Disaster Relief Funds in the Community

When disaster strikes a community, disaster relief funds administered through community foundations offer an efficient way to quickly get aid to those who need it. But it’s important to understand how the Internal Revenue Code requires these charitable funds be used, which can vary depending on the structure of the fund, the types of grants it makes, and the extent to which donors want to direct their donations. Our resource, Disaster Relief Funds in the Community, offers guidance on establishing and operating these disaster relief funds to best provide help when help is needed most.

Note: This resource focuses on domestic disaster relief funds that support a community, whether initiated by outside donors or first established by a community foundation itself. For guidance on employer-related disaster relief programs designed to assist employees of a particular company, please see Disaster Relief Funds for Corporate Employers.