It has become impossible to ignore the rising frequency of natural disasters at home and abroad. Whether they originate with changing weather patterns, disease outbreaks or crop failures, disasters can have various and wide-ranging ripple effects on the people who experience them—and can result in staggering property damage and tragic loss of life.
Philanthropists who wish to mobilize their charitable dollars for disaster relief efforts may find it challenging to determine where and how to get involved.
By tapping into the expertise of organizations already working with the people affected by natural disasters, donors can lend support quickly and efficiently where it is most needed. Additionally, organizations like the Center for Disaster Philanthropy provide research on effective charitable interventions to mitigate the impact of natural disasters before they happen.
With a donor-advised fund (DAF), donors can invest charitable dollars so that they can recommend impactful grants for natural disasters, no matter where they occur.
On this page, you’ll find guidance on planning grantmaking for disaster relief.
Where You Can Help Today
National Philanthropic Trust’s philanthropic consulting team stays abreast of the latest trends in philanthropy to provide guidance to donors looking to hone their giving strategy. Our team shares information about organizations working on the ground in response to specific disaster relief efforts. Donors can use this research to inform their own giving strategy—and when they recommend grants through their donor-advised funds, they can be assured that their grants will always serve a charitable purpose.
In the wake of natural disasters, our team is committed to providing up-to-date information about their impact, along with some options for how to respond. Below, find information about some recent disasters where recovery efforts are ongoing:
Grant Highlights
See How NPT’s Donors Use Their DAFs to Support Disaster Relief
How to Support Victims of Natural Disasters
When it comes to supporting natural disaster relief, there is tremendous opportunity in the charitable tactics donors can use. Often, these decision points have to do with whether donors wish to support mitigation efforts before a disaster happens; preparedness to be ready for imminent disaster; or long-term recovery after the disaster takes place.
No matter what stage a donor chooses to focus on, there are several best practices for supporting disaster relief efforts that donors should always keep in mind.
Give unrestricted funding
While it may sound helpful to restrict your grant purpose for something related to the specific disaster at hand, it is crucial for disaster relief organizations to have access to unrestricted funding in order to act quickly. Unrestricted grants to an organization you trust provide the flexibility to respond to the most critical needs in an ever-changing situation.
While it may sound helpful to restrict your grant purpose for something related to the specific disaster at hand, it is crucial for disaster relief organizations to have access to unrestricted funding in order to act quickly. Unrestricted grants to an organization you trust provide the flexibility to respond to the most critical needs in an ever-changing situation.
Plan for the long term
Research from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Candid suggests that 90% of disaster giving is directed toward immediate relief efforts, when the disaster is most likely to be fresh in donors’ minds and still in the news. However, supporting mitigation efforts and long-term recovery is just as important when it comes to tempering the economic and human toll of disasters. One way to adapt your giving is to support research and prevention. Another is to find funds dedicated toward mid- and long-term recovery efforts, which are often based at local community foundations to support resiliency and rebuilding, or pledging a recurring or multi-year gift to that fund to extend your disaster relief efforts over time.
Research from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Candid suggests that 90% of disaster giving is directed toward immediate relief efforts, when the disaster is most likely to be fresh in donors’ minds and still in the news. However, supporting mitigation efforts and long-term recovery is just as important when it comes to tempering the economic and human toll of disasters. One way to adapt your giving is to support research and prevention. Another is to find funds dedicated toward mid- and long-term recovery efforts, which are often based at local community foundations to support resiliency and rebuilding, or pledging a recurring or multi-year gift to that fund to extend your disaster relief efforts over time.
Seek local opportunities
While there are several large organizations whose names are associated with disaster relief, such as the American Red Cross, it is advisable to do some research into smaller organizations serving the populations most closely affected by the disaster. Local, community-based organizations will have the expertise and awareness of their own areas’ needs to better direct long-term recovery efforts and are fantastic resources for projects and initiatives related to disaster relief. If the disaster has occurred close to home, donors may wish to explore their local community foundations for opportunities to volunteer.
While there are several large organizations whose names are associated with disaster relief, such as the American Red Cross, it is advisable to do some research into smaller organizations serving the populations most closely affected by the disaster. Local, community-based organizations will have the expertise and awareness of their own areas’ needs to better direct long-term recovery efforts and are fantastic resources for projects and initiatives related to disaster relief. If the disaster has occurred close to home, donors may wish to explore their local community foundations for opportunities to volunteer.
Explore climate-focused solutions
In many cases, the intensity of recent natural disasters like droughts, blizzards, heat waves, wildfires and tornadoes has been exacerbated by the effects of climate change. As the climate crisis mounts, natural disasters related to extreme weather are likely to increase in frequency, and it will be on us to ensure that our communities can adapt to this new reality. For donors interested in the science of climate change, explore “nature-based solutions” that strengthen and invest in adaptive mitigation strategies for future disasters—rather than simply responding to present disasters.
In many cases, the intensity of recent natural disasters like droughts, blizzards, heat waves, wildfires and tornadoes has been exacerbated by the effects of climate change. As the climate crisis mounts, natural disasters related to extreme weather are likely to increase in frequency, and it will be on us to ensure that our communities can adapt to this new reality. For donors interested in the science of climate change, explore “nature-based solutions” that strengthen and invest in adaptive mitigation strategies for future disasters—rather than simply responding to present disasters.
Avoid charitable scams
Charitable organizations can mobilize to respond immediately after a dramatic event like a natural disaster. Unfortunately, so can scam artists who wish to profit from the well-intentioned charitable impulse of donors moved to help. When managing your own disaster philanthropy, be sure to research the organizations you support in order to ensure that they are in good standing with the IRS (or equivalent status, if based in another country). Grants recommended through an NPT donor-advised fund always go through a thorough due diligence review.
Charitable organizations can mobilize to respond immediately after a dramatic event like a natural disaster. Unfortunately, so can scam artists who wish to profit from the well-intentioned charitable impulse of donors moved to help. When managing your own disaster philanthropy, be sure to research the organizations you support in order to ensure that they are in good standing with the IRS (or equivalent status, if based in another country). Grants recommended through an NPT donor-advised fund always go through a thorough due diligence review.
Phases of Disaster Philanthropy
For donors looking to find effective charitable interventions, it can be critical to understand the general phases of natural disasters. Because disasters are, by their very nature, unpredictable, it can feel daunting to try to understand the intricacies of what can be done to help, and giving at any stage produces unique challenges. The general phases of natural disasters are:
- Mitigation: Efforts in this phase include risk analysis for future events and applying strategies to reduce the negative effects of natural disasters.
- Preparedness: The phase immediately before a disaster is characterized by activities such as preparing sandbags for a flood or stockpiling food and water in advance of a snowstorm.
- Response: Most disaster giving takes place during the response phase, where the focus is on saving lives and minimizing damage in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.
- Recovery: To return a community to its pre-disaster state, donors may wish to help address and repair the social and physical infrastructure that may have compounded the effects of the disaster.
Disaster Giving: An Issue Guide for Donors
It has become impossible to ignore the rising frequency of natural disasters. Read our issue guide on Disaster Philanthropy for guidance on how and where donors can get involved in disaster relief.
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