Center for Disaster Philanthropy

In short, to elevate humanity and inspire others to act as engines for social good. Our work is at the intersection of serving marginalized and vulnerable populations, building awareness of the importance of medium- and long-term disaster recovery, and guiding philanthropists’ understanding of each other and how best to support communities impacted by disasters.

The disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities alongside the racial reckoning of 2020 have forced philanthropists into a long-overdue self-reflection. Inequitable approaches to recovery are known to sink lower-income households further into poverty after disasters. And yet, until last year, disaster recovery remained one of the smallest focuses of philanthropic giving. Support to BIPOC-led organizations was an even smaller focus.

CDP would use the Elevate Prize to catalyze lasting change to place BIPOC-led organizations at the center of disaster response and recovery programming in their communities. CDP will do this through the development of philanthropic partnerships and disaster response and recovery expertise. Through encouraging BIPOC-focused disaster philanthropy and supporting the disaster readiness capacity of BIPOC-led community nonprofits, CDP will support redressing the disproportionate impact of race in disaster settings.

I have been working in the humanitarian field since 1992. Over the years, I have had to bear witness to some of the worst of humanity. But I have also had the distinct honor and privilege to work alongside some of the most wonderful people imaginable. Individuals who risked their lives to help their neighbors or opened their homes to strangers seeking a haven from disaster.

I know it sounds cliché, but I genuinely believe in helping others. I have learned that helping others – in the best way possible – is not always easy. Good intentions are important but are not always enough.

There are hundreds of millions of people in need globally, some of them forcibly displaced in large-scale crises visible on the media. Still, there are many other disasters too small or too remote to gain much notice. Unfortunately, news cycles move on, and the long-lasting impact of disasters on countries, communities and people fades from view.

For this reason, we must do all that we can do to help in the most effective and efficient ways possible, and organizations such as CDP, which I lead, help guide philanthropy and non-profits towards that goal. 

Those most vulnerable before a disaster strikes a community are almost always the population that struggles the most to recover fully. This is a universal reality of disaster recovery and needs specific attention, impacting millions across the planet. Only 12% of disaster funding in 2018 was dedicated to the recovery part of the process.

CDP’s Disaster Philanthropy Playbook serves as a comprehensive resource to guide donors, associations and nonprofits in preparing for and responding to disasters. Over the course of this program, CDP will utilize the strategies included therein to strengthen understanding and inform disaster-giving and programming decisions. CDP will develop a strategy specific to using a Race, Intersectionality and Equity (RIE) lens within disaster grantmaking. Furthermore, CDP will advance its understanding and ensure that CDP’s grantmaking, educational resources, consulting services, and institutional practices demonstrate a commitment to the principles of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

By working together to truly understand racial and intersectional equity and view disaster recovery with this lens, we can address the systemic issues at play that could hinder communities from building back stronger.

In short, the work has never been fully addressed. CDP is unique as the only full-time resource dedicated to helping donors maximize their impact by making more intentional disaster-related giving decisions. We approach disasters differently. We know disasters so others don’t have to.

After a disaster, donors, governments, and community organizations work to respond to immediate needs. CDP remains flexible to fill the funding gaps that exist after each disaster-affected community sees the first wave of assistance fade. Recovery is not only about the restoration of structures, systems and services – although they are critical. A successful recovery is also about individuals and families being able to rebound from their losses and sustain their physical, social, economic, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

We will use this opportunity to provide a unique plan for BIPOC communities that:

• Increases the effectiveness of contributions given to disasters.
• Brings greater attention to the full life cycle of disasters.
• Provides timely and relevant advice from experts with deep knowledge of disaster philanthropy.
• Conducts due diligence so donors can give with confidence.
• Creates plans for informed giving for individuals, corporations and foundations.
• Supports targeted, localized and holistic grantmaking.

2020 was a year that felt like a decade. A harbinger of what may come as climate change, social upheavals, global inequalities and poverty continue to strain the socio-economic fabric of humanity.

For CDP, it was a year when our mission – leveraging the power of philanthropy to strengthen the ability of communities to withstand disasters and recover equitably – came into its own. With the introduction of a new three-year strategy and leadership changes during a pandemic, CDP could have faltered in our efforts. Instead, the team leaned in, showing leadership and vision across our multiple work areas.

We disbursed 154 grants in 50 countries. We supported a diversity of needs – aiding people recovering from wildfires, hurricanes, floods, the pandemic, a rare derecho, forced population movements and beyond. We have reached millions of people with our programs and had a positive impact on numerous communities.

But beyond grants, we have also educated and furthered the field of disaster philanthropy, so that all disaster philanthropists can have a more significant impact on humanity. Why? Because humanity needs the help. And CDP believes in our ability to effectively provide the guidance, expertise, and funds to support humanity through disaster recovery.