DAF Day 2025: A smart, impactful way to support disaster recovery

When disasters hit, the need to respond feels urgent — and it should. However, long after the headlines fade, communities often face a long and arduous road to recovery.

To help communities recover and thrive, our response needs to be more than fast: It needs to be strategic and equitable.

That’s why, as DAF Day 2025 approaches on Oct. 9, we ask you, our generous supporters, to make a gift to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy through your donor-advised fund. It’s one of the most powerful ways to support long-term recovery and resilience in communities hit hardest by disasters.

We believe that communities can recover stronger and thrive

At CDP, our mission is simple: We mobilize philanthropy to help communities withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. Low-income families, communities of color, people with disabilities and rural areas often face the most severe and lasting impacts both during and after a crisis. Because disasters don’t affect everyone equally, it’s not just about rebuilding what was lost.

Equitable recovery entails addressing long-standing gaps and barriers that make some communities more vulnerable to the devastating impact of hurricanes, wildfires and other natural hazards, so that they are not left behind. It means listening to those closest to the problems and solutions, prioritizing inclusion, and rebuilding in ways that reduce future risks. It means helping communities not just get back on their feet but come back stronger.

With support from our donor partners, we invest in local leaders and organizations, providing funding for mental health care, housing, infrastructure and community planning, and other essential programs. It’s recovery that restores — and transforms.

How you can make a difference on DAF Day 2025

DAF Day is a national day of action encouraging donors to use their donor-advised funds to support the causes they care about. It’s a perfect moment to turn intention into impact.

If you have a DAF, you already know the benefits — flexibility, tax advantages and the ability to give strategically. But what makes DAF Day special is the collective power of donors like you, coming together on one day to drive meaningful change.

And when you direct your DAF gift to CDP, you’re helping communities not just recover — but recover equitably and build resilience for whatever comes next.

Your DAF gift to CDP on Oct. 9 does more than fund disaster response — it sends a clear message about the kind of recovery you believe in:

• Equitable: Addresses systemic sources of vulnerabilities and inclusion.
• Flexible: Ready to respond to immediate and long-term needs.
• Community-led: Guided by those most affected and closest to the solutions.

Your support helps us fund housing that’s built to last, strengthen local governments, support mental health, and back community-led plans that reduce future risks. And because we focus on long-term recovery, your gift continues to have a lasting impact well beyond the first weeks after a disaster.

Supporting CDP on DAF Day 2025 is easy! 

• Use DAFpay by Chariot (if your DAF sponsor is connected) – CDP is just a few clicks!
• Log in to your donor-advised fund account and recommend a grant to:
  Center for Disaster Philanthropy
  One Thomas Circle, NW, Suite 700
  Washington, DC 20005

Every gift supports communities working to recover and rebuild. Join us in shaping a more resilient future. When you support CDP through your DAF on Oct. 9, you’re not just making a donation. You’re standing with communities navigating unimaginable loss – and helping them shape a future rooted in possibility and hope, not just survival.

Together, we can ensure that disaster recovery is more than a response — it’s a chance to rebuild stronger and more prepared for the future. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to equitable recovery for all.