The historic Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have weakened or dissipated. But communities are just beginning to come to grips with the devastation caused by these storms measured in lives lost, properties damaged and communities displaced.

Funders need to be ready to do short-term and long-term Southern grantmaking well in response to Harvey and Irma and other future environmental disasters.

As grantmakers respond to this and future natural disasters, funders’ goal must not be to restore the status quo that endangers marginalized communities by stranding them in flood-prone neighborhoods and sub-standard housing. Instead, it must stand ready to provide financial aid for immediate survival and infrastructure needs and for long-term physical, emotional and communal rebuilding. We must be ready not just to rebuild houses and bridges, but to rebuild the power and elevate the voice of marginalized communities who were disproportionately impacted by the storms.

Read the full article at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy