Of all the circumstances that prompt a philanthropic response, few are as urgent or spontaneous as when disaster strikes.

Local and national emergencies prompt unique intersections of government, corporate, nonprofit, and individual relief efforts. These efforts have received increased attention in recent years, as large-scale disasters have led to intense media coverage and have inspired widespread volunteerism and charitable giving.

To explore ways to help our communities plan effectively for and respond to disasters, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and the McCormick Foundation Conference Series convened an invitational summit on philanthropy and disaster relief.

The summit brought together 31 of the nation’s leading experts from key nonprofits, foundations, government organizations, corporations, and news organizations to candidly discuss how best to strengthen the philanthropic preparation for and response to disasters.

Meaningful Results

Our list of research and resources provides detailed information about disaster giving and recovery, and we are preparing the following to share with participants, philanthropy professionals, and the public:

• A summary of the event
• A research agenda on disaster relief created by summit participants
• A statement of ethics about fundraising for and giving to disaster relief
• Video interviews with participants about key topics in disaster relief