CDP’s funds allow donors to collaborate and assist communities with long-term rebuilding aer disasters.
CDP Recovery Funds allow donors to collaborate and assist communities with long-term rebuilding after disasters.

Five key elements drive our targeted, localized and holistic grantmaking process.

1. Analysis
CDP experts carefully assess the overall impact of the disaster across three priorities:

  • Geographic impact of the event (e.g. specific cities, towns and counties).
  • Populations affected (e.g. women, children, older adults, medically dependent and communities of color).
  • Underattended issues that arise as a result of the event (e.g. food and water security, housing and mental health).

We also work to identify how other funders in the region are allocating their dollars.

2. Expertise
While CDP staff drive the analysis portion of our work, we benefit significantly from the expertise of a fund-specific grant committee that brings together five to eight representatives of local and national philanthropy, the nongovernmental organization (NGO) community and members of the disaster-affected area. These individuals inform the needs assessment, offer advice on unmet needs, review proposals and make grant recommendations to the CDP board of directors. This process typically starts four months after a disaster strikes and concludes at the six-month mark.

3. Community Connections
An essential part of CDP grantmaking is connecting with the community. Our team leverages existing relationships with the philanthropic and nonprofit community and builds new ones by connecting with community members and other funders. In addition, we utilize data and maps, review media reports and take into account others’ assessments. We have no intention of  “going it alone.”  Our strategic fund distribution process benefits from a range of voices on the ground.

4. Grantee Balance and Focus
Our belief is, when missions match and solid relationships are in place, the grantmaker and grant recipient relationships flow seamlessly. We believe in building local capacity and planning for the future. To do this, we work closely with the grant committee to allocate funds across local and national organizations, both large and small, and to organizations that focus on the geographical, population and issue areas that are highest in need.

5. Grant Solicitation
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy does not accept unsolicited proposals. The results of our needs assessments determine which nonprofit organizations will be invited to apply for funding.