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Disaster Response Grantmaking

Disaster Grantmaking Resources

As you consider your organization's response, here are some helpful resources on disaster grantmaking.

Building a Record of Philanthropic Response

When we are asked by the media and colleagues about San Diego's philanthropic response to a given disaster, we'd like to share your stories. Please share with us -- and with your colleagues -- what you are doing. As you take action, please email the information. SDG will use this information:

  • to share with fellow SDG members so that we know what each of us is doing;
  • to answer media queries about the amount and nature of San Diego's philanthropic response to disasters; and
  • to share with foundations, corporations, and other funders outside of San Diego when they contact SDG to ask for giving options.

2008 China Earthquake

Tell us about your response!

Background
A powerful earthquake struck Western China on Monday, May 12, toppling thousands of homes, factories and offices, trapping students in schools, and killing at least 10,000 people, the country’s worst natural disaster in three decades.
Bodies covered with sheets lined the streets Tuesday as rescue workers dug through schools and homes turned into rubble by China's worst earthquake in three decades in a search for more victims. The official death toll rose to nearly 12,000, and thousands remained missing.

The quake, which was estimated preliminarily to have had a magnitude of 7.9, ravaged a mountainous region outside Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, just after lunchtime Monday, destroying 80 percent of structures in some of the towns and small cities near its epicenter, Chinese officials said. Its tremors were felt as far away as Vietnam and set off another, smaller quake in the outskirts of Beijing, 900 miles away.

Landslides, power failures and fallen mobile phone towers left much of the affected area cut off from the outside world and limited information about the damage. But snapshots of concentrated devastation suggested that the death toll that could rise significantly as rescue workers reached the most heavily damaged areas. *Source: The Associated Press, The New York Times.

SDG Members Respond
More Coming Soon

Amylin
Amylin is working with the International Community Foundation to make a matching gifts program available to employees.

Cymer
Cymer is setting up a mechanism through the Red Cross for employees to donate funds to China, where they have a base of employees.  Cymer is matching all employee donations.

International Community Foundation
In an effort to respond to the pressing needs in Sichuan Province, the International Community Foundation is partnering with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support an international appeal issued by the IFRC to raise $19.3 million dollars for the benefit of the Red Cross Society of China's relief efforts. The initial appeal will assist approximately 100,000 people affected by the earthquake, over a 12 month period. It will provide some of the most immediate needs, such as: food, drinking water, tents, quilts, warm clothes, jerry cans, kitchen sets, illuminating equipment, and medical services, including disease control. Joining forces with the IFRC and with the support of the Robert & Joyce Chang Fund @ the International Community Foundation, ICF will be able to match contributions made on a 1-to-1 basis in support of China's earthquake victims up to $100,000. Click here for more information and give your support.

Northern Trust
Northern Trust will make a $75,00 corporate contribution to benefit the American Red Cross – China Earthquake Relief Fund.

In addition, Northern Trust will be matching employee personal donations (checks, credit cards or gifts of stock) to the American Red Cross - China Earthquake Relief Fund, Care International - Myanmar Cyclone Response Fund and Save the Children - China Earthquake and/or Myanmar Cyclone Children in Crisis Funds.

Qualcomm Incorporated

  • Making a $500,000 donation to the Red Cross Society of China directed through the China business unit.
  • Promoting use of the regular matching grant program for donations to 501c3 nonprofits.
  • Making a one-time exception to matching grant program allowing China employees to request matching grants before August 1 to the Red Cross Society of China (and possibly other organizations as they suggest). 

Sony
Sony's response is being handled through the company's Tokyo office.

Selected Media Coverage of Relief Efforts

  1. "U.S. Charities Raise More Than $70-Million for Asian Disasters," Chronicle of Philanthropy, June 3, 2008
  2. "Corporations Give $54-Million in Disaster Relief for China," Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 28, 2008.
  3. "'Disaster Fatigue,' Other Factors Cited for Lackluster Charitable Response," Philanthropy News Digest, May 21, 2008
  4. "Many Hands, Not Held by China, Aid in Quake," New York Times, May 20, 2008
  5. "Chinese Respond to Disaster with Outpouring of Support," Philanthropy News Digest, May 20, 2008
  6. "American Charities Raise $33 Million for Asian Disasters," Chronicle of Philanthropy," May 19, 2008
  7. "Aid Groups Say Pair of Disasters Present Major Challenges," Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 15, 2008
  8. Philanthropy 2173 blog post on aid, May 14, 2008
  9. "Aid Groups Pleased With Response to Myanmar and China Crises," Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 14, 2008
  10. "Operation USA To Respond to China Earthquake," Reuters, May 13, 2008 
  11. "Macao SAR gov't to donate $16 mln for Sichuan earthquake relief," China View, May 13, 2008
  12. "Death toll reaches 12,000 in China," Los Angeles Times, May 13, 2008
  13. "Hong Kong pledges 38 mln usd for quake-hit China," Forbes.com, May 13, 2008
  14. "US to give $500,000 to China earthquake relief," Reuters, May 13, 2008
  15. "Direct Relief Checking In With Partners In China Following 7.9-Magnitude Quake," Direct Relief International, May 12, 2008
  16. "Save the Children Offers Help to China Following Earthquake," Save The Children, May 12, 2008
  17. "Earthquake rocks China," UNICEF USA, May 12, 2008
  18. "Massive Earthquake Strikes China," MercyCorps, May 12, 2008

Resources

2008 Burma/Myanmar Cyclone

Tell us about your response!

Background
On May 3, 2008, a cyclone ripped through military-ruled Burma/Myanmar, flooding Yangon and the Irrawaddy delta where it flattened at least two towns. The death toll is likely to climb as the authorities manage to contact outlying islands and villages that felt the full force of Cyclone Nagris, a Category 4 storm packing winds of 120 miles per hour. Nagris, which had been gathering steam in the Bay of Bengal for several days, devastated the former Burma's leafy main city, littering the streets with overturned cars, fallen trees and debris from battered buildings.

Myanmar’s state television reported that the death toll from the May 3 cyclone has risen again, to 34,273, The Associated Press reported, with 27,838 missing. The toll has been increasing daily, as more and more of the missing are identified as dead. The United Nations has estimated that the toll could be more than 60,000 (The New York Times, May 13, 2008).

The United Nations warned that Myanmar faced a "second catastrophe" after its devastating cyclone, unless the junta immediately allows massive air and sea deliveries of aid. But Myanmar's military rulers again rejected growing international pressure to open the door to a foreign-run relief effort, insisting against all the evidence that they could handle the emergency alone (Agence France-Presse).

Burmese volunteers who are operating their own private aid missions to the area have said that they are having to hide from local apparatchiks in order to prevent them commandeering their aid and selling it on at markets. (UK Telegraph, May 13, 2008).

Click here to see corporate responses tracked by BCLC.

SDG Members Respond

More Coming Soon

International Community Foundation
In response to the over 100,000 now feared dead and 220,000 missing from the Myanmar cyclone, the International Community Foundation is partnering with the United Nations Foundation to contribute to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) which is allocating at least $20 million to the most urgent relief programs including food, health, logistics, water and sanitation, nutrition and shelter. The International Community Foundation is encouraging its donors to help support the CERF by making a gift to ICF’s UN Disaster Relief Fund. The UN has a large country team in Myanmar of about 1,500 staff. UN agencies such as UNICEF, the World Food Program, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Development Program have been providing direct aid to communities affected by the disaster. This work includes setting up relief camps, delivering food, water, medicine and clothing. However, this aid represents a small fraction of what is needed. Click here for more information and give your support.

Northern Trust
Northern Trust will make a $75,00 corporate contribution to benefit Care International – Myanmar Cyclone Response Fund.

In addition, Northern Trust will be matching employee personal donations (checks, credit cards or gifts of stock) to the American Red Cross - China Earthquake Relief Fund, Care International - Myanmar Cyclone Response Fund and Save the Children - China Earthquake and/or Myanmar Cyclone Children in Crisis Funds.

Selected Media Coverage of Relief Efforts

  1. "Delayed Response to Myanmar Cyclone Results in Fewer Deaths Than Anticipated," Philanthropy News Digest, June 19, 2008
  2. "U.S. Charities Raise More Than $70-Million for Asian Disasters," Chronicle of Philanthropy, June 3, 2008
  3. "Myanmar Generals Continue to Impede Relief Efforts," Philanthropy News Digest, June 3, 2008
  4. "'Disaster Fatigue,' Other Factors Cited for Lackluster Charitable Response," Philanthropy News Digest, May 21, 2008
  5. "Myanmar Shuns Aid from US Warships; UN Urges More Relief," Chicago Tribune, May 21, 2008
  6. "Myanmar to Grant Entry to Medical Teams from Asian Group," Philanthropy News Digest, May 20, 2008
  7. "American Charities Raise $33 Million for Asian Disasters," Chronicle of Philanthropy," May 19, 2008
  8. "UN in Dark about Myanmar Disaster Relief Needs," Philanthropy News Digest, May 19, 2008
  9. "Aid Groups Say Pair of Disasters Present Major Challenges," Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 15, 2008
  10. Philanthropy 2173 blog post on aid, May 14, 2008
  11. "Aid Groups Pleased With Response to Myanmar and China Crises," Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 14, 2008
  12. "The Latest Corporate Social Responsibility News - Aiding (and Abetting?) Burma," CSRwire, May 14, 2008
  13. "Myanmar Government Said to Be 'Misappropriating' Relief Supplies," Philanthropy News Digest, May 14, 2008
  14. "Los Angeles Based Operation USA Appeals for Funds to Aid in Myanmar (Burmese) Cyclone Disaster," May 9, 2008
  15. "U.S. Disaster Relief Efforts in Myanmar Hampered," Philanthropy News Digest, May 9, 2008
  16. "International Medical Corps Deploying Emergency Response Team for Victims of Myanmar Cyclone," IMC, May 9, 2008
  17. "Charities Begin Relief Efforts, Await Government Cooperation in Wake of Myanmar Cyclone," Philanthropy News Digest, May 8, 2008
  18. "Open Society Institute Announces Support for Victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma," OSI, May 8, 2008
  19. "Save the Children Reaches 50,000 People in Myanmar, Continuing Efforts to Assist Thousands Left Homeless by Cyclone Nargis," Save The Children, May 7, 2008
  20. "IRC Alert: International Rescue Committee Dispatches Emergency Response Team to Myanmar; Says Access is Critical to Saving Lives," IRC, May 7, 2008 
  21. "Food aid flights set off for cyclone-hit Myanmar," World Food Programme, May 7, 2008  
  22. "Burmese refugees fault Myanmar regime for cyclone's toll," Los Angeles Times, May 7, 2008

Resources

  • Click here to review a summary and/or recording of the calls hosted by Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors in conjunction with COF on May 14 and 16. Below are highlights, courtesy of SCG Director of Communications Amy Sausser, from the teleconference:
    • Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors has established a Disaster Recovery Fund for Myanmar. See more information about it and how people/institutions can contribute at http://www.arabellaadvisors.com/pages/MyanmarRecovery.html. They were not prepared to provide a set of recommended NGOs at this time, because the situtation in the disaster areas is so fluid.
    • The NGOs that were already on the ground and that have local networks of people on the ground have had the best luck getting aid to people who need it.
    • Role for Philanthropy in the Future: to support mid-term and long-term recovery efforts in the region. Most important are to rebuild agricultural capacity as soon as possible and to put in place systems to alleviate impacts of cyclones in the future. Example given was Bangledesh which greatly reduced casualties from similar storms by doing simple things, like handing out radios to residents for early warning, creating storm surge barriers, etc.
    • Some key lessons that were highlighted on the call:
      1. If your foundation funds the area, let your colleagues know it, and be specific about the grantees and why you believe them worthy of funding.
      2. A successful recovery plan needs to have:
      • Commitment from donors for the long term
      • Understanding of the local cultural context
      • Involvement from those affected in creation of recovery plan
      • Get local economies up and running ASAP
      • A successful philanthropric response should: Be realistic about the impact funding can have; Relax the normal grantmaking process (reduce bureaucratic hoops); Expand funding areas; Invest in risk reduction strategies for the future.
  • Notes for corporate givers from ACCP: Figures on confirmed deaths are sketchy under the tight control of Myanmar’s military government.  Although Junta government officials cite a questionable death toll of 32,000 from the natural disaster, the political catastrophe that followed will contribute substantially more to the final toll. Thousands will likely succumb to the effects of starvation and disease, as humanitarian relief aid trickles into the country. To wit, this crisis may require modified tactics by corporate contribution managers. 

    According to the World Health Organization, the spread of communicable disease such as malaria, dengue and measles are exacerbated because a disaster of this magnitude disproportionately affects those who are most vulnerable – the young and the old.  To make matters worse, if that’s possible, a crippled water system will allow contaminated water to flow freely throughout the delta region exposing millions living on the fringe to cholera and other waterborne diseases.        

    This being said, you can conclude that the initial disaster response/relief phase from Cyclone Nargis has been extended for a longer period than anticipated. We expect to see an increased wave of humanitarian needs in the coming days, as conditions worsen.  The international community must continue to pressure the Junta government to act more decisively.  Companies that typically provide assistance, financially or in-kind, during the first 24-72 hours, should consider expanding their response window to two maybe three weeks from the initial event.

    Several ACCP member companies have adopted this “wait-and-see” approach, while others have made initial pledges to the disaster (see below for partial list).  We recommend that contribution managers closely monitor the situation in Myanmar, working with international relief agencies that have been granted access to the region. 

  • The following agencies will accept donations:

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2007 San Diego Wildfires

Please click here for our page on the 2007 San Diego Wildfires, including resources, SDG member responses and other relief efforts, and media coverage.

2005 Hurricane Katrina

Please click here for our page on 2005's Hurricane Katrina, including resources, SDG member responses and other relief efforts, and media coverage.

 

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