When you donate after a disaster, we know you want your support to reach affected communities as quickly as possible. GlobalGiving begins disbursing funds to nonprofit partners soon after a disaster, while also reserving funding for recovery needs that can emerge in the months and years that follow.
The pace of disbursement varies depending on the scale of the disaster, the amount raised, and evolving recovery needs. In general:
- For disaster funds raising less than $1 million, we work to disburse contributions within approximately 12 months.
- For larger-scale disasters, we typically aim to disburse a significant portion of available funding during the first year. Remaining funds may be distributed over the following two to three years as recovery needs continue.
- Disaster funds are generally fully disbursed within 36 months, allowing funding to support different stages of relief and recovery.
Why spread some funding over time? Needs after a disaster can change significantly. Immediate priorities may include essentials such as food, shelter, health care, and emergency supplies. As recovery progresses, communities may face different challenges that require continued resources.
By distributing funding at different stages, GlobalGiving can support both urgent response and longer-term recovery rather than concentrating all available funding in the earliest days of a crisis. GlobalGiving brings expertise in disaster and crisis response, international vetting, grantmaking, and compliance to this work.