When making the decision to mobilize our network in the aftermath of a disaster, the GlobalGiving team considers the strength of our network in the affected area, the requests for help from our local partners, and the scale of the disaster.

In extreme situations like the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, the decision is easy. In other cases, we wait to hear how our nonprofit partners are responding and whether our community of donors and companies can contribute to the disaster response effort.

We always put the needs of the disaster-affected community first, and our community-led disaster recovery model is based on trust.

Our view is that locally led organizations can nimbly and effectively provide for immediate and long-term community needs. Getting funds to them benefits communities directly and quickly. It also helps invest in the capacity of local organizations that are committed to their communities for the long haul, helping them become more self-sufficient and resilient in the face of future disasters. (We captured on our thoughts in a colorful infographic, too. Check it out here.)

We sometimes partner with larger international NGOs that specialize in disaster response to provide a necessary backbone, as they are often best equipped to provide initial relief and recovery support in affected areas. However, we quickly work to transition our support to local nonprofits as soon as they are able to drive the response work.

Read the full article about supporting locally-led disaster recovery at Global Giving.