Hurricane Harvey, the first major hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since 2005, has led to catastrophic and deadly flooding across an enormous swath of Texas. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by Harvey in Houston and across the region.
We invite you to join Tuesday’s webinar, Hurricane Harvey Recovery: How Donors Can Help, organized by The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) and the Council on Foundations. The webinar will offer information on how funders can assist in the immediate aftermath of Harvey, which has been downgraded to a tropical storm—as well as with what will likely be a protracted and costly recovery for the region.
As many of you know, TFN’s 2018 Annual Conference is scheduled for March 19-21 in Houston. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide any updates once the rain stops and floodwaters recede. We have reached out to our members and partners in the region to express our concern and offer support to them, their families and their communities.
On behalf of the TFN community, we wish safety and strength in the coming days to all of our friends, members and partners impacted by Harvey, as well as to the grantees and communities they work with and serve.
Below, you’ll find more information on the webinar, how you can help in the relief efforts, as well as resources from The Center for Disaster Philanthropy. (CDP serves as the curriculum development and technical assistance partner for TFN’s Philanthropic Preparedness, Resiliency and Emergency Partnership (PPREP) working group.)
We are compiling updates, responses, and resources for for philanthropy in the aftermath of Harvey. Please send suggestions to tere@www.fundersnetwork.org.
Hurricane Harvey Recovery: How Donors Can Help
Tuesday, Aug. 29
3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT
Register Now!
CDP President & CEO Bob Ottenhoff will moderate the discussion. Program panelists are still being finalized and currently include:
•Renée Wizig-Barrios, Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer
•Damian Morales, OneStar Foundation Disaster Services program Manager and Texas VOAD Membership and Growth Committee Chair
In response to significant flooding in Texas and potentially parts of Louisiana, the webinar will focus on how to allocate resources—human, financial, and technical—to meet the needs of Hurricane Harvey-affected communities.
How to Help
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: The Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to accept tax-deductible flood relief donations for victims. The Greater Houston Community Foundation is administering the fund.
The CDP Hurricane Harvey Recovery Fund
Right now, attention is rightly focused on providing immediate relief to survivors–temporary shelter, food, water, and other basic needs–and watching how the storm unfolds over the course of the next week. The CDP Hurricane Harvey Recovery Fund allows donors to give now to support longer-term recovery needs. [Updated] Facebook announced Tuesday that it will match donations to the CDP’s Hurricane Harvey Recovery Fund for up to one million dollars.
[Updated] NOLA Pay it Forward Fund
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, reactivated the NOLA Pay It Forward Fund for those who wish to contribute to recovery efforts.
Other Resources
Hurricane Harvey: When, How, and Where to Give
Hurricane Harvey Disaster Profile
The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook
The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is free national resource created by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy that offers a host of strategies that funders can use to help communities in crisis.