The Need

The recent hurricanes (Ian and Irma), the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as red tide, and wildfire crises, underscore the need to be prepared for disaster today, tomorrow, and 30 years from today. Our community must consider how we will meet the unforeseen challenges for our future generations in their estate planning. Unrestricted funds are absolutely vital for sustaining the community through a crisis. Once a disaster hits, your Community Foundation needs to be able to move quickly to respond to those most in need.

THE FINDINGS

We have established four emergency Collier Comes Together relief funds totaling more than $8 million in the past six years including Hurricanes Ian and Irma, Red Tide, Golden Gate Wildfires, and Coronavirus Relief.

  • Within a few days of Hurricane Ian landfall on September 28, 2022, emergency funds were granted to Meals of Hope, St. Matthew’s House, NAACP Collier County, Salvation Army Naples, and other food pantries for immediate needs of food and water, housing and clothing from the Collier Comes Together Fund.

  • The Collier Comes Together Fund for Hurricane Ian Relief has dispersed $4.3 million in 98 grants to 61 organizations for food, clothing, emergency gift cards, cleaning supplies, pet carriers to transport displaced pets by air, emergency housing, childcare, inflatable mattresses, tents, sleeping bags, and new appliances. Read more here

  • The Collier Comes Together Fund for Coronavirus Relief has received over $1.63 million in donations to date. Over $1.22 million had been granted along with an additional $437,100 from Donor Advised Funds held at the Community Foundation has been dispersed for COVID-19 relief.
  • Disaster funds for hurricanes, pandemics, red tide, wildfires, or other crises are distributed with no administrative fee.

Our Solution

Be ready for tomorrow, today

Prepare for the unexpected by securing unrestricted funding for immediate use when disaster strikes.

Philanthropic first responder

As your community’s philanthropic first responder, we will partner with the county, local law enforcement, and our nonprofits to assess the immediate and long-term needs, as well as the gaps, in community crisis and disaster response. Disaster response is a marathon, not a sprint.

Read “The Great Transfer of Wealth” We don’t know what the future holds. Now is the time to prepare for inevitable challenges to come. The benefits of a substantial endowment that spins off critically needed, sustained funding for local nonprofits into the future is immeasurable. A healthy endowment ensures CCF can meet unforeseen needs as they arise—natural disasters, pandemics, community necessities like affordable housing, or emerging societal issues.

Read “When Disaster Strikes…” a report on what area experts have to say about the hurdles to access food, healthcare, and financial support during challenging times and how the Community Foundation will help support infrastructure and capital improvements and funding for crisis assistance programs.

Watch the donor education series discussion with area experts

GIVE BACK

Help us support disaster relief so we can be ready to respond quickly to those most in need.