New Report Examines Philanthropy's Role in Hurricane Sandy Relief and Recovery

Insights Inform Response to Future Disasters

New York, NY — October 28, 2014. A new report released today examines the response of foundations, corporations, and other institutional donors to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Numbering nearly 600, these funders have so far committed more than $380 million for relief, recovery, and building efforts. The hard data and reflective observations in the report contribute to the growing body of knowledge that helps foundations and corporations be strategic and effective with their giving when disaster strikes.

Two years after the historic storm, Philanthropy & Hurricane Sandy: A Report on the Foundation & Corporate Response breaks down the allocation of dollars contributed thus far and offers perspective on the role of private giving in disaster response and lessons to be taken from this one. The report was published by New York-based Foundation Center in cooperation with the funder associations Philanthropy New York and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, and with support from the Washington, DC-based Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

This report notes that philanthropic donations are a small fraction of the $60 billion in emergency assistance provided by the federal government and $19 billion paid out by insurance companies. Still, the research findings reveal that philanthropy's response has nonetheless served a critical role in certain types of relief, recovery, and rebuilding work that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

"In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, philanthropic dollars have been essential in helping community advocacy programs, filling holes in the social service delivery system, and helping community members provide input into the redevelopment planning process," said Ronna Brown, president of Philanthropy New York. "This support is crucial to countless efforts that government often can't or won't fund."

The data in the report reveal details about who provided funding and for what purposes, which organizations received support, and where funders and recipients were located. Key findings of the report include:

• Among all institutional donors, corporations accounted for the largest share of cash commitments in response to Hurricane Sandy ($136.4 million).
• Propelled by giving for immediate relief for those in the path of the storm, the largest share of support went to human services (44 percent), followed by housing (11 percent).
• The national American Red Cross and its local affiliates received 23 percent of the contributions, more than any other single organization.

The report also highlights leading organizations in the region that have been important partners to philanthropy in the disaster response.

"Throughout the past two years, our exceptional nonprofit and funder community has taken on challenges they never imagined," said Nina Stack, president of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers. "These organizations continue to develop innovative solutions that other communities will learn from and build upon in future disasters."

Philanthropy & Hurricane Sandy goes beyond the numbers to assess the activities of funders in this and past disasters in order to highlight "best practices." For instance, making an effort to share information with other funders and nonprofits is cited as a particularly effective strategy in such situations. The report also identifies opportunities for funders to make a bigger impact with their contributions, such as when they can address funding gaps that remain after the initial short-term response. The observations and advice outlined in the report are designed to help funders be more strategic in their response to disasters.

"After a devastating event such as Hurricane Sandy, stress levels are high, communities' needs are great, and preparedness is key," said Bradford K. Smith, president of Foundation Center. "Funders will be able to use the information in this report to put practical policies in place that position them to be nimble and strategic, especially in times of crisis."

The report analyzes giving by type of funder, by type and purpose of support, and by location of funders and recipients, and it lists the top funders and grant recipients. Two essays explore the foundation and corporate response in the hardest hit areas in New York and New Jersey.

"There will undoubtedly be more disasters in the future when private donors will be called upon to take action," said Robert G. Ottenhoff, president and CEO of Center for Disaster Philanthropy, which helped to fund the research report through its Hurricane Sandy Response Fund. "This is an important opportunity to learn lessons that can maximize the impact of philanthropic dollars through a thoughtful examination of which practices have been most successful."

Philanthropy & Hurricane Sandy can be downloaded for free at Foundation Center's website or at Philanthropy New York's site at PhilanthropyNewYork.org/SandyReport.

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Cheryl Loe
Communications Project Manager
Foundation Center
(888) 356-0354 ext. 701
communications@foundationcenter.org

Michael Hamill Remaley
Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Communications
Philanthropy New York
(212) 714-0699 x 222
mremaley@philanthropynewyork.org

Nina Stack
President
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
(609) 341-2022 ext. 4210
ninastack@cnjg.org

Karen Saverino
Director of Communications
Center for Disaster Philanthropy
(202) 464-6505
karen.saverino@disasterphilanthropy.org

About Foundation Center
Established in 1956, Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. Foundation Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit Foundation Center's website each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of more than 470 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and around the world. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230.

About Philanthropy New York
Created as a nonprofit organization in 1979 by New York City-based foundations, Philanthropy New York's primary mission is to support its members' work to serve the public good. Philanthropy New York began as the New York Regional Association of Grantmakers (NYRAG). Philanthropy New York is the principal professional community of approximately 285 private, corporate, family and public grantmaking organizations based in the New York City region, and provides a broad range of services to over 3,500 individual philanthropic professionals and trustees of those organizations. Taken together, our members provide support totaling over $7 billion each year to thousands of nonprofit organizations located in New York and around the world, which in turn focus on an almost endless range of issues and concerns. PNY fosters educational conversations between grantmakers and public officials, and this in turn helps inform policymakers about the important role the philanthropic community plays in our region and beyond. PNY offers policy-focused programs and convenings so members can exchange information about policy engagement and develop public/private partnerships with policymakers designed to achieve common goals. PNY is also the publisher of the New York PhilanthroPost, a source for aggregated news and original content focused on the New York region's philanthropic and nonprofit sectors launched in June 2014.

About Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers is the center for philanthropy in New Jersey, serving the leading independent, corporate, family and community foundations as well as public grantmakers of our state. We support our members by strengthening their capacity to address New Jersey and society's most difficult problems. We also access the resources of the philanthropic community — funding, expertise, leverage — to provide leadership on statewide issues. In addition to its work on Post Sandy recovery, past leadership efforts include a study of healthcare conversions and their philanthropic legacies, creating access to philanthropic dollars in underserved communities, facilitating the landmark Facing Our Future work on the fiscal crisis facing all levels of New Jersey government, and partnering with the State to pilot a highly regarded national model that addresses crime prevention through youth development.

About Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Disaster philanthropy has become an all-too-necessary practice in recent years. Yet donors still are challenged to determine how, when, and to whom to give to have the greatest impact. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy helps individual, family, corporate, and institutional donors answer the question, "How can I help?" more easily and quickly in the wake of a disaster. The Center provides a platform of learning and connection with leading disaster experts and other disaster philanthropists that brings more private money to disaster response efforts. The organization was named one of five "nonprofit highpoints of 2012" by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. For more information, please visit www.disasterphilanthropy.org

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