Trends in Disaster Philanthropy
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Trends in Disaster Philanthropy Examining 15 Years of Disaster Giving to the Asia-Pacific 2005-2019 Contributors: Sheena Agarwal, Project Lead Melinda Cordasco, Data Researcher Jana Barrett, Design Coordinator Copyright © 2020 Give2Asia All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of Give2Asia, except for the use of quotations. For permission requests, contact Give2Asia at the address below. Give2Asia 2201 Broadway 4th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 [email protected] 415-967-6300 2 Give2Asia TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 Introduction 09 The Big Picture: Total Disaster Grantmaking Digging Deeper Into the Data: 16 Funding Trends by Phase (2005-2019) 21 Funding Disaster Preparedness 23 Conclusion 25 Appendices 3 Give2Asia INTRODUCTION The devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Asia in 2004 marked the beginning of a new era in disaster philanthropy. The event affected 14 countries and led to record-breaking damages and lives lost. As the catastrophe unfolded, media attention was high and charitable giving surged, topping an estimated $10 billion. Despite the generous backing, the response was seen as flawed and inefficeint. Governments, multi-laterals, international NGOs, and local groups scrambled to coordinate, but bureaucratic speedbumps stalled their progress and left high-risk communities more vulnerable. The sector has since grown and evolved. We now have a well-established tax-incentive structure for philanthropy in the U.S., and companies like Give2Asia help private donors fund programs more sustainably and responsibly. Private donors are generally thought to be free from institutional bias and inefficiency. However, the consensus is that the private sector is not doing enough to support local actors and fill the gaps left by governments in times of crisis. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe in the Asia-Pacific, thoughtful disaster programming is no longer optional — it is a humanitarian imperative. The Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the world — and the most disaster-prone. 40% 60% of the world’s of the world’s GDP by 2030 population 70% by 2030 of the world’s natural disasters since 2000 4 Give2Asia In this report, we dig deep into Give2Asia’s disaster grantmaking portfolio to examine the performance of our programs, highlight trends in disaster programming, and elevate the sector’s understanding so we can respond more effectively to future events. We hope that sharing our data leads to more transparency and learning in the sector. We set out to answer the following questions: • What have been the overall trends in disaster giving and grant making to the Asia-Pacific since 2005? • Is disaster philanthropy prioritizing long-term needs of communities? • Does the data elucidate insights in donor behavior that can push the sector to fund more effectively moving forward? • Mid/long-term recovery programming received more funding than immediate relief, indicating that Give2Asia has helped steward donors towards thoughtful disaster Key philanthropy. • Funding for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and resiliency has Findings steadily increased since 2004. • Infrastructure and health received the highest allocation of funding across all sectors in the aftermath of disasters. • 79% of funding supported local organizations. 5 Give2Asia About the Data This analysis is based on Give2Asia’s internal disaster data from 589 grants from January 1, 2005 - September 1, 2019. Contribution data includes donations made by individuals to Give2Asia’s disaster campaigns, corporations and employee giving to corporate foundation funds, and gifts from high net-worth individuals and family foundations. This report used a mixed-methods approach, analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data through statistical software. While funding data was available on all disaster grants, differences in the depth of information provided in grantee reports impacted the detail with which we could glean comprehensive insights. These limitations did not significantly impact overall trends reported here. 6 Give2Asia Give2Asia Grantmaking by the Numbers $350M 23 in overall grantmaking countries across Asia-Pacific $55M in disaster grants 40+ 2,000 disaster events nonprofits funded supported As one of the largest advised grantmaker to Asia, Give2Asia acts as a strategic partner to private donors, working on the ground in more than 23 countries across the Asia-Pacific. Since 2001, Give2Asia has worked with corporations, individuals, and family foundations to channel over $350 million into charitable causes, supporting 2,000 nonprofits in Asia. Over $55 million of that funding has gone to 40 disaster events, and Give2Asia has played a critical role in its programming, helping donors identify trusted local partners in greatest need and ensuring funds are managed with accountability. Give2Asia’s grantmaking portfolio typically focuses on private philanthropy grantmaking supporting with work of in-country organizations dealing with both immediate response and mid-to-long-term recovery 7 Give2Asia Give2Asia’s Approach to Disasters The primary goal of Give2Asia’s disaster program is to promote local practices and organizations that meet the immediate needs of affected communities while also prioritizing long-term recovery activities that reduce future risks. In all of the 23 countries we serve, our partnerships with nonprofit organizations allow us to tap into a ready network of local groups responding to disasters. This model is key to our ability to quickly mobilize funds in the aftermath of an event, but also build long-lasting programs that support communities well after the headlines fade. How the Disaster Grantmaking Process Works at Give2Asia 1 2 3 Staff keep a pulse on When a disaster strikes, The disaster team creates disaster events across local country staff assess a situation analysis, the region. the impact. highlighting damages, loss, and overall needs. 6 5 4 Disaster campaign is A comprehensive response Team identifies local launched. plan is created in partnership organizations that are with vetted local groups. responding to the disaster. 7 8 9 Donors express Local partners are awarded Grantes monitored interest in supporting grants as quickly as 24 hours until close-out and the disaster and after a disaster, though grants staff analyze impact to donations begin to may be awarded for several report back to donors. flow in. months after to meet long-term needs. 8 Give2Asia THE BIG PICTURE Total Disaster Giving by Country/Region (2005-2019) Thailand China Japan $2.2M $22.9M $11.4M Nepal 2008 Sichuan Earthquake $14.8M 2013 Lushan Earthquake $4.0M 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami $10.8M $2.7M 2015 Gorkha Earthquake Malaysia $2.3M $28K Pakistan China-Taiwan $1.1M 2005 Kashmir Earthquake $358K $774K Afghanistan $55M $9K TOTAL Philippines $2.6M Maldives 2013 Typhoon Yolanda $1.7M $25K Timor-Leste Pacific Islands India $31K $13K $3.1M 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami $1.2M 2017 South Asia Floods $665K Vietnam Sri Lanka $196K New Zealand Australia $2.3M $21K 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami $2.2M $299K Bangladesh Cambodia $317K $37K Myanmar Indonesia $496K $5.2M 2008 Cyclone Nargis $469K 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami $2.7M 2006 Yogyakarta Earthquake $1.3M 9 Give2Asia Phases of the Disaster Cycle Short-term, immediate relief is the top priority in the days and RELIEF weeks after a disaster occurs. Bringing aid in the form of emergency supplies, medicine, food, water, and shelter helps reduce the First 3 months catastrophic impact a disaster has on a community. Effective relief following a minimizes displacement, disease, starvation, and socio-economic disaster instability; it is the first phase in humanitarian support after a disaster. Following a disaster, long-term recovery is the next priority after relief. The length of the recovery period depends on the level of damage and the amount RECOVERY of economic support available. This phase typically involves more complex and dynamic programs that focus on areas like infrastructure, psychosocial After 3 months, support, education, health systems, and financial support. The goal is to can last months or stabilize, restore, and rebuild communities so they can return to normal social operations. years Ongoing resiliency efforts help strengthen vulnerable communities. These campaigns aim to prevent disasters from occurring in the first place, and mitigate RESILIENCY and reduce the consequences in the aftermath of an event. Programming happens before disaster events take place or on the long road to rebuilding Before or after a afterwards. Resiliency activities focus on risk reduction, preparedness, capacity disaster building, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and early warning systems. Organizations will often create programs that address two or three of these MULTI- phases simultaneously to prioritize risk reduction and long-term planning in the wake of an event. By including multiple phases, organizations are able to PHASE focus on both short- and long-term planning during a crisis. RESPONSE 10 Give2Asia HNWIs and Family Crowdfunding Foundations by FSPs $3.5M Where the $5.5M Funding Funding $14.6M Source Came From $31.9M Crowdfunding by Corporations Give2Asia CROWDFUNDING CORPORATIONS BY GIVE2ASIA U.S.-based multinational companies make decisions about how much money they will Unrestricted gifts to Give2Asia are earmarked for give to a disaster and where that money will a specific disaster. Give2Asia’s staff