Disaster Relief: Hurricane Irene's Aftermath

On the last weekend of August, Hurricane Irene swept up the East Coast. Although it had been downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit New England, many parts of the region were devastated by flooding and storm-related damage.

The Vermont Community Foundation has set up two special funds to assist with the recovery: the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund, which will provide direct relief to farmers who lost land, crops, and livestock; and the Special and Urgent Needs Fund-Irene Recovery, which provides fast-track funding for nonprofits working in the affected areas. If you want to contribute to these or the Vermont Red Cross's disaster relief efforts, you can visit VCF's Give Now page.

VCF has also provided information about human service agencies working in the affected areas and other resources to help donors get their dollars where they're needed.

Vermont's United Ways are also collecting donations for disaster relief.

As always, please read the information below about how to give wisely and make effective grants in times of disaster.

Eight Principles of Good Disaster Grantmaking

• First, do no harm.
• Stop, look and listen before taking action.
• Don’t act in isolation.
• Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long-term.
• Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations.
• Find out how prospective grantees operate.
• Be accountable to those you are trying to help.
• Communicate your work widely, and use it as an educational tool.

Resources for Donors

• 10 Tips on Giving Wisely
• Top 10 Best Practices of Savvy Donors
• Tips for Giving in Times of Crisis
• What To Do When a Charity Calls
• Protecting Yourself from Online Scams