SlideShare una empresa de Scribd logo
1 de 21
How Not to Make Disaster
Grantmaking a Disaster
Andrew Ho
Council on Foundations
Also available in PDF on the
Council’s United States
International Grantmaking
website: www.usig.org

Link to PDF publication:
http://www.usig.org/resources/disa
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term
Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations
Find out how prospective grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use it as an
educational tool
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term
Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations
Find out how prospective grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use it as an
educational tool
1. Do no harm

2004 Asian Tsunami: Clothes were donated by the
shipload and dumped on the beaches of India.

Photo source: http://outfittogo.org/didyouknow.aspx
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term
Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations
Find out how prospective grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use it as an
educational tool
2. Stop, look and listen before
taking action

2004 Asian Tsunami: Donors sent large quantities of clothes and food
without realizing that sanitation was a bigger problem.

Photo source: http://www.adb.org/Water/Knowledge-Center/multimedia/default.asp
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term
Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations
Find out how prospective grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use it as an
educational tool
3. Don’t act in isolation

2005 Hurricane Katrina: Faith-based organizations
were often overlooked by funders despite their central
role in many Gulf Coast communities.

Photo source: http://www.efca.org/reachglobal/reachglobal-ministries/efcatouchglobal/efca-touchglobal-crisis-response/hurricane-katri
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long
term
Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations
Find out how prospective grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use it as an
educational tool
4. Think beyond the immediate
crisis to the long term

2004 Asian Tsunami: Some of the post-tsunami building projects in Aceh, Indonesia had
to be redone because the rush to do good superseded the need to think long–term.

Photo source: http://nomadone.nomadlife.org/2009_12_01_archive.html
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term
Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations
Find out how prospective grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use it as an
educational tool
5. Bear in mind the expertise of
local organizations

2004 Asian Tsunami: Connections with local groups helped certain NGOs gain access to
remote/restricted areas in Sri Lanka

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term
Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations
Find out how prospective grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use it as an
educational tool
6. Find out how prospective
grantees operate

Destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005

Photo source: http://www.ci.huntingtonbeach.ca.us/government/departments/fire/general_Info/PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery.cf
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term
Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations
Find out how prospective grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use it as an
educational tool
7. Be accountable to those you are
trying to help

2004 Asian Tsunami: Discarded clothing donations in Tamil Nadu, India

Photo Source: © 2004 Srikrishna Sulgodu Ramachandra/Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI)
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term
Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations
Find out how prospective grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use it as an
educational tool
8. Communicate your work widely
and use it as an educational tool

2010 Pakistan Floods: Lessons from Haiti on communications
could be used to respond to the severe flooding in Pakistan

Photo source: http://www.google.com
8 Principles of Good
Disaster Grantmaking
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Do no harm
Stop, look and listen before taking action
Don’t act in isolation
Think beyond the immediate crisis to the
long term
Bear in mind the expertise of
local organizations
Find out how prospective
grantees operate
Be accountable to those you are
trying to help
Communicate your work widely and use
it as an educational tool
Contact Information
Andrew Ho
Manager, Global Philanthropy
Council on Foundations
2121 Crystal Drive, Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22202 USA
Email: Andrew.Ho@cof.org
Phone: +1 703 879 0743
Twitter: @andyho
Website: www.cof.org
www.usig.org

Más contenido relacionado

Similar a How Not to Make Disaster Grantmaking a Disaster

Climate Change Communications
Climate Change  CommunicationsClimate Change  Communications
Climate Change CommunicationsCarbon Forum
 
Disability Inclusion - Learning_from_Savings_Groups_Project_Model - April 2013
Disability Inclusion - Learning_from_Savings_Groups_Project_Model - April 2013Disability Inclusion - Learning_from_Savings_Groups_Project_Model - April 2013
Disability Inclusion - Learning_from_Savings_Groups_Project_Model - April 2013Hitomi Honda
 
Curate Like A Pirate: Choosing Education Content That Leads TO A Treasure Loa...
Curate Like A Pirate: Choosing Education Content That Leads TO A Treasure Loa...Curate Like A Pirate: Choosing Education Content That Leads TO A Treasure Loa...
Curate Like A Pirate: Choosing Education Content That Leads TO A Treasure Loa...Jeff Hurt
 
Environmental Justice in Urban & Community Forestry
Environmental Justice in Urban & Community Forestry Environmental Justice in Urban & Community Forestry
Environmental Justice in Urban & Community Forestry ColleenSchoch
 
[SSAWG Conference 2014] From The Ground Up: Grassroots Organizing for Policy ...
[SSAWG Conference 2014] From The Ground Up: Grassroots Organizing for Policy ...[SSAWG Conference 2014] From The Ground Up: Grassroots Organizing for Policy ...
[SSAWG Conference 2014] From The Ground Up: Grassroots Organizing for Policy ...MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
 
3 Ways To Write An Essay Outlin. Online assignment writing service.
3 Ways To Write An Essay Outlin. Online assignment writing service.3 Ways To Write An Essay Outlin. Online assignment writing service.
3 Ways To Write An Essay Outlin. Online assignment writing service.Kathy Miller
 
Cancel Culture: You Can Run But You Can't Hide
Cancel Culture: You Can Run But You Can't HideCancel Culture: You Can Run But You Can't Hide
Cancel Culture: You Can Run But You Can't HideFalcon.io
 
Insights from fostering Women's Leadership & collaboration for community resi...
Insights from fostering Women's Leadership & collaboration for community resi...Insights from fostering Women's Leadership & collaboration for community resi...
Insights from fostering Women's Leadership & collaboration for community resi...India Water Portal
 
Flores y dias
Flores y diasFlores y dias
Flores y diasleej885
 
UNVRoles - Ms. S. Sanofiya _20231113_135421_0000.pdf
UNVRoles - Ms. S. Sanofiya _20231113_135421_0000.pdfUNVRoles - Ms. S. Sanofiya _20231113_135421_0000.pdf
UNVRoles - Ms. S. Sanofiya _20231113_135421_0000.pdfPooma Educational Trust
 
Lauren Alexander Augustine - Disaster Resilience A National Imperative
Lauren Alexander Augustine - Disaster Resilience  A National ImperativeLauren Alexander Augustine - Disaster Resilience  A National Imperative
Lauren Alexander Augustine - Disaster Resilience A National ImperativeGlobal Risk Forum GRFDavos
 
Example Business Proposal Scrumps
Example Business Proposal  ScrumpsExample Business Proposal  Scrumps
Example Business Proposal ScrumpsAmanda Detwiler
 
Public Speech Outline
Public Speech OutlinePublic Speech Outline
Public Speech OutlineAmanda Brady
 
International development and Indigenous Australia: Learning from each other
International development and Indigenous Australia: Learning from each otherInternational development and Indigenous Australia: Learning from each other
International development and Indigenous Australia: Learning from each otherNinti_One
 
Reducing You Personal Usage
Reducing You Personal UsageReducing You Personal Usage
Reducing You Personal UsageAriana Davis
 
sasrai-Movement Appeal Let People Act
sasrai-Movement Appeal Let People Actsasrai-Movement Appeal Let People Act
sasrai-Movement Appeal Let People ActSM Farid Uddin Akhter
 

Similar a How Not to Make Disaster Grantmaking a Disaster (20)

Climate Change Communications
Climate Change  CommunicationsClimate Change  Communications
Climate Change Communications
 
Disability Inclusion - Learning_from_Savings_Groups_Project_Model - April 2013
Disability Inclusion - Learning_from_Savings_Groups_Project_Model - April 2013Disability Inclusion - Learning_from_Savings_Groups_Project_Model - April 2013
Disability Inclusion - Learning_from_Savings_Groups_Project_Model - April 2013
 
Curate Like A Pirate: Choosing Education Content That Leads TO A Treasure Loa...
Curate Like A Pirate: Choosing Education Content That Leads TO A Treasure Loa...Curate Like A Pirate: Choosing Education Content That Leads TO A Treasure Loa...
Curate Like A Pirate: Choosing Education Content That Leads TO A Treasure Loa...
 
Environmental Justice in Urban & Community Forestry
Environmental Justice in Urban & Community Forestry Environmental Justice in Urban & Community Forestry
Environmental Justice in Urban & Community Forestry
 
[SSAWG Conference 2014] From The Ground Up: Grassroots Organizing for Policy ...
[SSAWG Conference 2014] From The Ground Up: Grassroots Organizing for Policy ...[SSAWG Conference 2014] From The Ground Up: Grassroots Organizing for Policy ...
[SSAWG Conference 2014] From The Ground Up: Grassroots Organizing for Policy ...
 
Health 3.0 Leadership Conference: Building and Maintaining Multi-Sector Partn...
Health 3.0 Leadership Conference: Building and Maintaining Multi-Sector Partn...Health 3.0 Leadership Conference: Building and Maintaining Multi-Sector Partn...
Health 3.0 Leadership Conference: Building and Maintaining Multi-Sector Partn...
 
Social Media for Lobbying and Advocacy
Social Media for Lobbying and AdvocacySocial Media for Lobbying and Advocacy
Social Media for Lobbying and Advocacy
 
3 Ways To Write An Essay Outlin. Online assignment writing service.
3 Ways To Write An Essay Outlin. Online assignment writing service.3 Ways To Write An Essay Outlin. Online assignment writing service.
3 Ways To Write An Essay Outlin. Online assignment writing service.
 
Cancel Culture: You Can Run But You Can't Hide
Cancel Culture: You Can Run But You Can't HideCancel Culture: You Can Run But You Can't Hide
Cancel Culture: You Can Run But You Can't Hide
 
Insights from fostering Women's Leadership & collaboration for community resi...
Insights from fostering Women's Leadership & collaboration for community resi...Insights from fostering Women's Leadership & collaboration for community resi...
Insights from fostering Women's Leadership & collaboration for community resi...
 
CSR In China: An Overview
CSR In China: An OverviewCSR In China: An Overview
CSR In China: An Overview
 
Flores y dias
Flores y diasFlores y dias
Flores y dias
 
UNVRoles - Ms. S. Sanofiya _20231113_135421_0000.pdf
UNVRoles - Ms. S. Sanofiya _20231113_135421_0000.pdfUNVRoles - Ms. S. Sanofiya _20231113_135421_0000.pdf
UNVRoles - Ms. S. Sanofiya _20231113_135421_0000.pdf
 
Lauren Alexander Augustine - Disaster Resilience A National Imperative
Lauren Alexander Augustine - Disaster Resilience  A National ImperativeLauren Alexander Augustine - Disaster Resilience  A National Imperative
Lauren Alexander Augustine - Disaster Resilience A National Imperative
 
Example Business Proposal Scrumps
Example Business Proposal  ScrumpsExample Business Proposal  Scrumps
Example Business Proposal Scrumps
 
Public Speech Outline
Public Speech OutlinePublic Speech Outline
Public Speech Outline
 
International development and Indigenous Australia: Learning from each other
International development and Indigenous Australia: Learning from each otherInternational development and Indigenous Australia: Learning from each other
International development and Indigenous Australia: Learning from each other
 
Reducing You Personal Usage
Reducing You Personal UsageReducing You Personal Usage
Reducing You Personal Usage
 
Aid
AidAid
Aid
 
sasrai-Movement Appeal Let People Act
sasrai-Movement Appeal Let People Actsasrai-Movement Appeal Let People Act
sasrai-Movement Appeal Let People Act
 

Más de Andrew Ho

Grants Managers Network 2014 Conference
Grants Managers Network 2014 ConferenceGrants Managers Network 2014 Conference
Grants Managers Network 2014 ConferenceAndrew Ho
 
Navigating Your Career in Philanthropy
Navigating Your Career in PhilanthropyNavigating Your Career in Philanthropy
Navigating Your Career in PhilanthropyAndrew Ho
 
Trends in Global Philanthropy
Trends in Global PhilanthropyTrends in Global Philanthropy
Trends in Global PhilanthropyAndrew Ho
 
Trends in U.S. Based Global Grantmaking
Trends in U.S. Based Global GrantmakingTrends in U.S. Based Global Grantmaking
Trends in U.S. Based Global GrantmakingAndrew Ho
 
Cultural Factors and Global Philanthropy
Cultural Factors and Global PhilanthropyCultural Factors and Global Philanthropy
Cultural Factors and Global PhilanthropyAndrew Ho
 
Asian American Philanthropy to Higher Education
Asian American Philanthropy to Higher EducationAsian American Philanthropy to Higher Education
Asian American Philanthropy to Higher EducationAndrew Ho
 
The Evolution of Philanthropic Evaluation and Assessment in China
The Evolution of Philanthropic Evaluation and Assessment in ChinaThe Evolution of Philanthropic Evaluation and Assessment in China
The Evolution of Philanthropic Evaluation and Assessment in ChinaAndrew Ho
 
One Year after Japan: Mobilizing giving
One Year after Japan: Mobilizing givingOne Year after Japan: Mobilizing giving
One Year after Japan: Mobilizing givingAndrew Ho
 

Más de Andrew Ho (8)

Grants Managers Network 2014 Conference
Grants Managers Network 2014 ConferenceGrants Managers Network 2014 Conference
Grants Managers Network 2014 Conference
 
Navigating Your Career in Philanthropy
Navigating Your Career in PhilanthropyNavigating Your Career in Philanthropy
Navigating Your Career in Philanthropy
 
Trends in Global Philanthropy
Trends in Global PhilanthropyTrends in Global Philanthropy
Trends in Global Philanthropy
 
Trends in U.S. Based Global Grantmaking
Trends in U.S. Based Global GrantmakingTrends in U.S. Based Global Grantmaking
Trends in U.S. Based Global Grantmaking
 
Cultural Factors and Global Philanthropy
Cultural Factors and Global PhilanthropyCultural Factors and Global Philanthropy
Cultural Factors and Global Philanthropy
 
Asian American Philanthropy to Higher Education
Asian American Philanthropy to Higher EducationAsian American Philanthropy to Higher Education
Asian American Philanthropy to Higher Education
 
The Evolution of Philanthropic Evaluation and Assessment in China
The Evolution of Philanthropic Evaluation and Assessment in ChinaThe Evolution of Philanthropic Evaluation and Assessment in China
The Evolution of Philanthropic Evaluation and Assessment in China
 
One Year after Japan: Mobilizing giving
One Year after Japan: Mobilizing givingOne Year after Japan: Mobilizing giving
One Year after Japan: Mobilizing giving
 

How Not to Make Disaster Grantmaking a Disaster

  • 1. How Not to Make Disaster Grantmaking a Disaster Andrew Ho Council on Foundations
  • 2. Also available in PDF on the Council’s United States International Grantmaking website: www.usig.org Link to PDF publication: http://www.usig.org/resources/disa
  • 3. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 4. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 5. 1. Do no harm 2004 Asian Tsunami: Clothes were donated by the shipload and dumped on the beaches of India. Photo source: http://outfittogo.org/didyouknow.aspx
  • 6. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 7. 2. Stop, look and listen before taking action 2004 Asian Tsunami: Donors sent large quantities of clothes and food without realizing that sanitation was a bigger problem. Photo source: http://www.adb.org/Water/Knowledge-Center/multimedia/default.asp
  • 8. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 9. 3. Don’t act in isolation 2005 Hurricane Katrina: Faith-based organizations were often overlooked by funders despite their central role in many Gulf Coast communities. Photo source: http://www.efca.org/reachglobal/reachglobal-ministries/efcatouchglobal/efca-touchglobal-crisis-response/hurricane-katri
  • 10. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 11. 4. Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term 2004 Asian Tsunami: Some of the post-tsunami building projects in Aceh, Indonesia had to be redone because the rush to do good superseded the need to think long–term. Photo source: http://nomadone.nomadlife.org/2009_12_01_archive.html
  • 12. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 13. 5. Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations 2004 Asian Tsunami: Connections with local groups helped certain NGOs gain access to remote/restricted areas in Sri Lanka Photo source: http://www.flickr.com
  • 14. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 15. 6. Find out how prospective grantees operate Destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 Photo source: http://www.ci.huntingtonbeach.ca.us/government/departments/fire/general_Info/PhotoGallery/PhotoGallery.cf
  • 16. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 17. 7. Be accountable to those you are trying to help 2004 Asian Tsunami: Discarded clothing donations in Tamil Nadu, India Photo Source: © 2004 Srikrishna Sulgodu Ramachandra/Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI)
  • 18. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 19. 8. Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool 2010 Pakistan Floods: Lessons from Haiti on communications could be used to respond to the severe flooding in Pakistan Photo source: http://www.google.com
  • 20. 8 Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Do no harm Stop, look and listen before taking action Don’t act in isolation Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long term Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations Find out how prospective grantees operate Be accountable to those you are trying to help Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool
  • 21. Contact Information Andrew Ho Manager, Global Philanthropy Council on Foundations 2121 Crystal Drive, Suite 700 Arlington, VA 22202 USA Email: Andrew.Ho@cof.org Phone: +1 703 879 0743 Twitter: @andyho Website: www.cof.org www.usig.org

Notas del editor

  1. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Andrew Ho and I am from the Council on Foundations in Washington, DC. I want to thank WINGS for this opportunity to share with you just briefly some of the tenets of good disaster grantmaking which the Council has developed through its collection of best practices from grantmakers in the United States and elsewhere. As I am sure many of you bring deep experience in disaster grantmaking, I am looking forward to the roundtable sessions where we can learn more from one another and move these practices forward for the benefit of those suffering from human and natural disasters.
  2. The eight principles of good disaster grantmaking are based on lessons learned from a year-long joint study of the European Foundation Centre and the Council on Foundations. These principles are taken from the publication, Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations. This is a free publication. I have copies available here, but it is also available online for free as a PDF from the Council’s United States International Grantmaking website, which is www.usig.org.
  3. Grantmakers can be more effective and strategic in addressing disasters by following eight principles of good disaster grantmaking. These are broad principles and I will go through each of these very briefly. The key point to encourage your grantmaking members to do is to develop an internal plan for handling disaster requests. This includes grantmaking criteria, internal decision making procedures, and potential grantees that line up with the foundation’s mission, expertise, and program focus.
  4. The first principle is to do no harm.
  5. Not all disaster assistance is beneficial; unnecessary items can overwhelm limited transportation, storage, and distribution capacities, thereby delaying the delivery of aid that is desperately needed. Aim to ensure that your grant contributes to the solution, and not the problem. Example from the 2004 Asian Tsunami: The flood of unsolicited supplies, combined with a lack of warehouse/transportation capacity, forced the rapid distribution of donations, which left affected families overwhelmed with things that ultimately weren’t needed.
  6. The second principle is to Stop, look, and listen before taking action.
  7. Information is the key to good disaster grantmaking. Don’t make assumptions about what is needed in a particular disaster situation; every disaster is different, so take time to learn about specifics of a disaster before deciding how to respond. Again, during the 2004 Asian tsunami, large quantities of food and clothing were sent, but what was really necessary was sanitation.
  8. The third principle is ‘Don’t act in isolation’.
  9. As grantmakers, you recognize the importance of collaboration. In a time of disaster, coordination and keeping the lines of communication open is even more important. You can reduce duplication of effort by coordinating with other NGOs operating on the ground; make efficient use of resources, and ensure that the highest priority needs are addressed first. Example from Hurricane Katrina: As the cornerstones of several Gulf Coast communities, many faith-based organizations had structures in place to meet the needs of their communities in times of crisis. Unfortunately, they were often overlooked during the distribution of funds.
  10. It’s easy to get caught up in the emergency phase of the disaster, as it attracts most of the attention and resources. Grantmakers can play a useful role before a crisis by supporting disaster prevention and preparedness activities; and afterward, by filling gaps between emergency relief and long-term development programs Example from the 2004 Asian Tsunami: British charities raised over $600 million in private donations and about 42 percent of that money was used in Aceh – mostly to build 14,000 new homes. While this was undoubtedly a noble effort, a report released after the crisis revealed that some of the houses had be retrofitted or entirely rebuilt because the rush to do good had superseded the need to think long-term.
  11. The fifth principle is to “Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations.”
  12. Do not duplicate services available locally; instead, you should coordinate with community-based organizations to identify what is needed. They understand the complex political, social, and cultural context of a disaster, but are often hampered by a lack of resources and organizational capacity. Perhaps it’s considering making grants for general operating support to these local organizations. Example from 2004 Asian Tsunami: Due to their existing on-the-ground connections, certain NGOs had the ability to reach more remote/ restricted areas that were not accessible to the average international aid worker. This deeper access was particularly important in Aceh and Sri Lanka, where the capacities of responders were limited by prolonged armed conflict.
  13. The sixth principle is to “Find out how prospective grantees operate”.
  14. It is wise to know what approach you are supporting before making a grant. Research the organization to find out if their approach/overall philosophy is in line with the 8 principles of good disaster grantmaking Example from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: One mistake funders made during the 2005 hurricane season was making grants too quickly and without proper information. Since they did not have existing relationships on the ground, funders simply gave money to the largest institutions in the region with hopes that it would trickle down to those organizations that were actually serving the communities in need. Unfortunately much of it did not.
  15. The seventh principle is to “be accountable to those you are trying to help.”
  16. What does this mean? Well it means more than just determining how their grant was spent, but to also engage the grantees in a process that assesses the social impact of your grant. Example from the 2004 Asian Tsunami: Some of the used clothes donated to India in the wake of the tsunami did not meet local cultural norms of what was appropriate. This led to feelings of humiliation among the affected population.
  17. And last but not least, the eighth principle is to “Communicate your work widely and use it as an educational tool”.
  18. It is important to communicate your work so that others don’t have to learn the same lesson themselves. Build a knowledge base, record lessons learned, and share your experiences. Educate your boards, staff, and shareholders (in the case of corporate grantmakers) about the disaster cycle and how your foundation is applying a comprehensive disaster management approach to your disaster grantmaking. Work with the media and community groups to raise public awareness about disasters to include an examination of root causes of disaster; the political, economic, and social factors that contribute to them; and the important role of disaster prevention. Example: In Haiti, the U.S. made good use of information technology and social media to respond to the crisis. Unfortunately, these lessons are not being put to use in Pakistan. “No one has spoken to us,” says an officer with the U.S. Southern Command, somewhat surprised by the lack of interest in learning how the military partnered with civilians in Haiti.
  19. I could go on with more examples of how these principles were actualized or not – in many cases. But I’ll look forward to hearing some of your stories during the roundtable session. What are some best practices you’ve seen among your foundations? What are some lessons learned from past experiences? And what are your examples of these principles in action? In summary, good disaster grantmaking is really no different from good grantmaking. These are all principles foundations should adopt whether in good times or in crisis. I look forward to hearing your stories and more.
  20. And certainly I’d be happy to talk with you more if you’re interested in some of the other resources the Council has on disaster grantmaking. Thank you very much!