In many parts of the United States, our weather is growing more extreme. Recent headlines shout about record-breaking heat domes, severe drought, and dangerous wildfires. In Texas, communities experienced freezing winter temperatures and electrical grid failure, followed only four months later by extreme heat and more power outages. And people are dying; extreme heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the U.S., with heatwaves now coming more often.

What is causing this frightening increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters and extreme weather? In large part, the cause is climate change. The root of our acute weather-driven disasters is a slower-moving climate crisis. How can philanthropy take action, both preparing to respond to future disasters, and addressing the root cause of climate change?

Learning from philanthropy’s COVID-19 response to prepare for future disasters and crises

As foundations prepare to support communities that face climate-driven disasters, there are several lessons from philanthropy’s response to COVID-19 that can strengthen future disaster response:

  • Increase collaborative efforts, in partnership with communities, and institutionalize the infrastructure and relationships created for rapid response funds in preparation for the next disaster
  • Increase the amount of funding available in times of acute crisis and recovery
  • Increase the speed and flexibility of funding (e.g., provide general operating support)
  • Decrease the administrative and reporting burdens for grantees
  • Direct substantial resources specifically to the people most vulnerable to the impact of a particular crisis

On this last point, disasters and crises cause the most harm for the most vulnerable—both during the initial impact and in the recovery—as we have seen during the COVID-19 crisis. Philanthropic resources can help vulnerable communities and families prepare and increase resilience; and in the wake of disasters, response funds can support community-led efforts to serve those families and regions most impacted.

In the U.S., the long history of structural racism means that Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are often the most vulnerable to the impacts of disasters. This was certainly true of the COVID-19 crisis.

Read the full article about becoming a climate funder by Laura Tilghman at FSG.