Helping Clients Respond to Disasters: An Advisor’s Guide

Jilla Tombar, Founder, BlackBridge Philanthropic

When disaster strikes—whether it’s wildfires in California, hurricanes in the Gulf South, or floods in the Midwest—people want to help quickly. Donors with DAFs are in a unique position to act—the money is already set aside and ready to move. The challenge is making sure those dollars land where they’ll have the greatest impact. The formula is simple: act fast, give local, and come back again after the spotlight fades. That’s how generosity builds resilience.

Start Local and Listen First

The most effective dollars are the ones closest to the ground. Local nonprofits, community foundations, and United Ways are trusted, connected, and ready to respond.

In New Orleans, where storms are routine, the Greater New Orleans Foundation has a pre-positioned disaster fund that kicks in the moment a storm makes landfall. Grants move quickly to VOADs (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and frontline groups. That kind of speed saves lives.

But speed isn’t everything. Donors also need to pause long enough to listen. Communities know what they need—and what they don’t. If a group asks for volunteers, food, or supplies, they’ll say so. If they don’t, send money. Flexible funding is almost always the most useful gift in a crisis.

Use Pooled Funds for Speed and Scale

Pooled funds are one of the most powerful tools in disaster giving. A pooled fund is a shared pot of money where multiple donors contribute to one coordinated effort. Instead of scattering separate grants, donors combine resources to avoid duplication, reduce overhead, and get dollars to the right place faster.

For donors with DAFs, supporting a pooled fund can be as simple as recommending a single grant. Pooled funds can raise millions within days—supporting everything from emergency shelter to long-term rebuilding.

During COVID-19, pooled response funds were launched across the country. The Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund distributed more than $30 million locally, and the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund raised over $35 million to support housing, food, and emergency services. These funds showed how quickly philanthropy can scale when donors work together.

Give Flexibly and Cut the Red Tape

Disasters shift by the hour. That’s why unrestricted funding is the most valuable gift a donor can make. What’s urgent today might change tomorrow, and nonprofits need room to pivot without being boxed in by narrow grant terms.

Long-term commitments matter just as much. Recovery doesn’t wrap up when the headlines move on—it can take months or years. The donors who come back with a second or third round of support are the ones who make the deepest difference.

Keep it simple. Nonprofit staff may be working out of dark offices, running supply drives, and coordinating volunteers—all while being asked to submit detailed reports or hop on calls with donors. If a community lacks access to power, how can nonprofits be expected to complete lengthy applications or respond promptly to donor calls? Every hoop you remove means dollars move faster, and help gets where it’s needed most.

Balance Immediate Relief with Long-Term Recovery

In every disaster, there are two phases: survival and rebuilding. Donors want to help in the first 72 hours, but communities still need support six months or even six years later.

Adopt the two-step approach. First, fund immediate relief—shelter, food, water, medical aid. Then commit to another gift for rebuilding, mental health, and long-term stability.

You can often preposition gifts from your DAF to ensure that communities receive support for the long haul.

Fund Those Closest to the Crisis

Disasters don’t impact everyone equally. Communities already facing racial inequity, poverty, or lack of infrastructure are hit hardest and recover slowly. Look for organizations led by and rooted in those communities. They may be smaller, but they are often the most trusted and effective.

When National Giving Makes Sense

Large national organizations can play an important role—especially in the first 72 hours, when scale and logistics matter most. Some of the most common include:

American Red Cross – opens mass shelters, provides emergency housing, and manages blood supply systems.
World Central Kitchen – mobilizes quickly to provide hot meals for thousands in disaster zones.
Feeding America – activates regional food banks to address hunger during and after disasters.
Team Rubicon – deploys military veterans for on-the-ground disaster response and recovery.

These organizations bring infrastructure, manpower, and specialized services that local nonprofits may not be able to scale up in the immediate aftermath. But there are limits. National groups aren’t always rooted in local culture or context, donor dollars can disappear into a large general fund, and long-term recovery usually depends on smaller, community-led organizations.

If the scale of the disaster demands it, pair local giving dollars with national organizations that can provide infrastructure and reach. That combination is where donors can have the greatest impact.

Where to Look When Disaster Strikes

When a crisis hits, donors often ask: Where should I give right now? Here’s a quick field guide to trusted places that typically coordinate pooled funds:

Community Foundations – usually the first to activate disaster funds and trusted to direct dollars locally.
Local United Way Chapters – coordinate pooled giving with businesses, governments, and nonprofits.
Faith-Based Federations – Jewish Federations, Catholic Charities, Baptist Ministries, and similar networks that mobilize quickly.
Regional Philanthropy Networks – groups like Philanthropy Southeast share vetted pooled funds across their regions.
Local Media Outlets – newspapers, radio, and TV often publish “where to give” lists within hours.
Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) – maintains national and regional lists of pooled funds, often updated in real time.
National Relief Organizations – large-scale responders who provide shelter, food, medical aid, and coordination with government partners.

When donors pool their dollars, trust local leaders, give flexibly, and think long-term, communities don’t just rebuild, they come back stronger. The most effective donors act quickly, give where communities already have roots, and return with support after the cameras leave. That’s what turns generosity into lasting strength.