Building Philanthropy for a Better Florida

Hurricane Matthew

      Ways to Give

      Florida's First Coast Relief Fund
      The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, along with their colleagues at United Way of Northeast Florida, the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville and the Jessie Ball duPont Fund as well as the City of Jacksonville, believe a coordinated philanthropic response is the best way to assist neighbors and community in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Your donation will be added to the Jessie Ball duPont Fund’s lead gift of $500,000 and those currently being collected by United Way and the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville. 

      Center for International Disaster Information
      Information and tools for giving from CIDI, including a list of responding non-governmental organizations

      Florida Disaster Fund
      The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with the public sector, private sector and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities.

      Hurricane Matthew relief efforts underway throughout Florida and the Caribbean
      Organizations helping to lead the relief effort throughout Florida and the Caribbean provided by The Miami Foundation. 

      Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Emergency Response Partners
      Gates Foundation encourages those who want to help to consider donations to our emergency response partners after Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti.

      Helping Haitians Rebuild After Hurricane Matthew, Haiti Development Institute
      HDI looks to fill the gaps once humanitarian and emergency response groups have left, as capacity building to restore the communities hardest hit must be a priority.

      Gulf Coast Community Foundation opens Hurricane Matthew Disaster Relief Fund
      Gulf Coast is ready to help respond to the storm's effects and help the communities impacted.

      Charlotte Community Foundation raising monetary donations for the victims of Hurricane Matthew
      Charlotte Community Foundation is providing assistance for children, elderly, and families in the form of water, food, clothing and basic living essentials. A donation may be made by check (put in the memo that it is for Hurricane Matthew), credit card or PayPal. All donations will stay in the State of Florida.

        Ways to Serve

        Volunteer Florida Establishes Registration Page to Position Volunteers for Hurricane Matthew Support
        Volunteer Florida has established a volunteer volunteer registration page for those who are interested in volunteering following Hurricane Matthew. Volunteer Florida CEO Chester W. Spellman said, “One of the most critical times to use volunteers is following disasters. Whether it is shelter staffing, food distribution, or to clean up, we will need volunteers positioned to serve immediately with local disaster relief organizations. Having volunteers prepared and ready to deploy will be a critical tool as we move forward.”

        Wednesday, October 5, 2016

        In what is considered a potentially catastrophic storm approaching Florida, Governor Rick Scott has issued evacuation notices for more than 1.5 million people in Hurricane Matthew's projected path. As Floridians, hurricane season is all too familiar, though Florida has not been hit by a major hurricane in 11 years. The National Weather Service in Melbourne predicts Matthew will likely be stronger than any hurricane in recent decades, including the 2004 hurricanes (Charley, Frances, Jeanne) as well as Hurricane David in 1979. 

        With hurricane warnings in effect for all of Florida's east coast, damage is expected as communities brace for the storm. Members of the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors are preparing to respond to the storm's effects and help the communities impacted — from immediate relief to any necessary long-term rebuilding. FPN has compiled disaster philanthropy resources for funders and updates on Hurricane Matthew response efforts. 

        The Center for Disaster Philanthropy is carefully monitoring the path of Hurricane Matthew as it moves toward Southeastern United States. Hurricane Matthew is a category 4 storm that is not expected to weaken ahead of reaching the U.S. It is currently unknown either where or at what level the storm will reach the U.S. — those models continue to fluctuate. CDP anticipates that water, sanitation, and hygiene needs along with food, housing, agriculture, and tourist livelihood rebuilding needs are going to be immense throughout the Caribbean.

        Responding Effectively

        1. For current facts and stats on the disaster as well as to learn about funder and NGO response, please see the Hurricane Matthew disaster profile.
        2. CDP is co-hosting a webinar this coming Tuesday, October 11. The webinar will provide a comprehensive update on the Hurricane’s destruction. Register here: Hurricane Matthew Webinar.
        3. Contact CDP's Disaster Hotline at 206.972.0187 for help on allocating your resources (human, financial, and technical) to meet the needs of Hurricane Matthew-affected communities.

        Disaster Philanthropy Resources

        2019 FEMA Prepardness Grants Manual FEMA has the statutory authority to deliver numerous disaster and non-disaster financial assistance programs in support of FEMA’s mission, largely through grant agreements and cooperative agreements (grants). This PDF outlines the grant programs available.

        FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Fact Sheet A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is a fixed or mobile provisional facility set up by FEMA that provides a central location near disaster impacted areas where Federal, State, Tribal, and non-government organizations have recovery information, assistance, and services to disaster survivors. 

        Effective Communications During Crisis: Prepare. Respond. Assess. FPN's Communications Affinity Group and Center for Disaster Philanthropy explored best practices and tools for communications professionals during crisis in this August 2016 webinar recording.

        Disaster Philanthropy Playbook Beyond sandbags and wool blankets, the needs of communities after a disaster are innumerable. The Playbook helps funders catch up to these needs and offers tested response strategies. 

        Council on Foundations Disaster Philanthropy Resources The Council provides resources to help members effectively respond to domestic and international disasters.

        Disaster Relief Resources for Charities and Contributors Reference materials for the Federal tax rules and restrictions for providing financial assistance and relief to victims of disasters.

        Creating Order from Chaos: Roles for Philanthropy in Disaster Planning and Response This Jessie Ball duPont Fund report provides insight and practices for organized philanthropy's proper role following a disaster - from immediate relief to long-term rebuilding. 

        Developing a Disaster Response Plan A five-step guide to formalize your organization's response to disasters.

        Putting community information needs, civic participation at the heart of disaster recovery This report on the Inform and Engage Fund, supported in part by The Patterson Foundation, recounts lessons learned in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

        Updates from Funders

        First Coast Relief Fund disburses nearly $400,000 to assist hurricane victims
        Community organizations have been given a nearly $400,000 boost from Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund to help area victims of Hurricane Matthew.

        Governor Rick Scott Recognizes Florida Blue for $10,000 Donation to Florida Disaster Fund
        Governor Scott recognized Florida Blue today for its generous donation of $10,000 to the Florida Disaster Fund, which was activated last week to aid those impacted by Hurricane Matthew. The Florida Disaster Fund, administered by the Volunteer Florida Foundation, is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities in times of disaster.

        Governor Scott activates Florida Disaster Fund following Hurricane Matthew
        Governor Rick Scott activated the Florida Disaster Fund to support individuals who are impacted by Hurricane Matthew. The fund is administered by the Volunteer Florida Foundation. Individuals can text DISASTER to 20222 to donate $10 to the Volunteer Florida Foundation to support those who were impacted by Hurricane Matthew. Funds will support disaster relief organizations active in disaster response and recovery.

        Publix Charities donates $1M to Hurricane Matthew relief
        Publix Super Markets Charities is donating $1 million to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Matthew relief efforts in areas affected by the storm.

        Florida's First Coast Relief Fund
        Thank you for considering a donation to the Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund.  We at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, along with our colleagues at United Way of Northeast Florida, the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville and the Jessie Ball duPont Fund as well as the City of Jacksonville, believe a coordinated philanthropic response is the best way to assist our neighbors and community in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. Your donation will be added to the Jessie Ball duPont Fund’s lead gift of $500,000 and those currently being collected by United Way and the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville.  We will work together to determine the nonprofit organizations who can most readily help our fellow citizens and make grants accordingly.  Thank you so much for helping Northeast Florida in its time of need.

        Broward’s Largest Funders Partner for Rapid Disaster Response
        A strategic partnership between Community Foundation of Broward, the Jewish Federation of Broward County, and United Way of Broward County will provide assistance to victims of local disasters faster and more efficiently than ever before. In the event of a disaster, the partners will act as one to raise and distribute money targeting those most in need. The effort will avoid duplication and help donors make a bigger impact with their giving. 

        Hurricane Matthew relief efforts underway throughout Florida and the Caribbean
        Updates from The Miami Foundation

        Live Stream: FPL Provides update on Hurricane Matthew