Washington, D.C. – With the number of reported natural and man-made disasters rising significantly in the last decade, a new study released by Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM), makes key recommendations on ways to improve philanthropic giving for natural disaster and humanitarian emergency relief around the globe.
The report, “Philanthropic Grantmaking for Disaster Management: Trend Analysis and Recommended Improvements,” includes steps that must be taken to address the full range of needs associated with disasters. In particular, the report’s authors suggest that donor organizations should employ a more comprehensive approach beyond immediate relief to focus on prevention, response and recovery.
“Philanthropic giving for disasters is substantial, both in terms of absolute sums given and in terms of the frequency of allocation. We found, however, that disaster prevention and recovery -- as contrasted with emergency relief -- have remained substantially under-funded despite cost-benefit analysis that shows disaster prevention to be cost efficient and important in reducing serious human suffering and economic loss,” says Susan F. Martin, director of ISIM and co-author of the report. “We believe foundations and corporations are particularly well-suited to take the longer-term view of disasters and encourage them to provide funding for these critical areas of prevention and recovery.”
The report’s authors also stress that grant makers should provide critical support for capacity-building activities such as needs assessment, information sharing and strategic planning, and encourage collaboration among organizations involved in philanthropic giving for disaster relief. They also advocate expanding disaster grant making to include complex humanitarian emergencies, which thus far have scarcely been utilized.
ISIM researchers argue that more transparent mechanisms for identifying and assessing potential grant recipients should be developed, and they advocate creating greater in-house knowledge and capacity about disaster management priorities and capabilities. They also call for support of additional research and analysis to assess current disaster management initiatives, identify areas for improvement and increase dissemination of information about best practices in disaster management.
Over a ten month period, ISIM researchers conducted in-depth interviews with representatives from nonprofits, family and community foundations, corporate organizations and government donor agencies. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, they studied grant making related to natural disasters and complex humanitarian emergencies over the last decade, giving particular attention to the years following Sept. 11, 2001. In addition to the authors’ recommendations, the bulk of the report focuses on key findings gleaned from interviews with grant-makers, donors and grant recipients.
"Private philanthropy plays an extremely valuable role in disaster management. It is more timely and flexible than public funding, and foundations and corporations often contribute their expertise as well as their money to relief operations,” says Martin. “Given the frequency and intensity of natural and man-made disasters, no one can question that the philanthropic community will be pressed into service again and again as these humanitarian crises pose threats to the safety and security of people throughout the world.”
About the Institute for the Study of International Migration
The Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM), founded in 1998, is part of Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and is affiliated with Georgetown’s Law Center. ISIM focuses on all aspects of international migration, conducting research and hosting symposia on U.S. immigration, refugee law and policies as well as migration issues affecting other countries. In addition, ISIM offers a Masters level certificate, preparing students to work in international organizations, government and private agencies specializing in emergency relief, human rights and humanitarian activities. For more information about ISIM please visit: http://www.georgetown.edu/sfs/programs/isim/.
About Georgetown University
Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in America, founded in 1789 by Archbishop John Carroll. Georgetown today is a major student-centered, international, research university offering respected undergraduate, graduate and professional programs on its three campuses in Washington, DC. For more information about Georgetown University, visit www.georgetown.edu.
