Yes, we proudly affirm that communities have trust in the nonprofit sector, and data proves it. However, the explanation for why communities trust us reveals a conversation about the impact of nonprofit organizations in communities throughout the United States. One example is disaster response and nonprofit organizations’ role in dealing with emergencies. Let’s review some elements that show why nonprofit organizations have played a critical role in emergency management and how the federal government and Congress can help us strengthen organizations.

In his book David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell uses the biblical story to illustrate how knowledge of the terrain and experience in using the right tools determine elements for a successful strategy. One of the most outstanding characteristics of nonprofit organizations, faith organizations, charities, and philanthropies is precisely that: the detailed knowledge of their community and territory and the expertise in using the appropriate communications channels and mechanisms to meet specific needs of each community effectively. Applied to emergency management, these are key elements to save lives and guarantee minimum survival conditions for the affected areas. But let’s dig a little deeper.

Gloria Simo of DePaul University and Angela Bies of Texas A&M University, in their paper about the role of nonprofits in the recovery from Hurricane Katrina, highlight at least three areas where nonprofit organizations offer enormous added value in any disaster management situation:

  1. We know the terrain and the communities.
  2. We know how to create support networks and generate spaces for dialogue with communities.
  3.  We have experience in managing volunteering and solid collaboration networks.

Read the full article about nonprofits' role in disaster recovery at Independent Sector.