Relief for Disasters

Find general and specific disaster relief information and resources for funders or individuals who want to support organizations in regional, national or world wide responses. You can find resources specific to Connecticut, general disaster response publications, and information and materials for ongoing and past disasters.

Connecticut Resources

 

In the wake of a disaster, people are often deeply moved to find a way to aid their fellow citizens. Giving to charities is one of the most common ways of offering help, but finding an appropriate charity in the aftermath of a disaster can be difficult or even confusing. Others may want to establish new charities, and existing charities will receive and seek donations to aid in the response to a disaster. The State of Connecticut Disaster Relief Guide offers some suggestions and advice both for those who wish to make charitable donations as well as for those new or existing charities involved in raising funds for disaster relief.

 

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Attorney General George Jepsen and state Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein released the Sandy Hook Report on the overwhelming charitable response to the December 14, 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. The report evaluates information provided voluntarily by organizations engaged in fundraising related to the tragedy, provides a quantitative analysis of survey responses and identifies ways that state regulators and the nonprofit community can partner and collaborate to provide transparency, bolster donor confidence, consolidate resources and increase coordination.

 

Philanthropy Resources

 

The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is an online compilation of philanthropic strategies, best practices and lessons learned that have saved and galvanized local economies, nonprofits, and vulnerable populations from entering into a permanent downward spiral in the wake of a disaster. The Playbook is a joint project of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers in association with the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. The strategies, lessons learned, and impact stories contained throughout the site will be of maximum benefit to the national social sector, funders, individual philanthropists, and nonprofit organizations.

Measuring the State of Disaster Philanthropy: Data to Drive Decisions
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has partnered with Foundation Center on an interactive dashboard, which provides an analysis of disaster-related funding by foundations, governments, corporations and individuals. The data presented illuminates funding trends, exposes some of the imbalances in where and when contributions are made to help donors make more strategic decisions about their investments in the full life cycle of disasters, including preparedness and recovery efforts.

 

Two years after the historic storm, Philanthropy & Hurricane Sandy: A Report on the Foundation & Corporate Response breaks down the allocation of dollars contributed thus far and offers perspective on the role of private giving in disaster response and lessons to be taken from this one. The report was published by Foundation Center in cooperation with the funder associations Philanthropy New York and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, and with support from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

 

Creating Order From Chaos: Roles for Philanthropy in Disaster Planning and Response
The Jessie Ball duPont Fund published this guide in 2015 to outline the best roles for funders in a disaster, culled from its many decades of experience in responding to the needs of communities and nonprofits beset by disasters, human and natural alike. 

Disaster, Older Adults and Philanthropy
This article from Grantmakers in Aging details why disaster-related death rates are so much higher older adults and how philanthropy can help. 

Disaster Planning and Recovery for Nonprofits, Charities, and Libraries
The Resilient Organization, developed with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, is a holistic guide to IT disaster planning and recovery. This e-book is intended for organizations that are preparing for a disaster, as well as those that need to rebuild and maintain operations after a disaster. 

Ongoing and Past Disasters

CCP Member Call with Lisa Tepper Bates - April 3, 2020

CCP's Member Check-in on April 3, 2020 included a presentation by Lisa Tepper Bates, from the Office of the Governor, chair of the Recovery/Immediate Needs Subgroup of Commissioner David Lehman's Long Term Recovery Committee.

2019 - Hurrican Dorian

Find resources to help support relief efforts for the disaster created by Hurricane Dorian.

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