dayton Foundation has established the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund. The fund allows individuals to make charitable contributions to help the families directly affected by this terrible tragedy. The Foundation will waive the credit card processing fee so that 100 percent of the money will be used to assist others.
Individuals interested in contributing to the fund may make a secure, online credit card donation here, or mail a check to The Dayton Foundation, 40 N. Main Street, Suite 500, Dayton, OH 45423. "Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund" or "Fund #8365" should be designated on the check or in the fund name field.
Gilroy Garlic Festival Victims Relief Fund
In partnership with the Gilroy Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation has established a charitable fund to provide relief to victims of the terrible shooting that occurred July 28, 2019, at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Three festival goers, including children ages 6 and 13, were killed and more than a dozen people were injured in the violent attack. SVCF will contribute an initial $10,000 to the relief fund. The funds collected will be distributed by the Gilroy Foundation to victims and their families, and to local nonprofit organizations providing effective relief to those affected and to the community.
Donate to the Fund
Midwest Floods (updated March 27, 2019)
Iowa Council on Foundations shared that several funds have opened to help support flood relief and recovery efforts in counties and communities across Iowa. A quick list of those funds and additional resources is available below.
In Nebraska, monitor the Omaha Community Foundation's Blog, where their community investment team is tracking flood relief and response efforts.
The Fremont County Community Foundation established the Fremont County Flood Fund to meet local needs.
Mills County Community Foundation established the Mills County Flood Fund to meet local needs.
United Way of the Midlands – 100% of every donation to the Nebraska/Iowa Flood Relief Fund will be directed to nonprofit programs meeting needs for emergency shelter, food and more. Donors will have the opportunity to direct their gift to a specific community within Nebraska or Iowa if they so wish.
Together a Greater Good – Flood Resource Page
Share Omaha – Flood Resource Page
56 Iowa Counties have received disaster declarations, making them eligible for FEMA assistance. Impacted communities are encouraged to access state and federal relief and assistance. Senator Grassley's office has provided a comprehensive list of resources here.
California Fires (updated November 19, 2018)
The three sister organizations in California - Northern California Grantmakers, Southern California Grantmakers, and San Diego Grantmakers—are tracking the fires in Northern and Southern California and listing resources and ways to provide assistance to those in need on their websites.
Northern California Grantmakers
San Diego Grantmakers
Southern California Grantmakers
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has also created a Disaster Profile page for all three wildfires.
Supporting the Tragedy in Pittsburgh - Tree of Life Synagogue Victims - October 27, 2018
We offer our sincere condolences for those who suffered injuries and loss of life due to senseless violence and attack against the Jewish community at Tree of Life Synagogue in Greater Pittsburgh. Thousands of people gathered on Sunday for a vigil to remember those who were victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. With the resources found at Grantmakers of Western Pennsylania, you may help to make a contribution to the process of healing and recovery.
Resources to help those affected by the gas explosions in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover (September 18, 2018)
Governor Charlie Baker has announced the establishment of the new Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund at Essex County Community Foundation. A panel of 21 state and local government officials and nonprofit leaders met to organize a system for how the needs of those affected can be most effectively met. Plans for the execution of the new Fund will be communicated by the end of this week. In the meantime, donations for the Sept. 13 fire victims may still be made to the Lawrence Emergency Fund. Once the new Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund is up and running, the donations will be combined.
Lawrence Emergency Fund www.eccf.org/lawrenceEmergencyFund
TD Bank and United Way establish Greater Lawrence Relief Fund unitedwaymassbay.org/lawrencerelief
Resources to help those impacted by Hurricane Florence (September 18, 2018)
Resources from Philanthropic Organizations in North Carolina
North Carolina Network of Grantmakers www.ncgrantmakers.org/Resources/Resources-for-Grantmakers-(1)
The North Carolina Community Foundation has reactivated its Disaster Relief Fund.
The Outer Banks Community Foundation is accepting contributions to its Disaster Relief Fund.
Foundation For The Carolinas has activated a Hurricane Florence Response Fund.
The Community Foundation of Henderson County is accepting donations to its Disaster Relief, Recovery and Rebuilding Fund (DR3). For more information, visit www.CFHCforever.org, or email info@CFHCforever.org.
Funders and Donors Seeking Solutions on Helping Families Separated at the Border and Immigration (updated July 23, 2018)
June 27, 1:00-2:30pm, Webinar hosted by Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees will feature a panel of experts on the current situation, explore the impact of these policies on families and children, and learn about GCIR's recommendations on how philanthropy can respond: Where Are the Children? Family Separation Becomes U.S. Immigration Enforcement Policy
Greater Boston Immigrant Defense Fund is building Greater Boston's capacity to protect and defend immigrant and refugee communities by increasing access to legal representation for individuals facing deportation proceedings and community education and preparedness programming
Cambridge Legal Defense Fund for Immigrants has been established to help immigrants in Cambridge, Massachusetts get the legal services they need to stay, legally, in our country.
The ACLU is litigating this policy in California.
Al Otro Lado is a binational organization that works to offer legal services to deportees and migrants in Tijuana, Mexico, including deportee parents whose children remain in the U.S.
American Immigrant Representation Project (AIRP), which works to secure legal representation for immigrants.
CARA—a consortium of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, the American Immigration Council, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association—provides legal services at family detention centers.
CASA in Maryland, D.C., Virginia, and Pennsylvania. They litigate, advocate, and help with representation of minors needing legal services.
CLINIC's Defending Vulnerable Populations project offers case assistance to hundreds of smaller organizations all over the country that do direct services for migrant families and children.
The Florence Project is an Arizona project offering free legal services to men, women, and unaccompanied children in immigration custody.
HIAS has designed an emergency response program that will have an immediate impact on families separated at the border and meet the short and longer-term needs of families seeking asylum in the U.S. This includes the provision of specialized legal and support services for asylum seekers in the Greater NY and DC areas, as well as in border areas.
Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative has a guide to organizations throughout Texas that provide direct legal services to separated children. Also listed within the guide are resources for local advocates, lawyers, and volunteers.
Human Rights First is a national organization with roots in Houston that needs help from lawyers too.
Kids in Need of Defense works to ensure that kids do not appear in immigration court without representation, and to lobby for policies that advocate for children's legal interests.
The Kino Border Initiative provides humanitarian aid to refugees and migrants on both sides of the border. They have a wish-list of supplies they can use to help migrants and families staying in the communities they serve.
The Legal Aid Justice Center is a Virginia-based center providing unaccompanied minors legal services and representation.
The National Immigrant Justice Center represents and advocates for detained adults and children facing removal, supports efforts at the border, and represents parents in the interior who have been separated from their families as a result of aggressive enforcement.
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project is doing work defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.
Pueblo Sin Fronteras is an organization that provides humanitarian aid and shelter to migrants on their way to the U.S.
RAICES is the largest immigration nonprofit in Texas offering free and low-cost legal services to immigrant children and families.
Together Rising is another Virginia-based organization that's helping provide legal assistance for 60 migrant children who were separated from their parents and are currently detained in Arizona.
The Urban Justice Center's Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project is working to keep families together.
Women's Refugee Commission advocates for the rights and protection of women, children, and youth fleeing violence and persecution.
Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights works for the rights of children in immigration proceedings.