Only 44% of US disaster philanthropy goes to international aid

Only 44% of United States disaster philanthropy goes to international aid and humanitarian work, with what remains going to programs that operate entirely in North America, according to a new report. Just 6% of all funding goes to reconstruction and recovery, compared to 51% on relief efforts. And just 17% was spent on preparation for future disasters. The report, Measuring the State of Disaster Philanthropy 2021, is jointly published by charity data analysts Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and tracks $352 million spent in 2019 by 967 donors, based on IRS filings. Of the funding tracked in the report, 98% comes from U.S.-based organizations. Where did the money go? Of the reported spending, a total of $214 million was spent on programs in North America, chiefly epidemic relief and hurricane relief, compared to $49 million in Africa, $24 million in Asia, and $61 million on worldwide programs, with small amounts in Europe and the rest of the Americas. The figures total slightly more than $352 million because some projects covered more than one region. The largest philanthropic donor for disaster relief was the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which spent $73 million in 34 transactions. The largest recipient was the American Red Cross, which received $36 million in 87 transactions, and the largest recipient outside the U.S. was the World Health Organization, which received $25 million in two grants to support outbreak response strategies. Why it matters Despite the impact of disasters being far worse in the global south than in higher-income nations, philanthropic funding for disasters is still focused close to home, suggesting the international sector still has a case to make. And despite accepted wisdom in the disaster relief community that money spent on preparation saves funds in the long run, it appears many still shy away from that early investment. Update, Nov. 11, 2021: This article has been updated to clarify that 44% of U.S. disaster philanthropy goes to international aid and humanitarian work, with what remains going to programs that operate entirely in North America.