When hurricanes strike, the destruction left behind can be overwhelming. Communities lose homes, infrastructure, and even lives. However, the resilience of these communities is often bolstered by the tireless efforts of hurricane relief nonprofits.
These hurricane relief nonprofits mobilize quickly to provide essential aid, from food and shelter to medical assistance and long-term rebuilding efforts.
In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the most impactful hurricane relief nonprofits, explain their work, and show you how you can contribute to their missions. These nonprofits make a real difference by stepping in when disaster strikes, providing hope and resources to those who need it most.
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Top Hurricane Relief Nonprofits
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is one of the most widely recognized disaster relief organizations, offering support to communities worldwide. Following hurricanes, the American Red Cross provides emergency shelters, food, and health services to affected populations.
Their dedicated teams work closely with local authorities to coordinate distribution efforts, ensuring aid reaches those who need it most. The Red Cross also provides recovery resources, such as counseling, financial assistance, and casework for ongoing needs, aiming to restore stability to the lives of hurricane survivors.
- Services Provided: Emergency shelters, food, medical services, and emotional support.
- How to Support: You can make financial donations through their website or volunteer at a local chapter. The Red Cross also accepts blood donations, which can be crucial during disaster responses.
GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving connects donors with local relief projects across the globe, supporting organizations that are deeply embedded in their communities. After a hurricane, GlobalGiving activates its Hurricane Relief Fund to distribute donations to vetted local organizations.
These grassroots partners work on the ground, providing emergency food, clean water, shelter, and healthcare. GlobalGiving also funds long-term recovery projects, such as rebuilding homes, supporting local businesses, and restoring essential community services.
- Services Provided: Financial support for local projects offering food, shelter, and rebuilding resources.
- How to Support: Donate to GlobalGiving’s Hurricane Relief Fund to contribute directly to community-led recovery efforts. You can also start a fundraiser to increase support for specific projects.
Direct Relief
Direct Relief provides essential medical aid to vulnerable communities affected by disasters. After hurricanes, they supply local healthcare providers with medicines, personal protective equipment, and emergency medical kits.
Direct Relief’s specialized medical packs are tailored for emergency settings, helping hospitals and clinics treat everything from minor injuries to chronic health conditions exacerbated by the storm.
They work closely with local partners to ensure the right resources reach the right areas, often focusing on underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
- Services Provided: Medical supplies, medicines, and support for healthcare facilities.
- How to Support: Donations help Direct Relief stockpile emergency resources and deliver them quickly during crises. You can also follow and share their updates on social media to raise awareness.
Team Rubicon
Team Rubicon is a veteran-led disaster response organization that brings together the skills of military veterans, first responders, and civilian volunteers. They are particularly known for their swift response and ability to navigate challenging conditions.
After hurricanes, Team Rubicon provides immediate aid with debris removal, damage assessments, home repairs, and other physical tasks.
Their experienced teams are trained in search and rescue operations and logistics, making them invaluable in areas where access is limited and resources are scarce.
- Services Provided: Emergency response, debris cleanup, home repair, and coordination of volunteers.
- How to Support: You can donate or join as a volunteer to participate in their disaster response efforts. Team Rubicon also offers training programs for those interested in helping with disaster relief.
Americares
Americares is a global health-focused nonprofit that responds to natural disasters and crises with medical assistance. In the aftermath of hurricanes, Americares delivers medicine, supplies, and mental health support to affected communities. They aim to restore access to healthcare services by setting up mobile clinics and distributing medical supplies.
Americares also supports local health providers by offering training on disease prevention and recovery strategies, helping communities regain stability after a disaster.
- Services Provided: Medical assistance, mental health support, and disease prevention.
- How to Support: Donations enable Americares to deliver essential medicine and supplies to affected communities. You can also advocate for their work by sharing their stories on social media.
Save the Children
Save the Children is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in times of crisis. After hurricanes, they provide critical resources such as food, clean water, and temporary shelters to families, with a focus on protecting children. Save the Children also offers emotional support programs to help children cope with the trauma caused by natural disasters.
They work to reopen schools, deliver educational supplies, and set up child-friendly spaces where children can play and continue learning in a safe environment.
- Services Provided: Child-focused emergency relief, educational support, and emotional care.
- How to Support: Donate to support their disaster relief work, or sign up for a fundraising event to help provide essential resources for children.
Convoy of Hope
Convoy of Hope is a faith-based nonprofit that provides disaster relief and long-term assistance to communities impacted by natural disasters.
They distribute food, clean water, hygiene products, and other critical supplies to people in need. Convoy of Hope is known for staying in affected areas long after a disaster, helping communities rebuild homes, schools, and infrastructure. They focus on empowering local leaders and fostering self-sufficiency through agricultural and vocational training programs.
- Services Provided: Food distribution, hygiene supplies, water purification, and community rebuilding.
- How to Support: Donations help Convoy of Hope mobilize resources quickly. You can also participate in their volunteer programs or host a fundraising event in your community.
All Hands and Hearts
All Hands and Hearts specializes in hands-on rebuilding efforts following natural disasters. They work closely with local residents to rebuild homes, schools, and essential facilities. Volunteers are integral to their model, participating in everything from construction to community outreach.
All Hands and Hearts places a strong emphasis on sustainable building practices and resilient design, ensuring that reconstructed buildings are better prepared for future storms.
- Services Provided: Reconstruction of homes and schools, volunteer opportunities, and sustainable development.
- How to Support: Join their volunteer teams or donate to support long-term rebuilding projects. You can also become an advocate by sharing their work with others.
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps focuses on both immediate and long-term disaster response, helping communities recover after hurricanes through emergency food, water, and shelter. They also offer financial support to small businesses and entrepreneurs as part of their economic recovery initiatives.
Mercy Corps takes a holistic approach, working with local organizations to restore livelihoods, address mental health needs, and strengthen community resilience.
- Services Provided: Emergency relief, economic recovery, mental health support, and community resilience programs.
- How to Support: Donations fund their disaster relief and recovery programs. Mercy Corps also offers opportunities for businesses and foundations to sponsor projects or collaborate on larger initiatives.
World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen, founded by renowned chef José Andrés, provides meals to disaster survivors and relief workers.
Their teams mobilize quickly after hurricanes, setting up mobile kitchens and distributing nutritious meals to communities in need. World Central Kitchen works with local chefs and food suppliers, helping to sustain local economies while delivering fresh, culturally relevant food.
They’re known for their innovative approach to food relief, bringing comfort to people through the power of a warm meal.
- Services Provided: Nutritious meals, mobile kitchens, and local partnerships for food distribution.
- How to Support: Financial donations help World Central Kitchen continue their meal programs. You can also support them by sharing their mission with your networks.
How to Choose the Right Organization to Support
When choosing an organization to support, consider these factors:
- Transparency: Look for clear, transparent reporting of how donations are spent.
- Impact: Select organizations with a proven record of delivering relief effectively.
- Local Partnerships: Nonprofits that work with local partners are often better equipped to meet community needs.
- Volunteer Opportunities: If you’re interested in hands-on support, choose organizations that offer ways to get involved on the ground.
Ways You Can Help
Donate Financially
Financial donations allow these nonprofits to respond quickly and allocate resources where they’re most needed, from food and shelter to medical supplies and rebuilding materials.
Volunteer Your Time
Many of these nonprofits depend on volunteers for disaster response. Contact organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities that match your skills and availability.
Spread Awareness
Share information about these organizations on social media to help raise awareness. Your advocacy can inspire others to contribute and support hurricane relief efforts.
Host a Fundraiser
Organize an event or an online campaign to raise funds for one of these hurricane relief nonprofits. Many organizations offer resources to help you promote and manage a successful fundraiser.
