How to help provide urgent relief and essential services to the people affected by recent hurricanes.
The 2017 hurricane season has become one of the most active seasons on record, with hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and others devastating parts of the U.S. mainland, as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Cuba, and several Caribbean islands.
People around the country are pitching in to aid those affected. But help is still needed, and there are many ways for Boulder County residents to donate. Following are some of the organizations providing urgent relief and essential services to the people affected…and we’ll keep you posted as we learn more:
How to Help Puerto Rico and Other Islands After Hurricane Maria
“Puerto Rico is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, [and] economies across the Caribbean are on life support…The region needs immediate and long-term help.” See The New York Times’ list of vetted organizations and groups collecting donations to provide such relief.
Hispanic Federation
UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program
The Hispanic Federation convened government officials and community leaders in New York, Connecticut, Florida, and Washington, DC to create the UNIDOS Disaster Relief & Recovery Program to meet hurricane-related needs and recovery in Puerto Rico. One hundred percent of contributions to the fund goes to help the immediate and long-term recovery needs of children, families and communities in distress.
CDP Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund
In response to needs following this hurricane season, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund focuses on medium- and long-term recovery needs.
Bohemian Foundation
The Bohemian Foundation will match – dollar-for-dollar up to $3M – gifts made by Colorado individuals, businesses and foundations to Colorado’s Hurricane Recovery Fund. This fund, established by the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, will help nonprofit organizations address intermediate and long-term hurricane recovery needs across U.S. states and territories. Donate here.
Following Hurricane Harvey, the Bohemian Foundation initially established a $2M matching grant that challenged northern Colorado residents to donate to the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado’s Hurricane Harvey Recovery Fund. With the growing impact of the 2017 hurricane season, the Bohemian Foundation has expanded the match and opened the campaign to all Colorado residents and organizations, including foundations.
Fund for the Virgin Islands
Established by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI), 100% of donations to this fund will benefit those in crisis.
Hurricane Relief Fund
Miami Foundation
The Miami Foundation has established the Hurricane Relief Fund to support organizations leading recovery and rebuilding work after Hurricane Irma.
CDP Hurricane Irma Recovery Fund
In anticipation of Hurricane Irma’s magnitude, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy launched the CDP Hurricane Irma Recovery Fun to address long-term needs (e.g., rebuilding homes, businesses, infrastructure, meeting the needs of young children, and supporting mental health needs). Geographically, the fund will focus on the entirety of the storm’s impact area.
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 Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Hurricane Harvey Recovery Fund allows donors to give now to support longer-term recovery needs.
Mayor Turner Establishes Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
Greater Houston Foundation
After receiving an overwhelming number of inquiries from citizens and companies who want to help, Mayor Sylvester Turner has established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund that will accept tax-deductible flood relief donations for victims that have been affected by the recent floods.
Dallas Foundation Establishes Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund
The Dallas Foundation established a fund to support recovery efforts following landfall of the category 4 hurricane along Texas’ Gulf Coast. The fund will support nonprofit organizations providing aid to Hurricane Harvey victims. The foundation’s Community Philanthropy team will work closely with its nonprofit partners to determine where funds and support are most needed.
Central Texas Long-Term Hurricane Recovery Fund
The Austin Community Foundation, Capital Factory, Entrepreneurs Foundation, Live Oak Ventures, MFI Foundation, and United Way for Greater Austin have teamed up to coordinate the efforts of the Central Texas philanthropic community through the Central Texas Long-Term Hurricane Recovery Fund. Gifts to the fund will be matched up to $200K.
GHCF Employee Charitable Fund
On behalf of the Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF), Silicon Valley Community Foundation has established an employee charitable fund to provide relief for the hard-working staff of GHCF who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey.
NOLA Pay It Forward Fund: Hurricane Harvey
Activated by the Mayor of New Orleans in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the NOLA Pay It Forward Fund: Hurricane Harvey will provide resources for the early relief and rebuilding efforts of those communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
American Red Cross
Your support now helps the American Red Cross be prepared for this disaster and immediately help those who are impacted.
Best Friends’ Relief Fund
This fund brings emergency assistance to animals in the wake of disasters. Donations to this fund are used exclusively to support lifesaving work wherever and whenever a catastrophe occurs.
More info:
- Center for Disaster Philanthropy: disaster profiles for Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma are being regularly updated (scroll down for a list of additional relief efforts underway).
- Council on Foundations: Resources to Guide IRMA Philanthropic Response
- Council on Foundations: Resources to Guide HARVEY Philanthropic Response
- American Red Cross preparedness information.
- American Red Cross “Relief in Action” bulletin.
