Giving Compass' Take:

• Kris Putnam-Walkerly explains the reasons why community foundations are useful resources for disaster relief funding. One reason? They've vetted organizations for you. 

• Where else can individuals go if they want to donate more to disaster relief efforts? 

• Read about strategic disaster relief funding in the Disaster Relief and Recovery Magazine.

There are hundreds of worthy agencies where you could potentially make a gift, but how do you know what charitable investment will deliver the greatest impact?

Community knowledge. Community foundations are rooted in the communities they serve, so they know firsthand of the needs following a disaster and the assets that can be deployed to respond.

Vetting. Community foundations are in the business of making effective grants to reputable nonprofits. They’ve done their homework so you don’t have to.

Partners. Because they are truly community-grown institutions, community foundations are used to working in close partnership with other organizations.

Leadership and Reputation. Community foundations are created by community members, which means they are usually among the most trusted institutions around.

Give any amount. Community foundations offer options for donors who wish to give any amount.

Immediate relief. Community foundations can mobilize targeted relief funds in short order, meaning gifts are deployed quickly to agencies that need them.

Long-term strategic impact. Community foundations are created with a long-term view, which means even a short-term gift in the wake of disaster is helping move a community toward a longer-term vision and goals.

Give here or there. Many community foundations across the country have developed disaster relief funds to lend aid to those outside their own service areas.

 Impact and accountability. Because community foundations are accountable to a number of donors and partners, they must be able to explain their approaches and demonstrate their impact.

Planning for the next time. In many cases, when communities gather to plan ahead for the next disaster, the community foundation is a leader in that effort, if not the convenor.

Read the full article about giving to community foundations after disasters by Kris Putnam-Walkerly at Forbes.