DISASTER PHILANTHROPY

In the wake of natural disasters, community foundations have become first responders—providing emergency relief funding to help residents meet basic needs and working with nonprofits to develop strategies for both short-term and long-term recovery. For years, the Collier Community Foundation (CCF) and the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin (CFPBM) Counties have activated disaster relief funds for hurricanes and economic disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds can be quickly seeded by immediate, one-time donations from community foundation trustees, new and established donors, or businesses. Donors with established donor-advised funds can expedite donations during a crisis. Unrestricted funds are also invaluable. Naples resident G. Jeffrey Provol donated to Collier Comes Together’s Hurricane Ian Relief Fund in 2022—his only financial transaction with the CCF—and later decided to leave CCF an…