Support disaster relief and recovery
Heartbreaking disasters affect millions of people every year, from devastating storms and earthquakes to wildfires and mudslides. Affected communities may urgently need food, emergency shelter, clean water, electricity and critical medical care, followed by support for recovery that can take years.
Donors can use a donor-advised fund (DAF) to respond quickly to urgent needs because charitable assets have already been set aside in their DAF account for giving now or when needed most. Learn how to find organizations responding to current disasters, support preparedness and long-term recovery, and recommend disaster relief grants from a DAF account.
Stages of disaster relief
Disaster relief giving can support communities before, during, and long after an emergency. Understanding each stage of disaster relief can help you decide when and how you want to help.
How to make your disaster giving more effective
When you choose to support a disaster relief effort, consider these best practices to most effectively help those in need.
Send funds instead of physical goods
Providing financial support allows nonprofits to use funds for disaster aid in rapidly changing situations.
Consider unrestricted grants
Give unrestricted donations to allow organizations to use the funds when and where it is needed most. Donating to the organization's general disaster relief fund can also help funds be used where they're most helpful.
To recommend a grant from your DAFgiving360 account for a specific disaster, be sure to label the grant with a purpose using the instructions below.
Support immediate and long-term needs
Recovery can take years. Ongoing disaster granting helps support needs long after the immediate disaster news. Consider setting up recurring grants to provide long-term recovery support.
Prepare to volunteer
Contact nonprofits for volunteer opportunities ahead of time, so you are prepared and trained before disaster strikes.
Recommend a grant to support disaster aid
Consider scheduling a one-time or recurring grant online now. You can skip, edit, or cancel scheduled grants anytime.
How to recommend a grant for a specific disaster
To recommend a grant to charity for a specific disaster, follow these steps:
1. Log in to DAFgiving360 and select “Grant to Charity”.
2. Select a charity and provide your grant details.
3. When customizing your grant, you will be asked to select a purpose for your grant.
4. Select "No, I have a specific purpose." in the drop down.
5. Enter "Disaster relief and recovery" in the search bar for general disaster relief aid. If you want to donate to a specific cause or affected area, click "Create a purpose" and indicate so in the space provided.
The charity will then know to use the disaster grant donations for the specified cause or affected area.
Need help recommending a grant? Learn how to recommend a grant online using our step-by-step guide here.
How DAFgiving360 donors put charitable dollars to work
$10.85 billion
were granted in fiscal year 2026
74% of grants
were unrestricted grants in fiscal year 2026
40% of grants
were set up as recurring grants in fiscal year 2026
Plan for future disaster giving
For more than 25 years, DAFgiving360 has helped donors play an essential role in efficient disaster aid.
Open a DAF account to start your giving journey today.