New grants support preparedness and community resilience worldwide

In April 2025, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy launched the Disaster Preparedness Fund  to address the critical need for disaster preparedness programming that is community- and expert-informed, locally led, and equity-centered.

With thanks to all the donors who have supported the fund and understand that every dollar invested in preparedness could save $13 in economic impact and damage costs after a disaster, CDP has awarded the fund’s first round of grants. The seven grants totaling $470,000 support organizations leading these efforts, coordinating anticipatory action, and organizing education and training to keep communities ready before the next disaster strikes.

U.S.-focused grants 

CDP’s U.S.-focused Disaster Preparedness Fund grants are targeted toward communities that face frequent disasters. We identified organizations that are positioned to use layered approaches to best prepare individuals, communities and regions with a combination of material support, education and participation in wider networks and conversations. We have chosen organizations that plan preparedness activities that are inclusive of all generations and accessible to those with access and functional needs. 

• Disaster Readiness Center of West Kentucky received $100,000 to launch a statewide initiative in January 2026 that strengthens disaster preparedness and recovery. By connecting nonprofits, training local leaders and deploying real-time data tools, the project builds resilient networks to protect Kentucky’s most vulnerable communities. 
• Headwaters Economics was granted $115,000 to provide technical assistance and policy guidance to rural communities in Colorado and Utah to reduce wildfire and flood risks. The organization will help local governments adopt wildfire-resistant building codes and develop flood mitigation strategies, strengthening long-term resilience and improving access to federal disaster programs. 
• Love City Strong was awarded $100,000 to implement the Resilient Energy Initiative in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. This project installs solar panels and Tesla Powerwall batteries for low-to-moderate income households, reducing energy costs and improving disaster resilience in a region with high electricity rates and frequent outages. Partnering with Caribbean Solar Company, the initiative strengthens community preparedness, supports vulnerable populations and creates local jobs, offering a scalable model for sustainable energy solutions in disaster-prone areas. 
• Mississippi Urban League received $100,000 to expand disaster preparedness efforts in Mississippi. Funding supports the organization’s Disaster Recovery Program Manager, doubles the number of Community Disaster Preparedness Fairs the organization will host in 2026 from two to four and strengthens resilience initiatives across a national affiliate network. This project addresses increasing severe weather risks and equips underserved communities with resources and knowledge to reduce vulnerability and improve disaster readiness statewide. 

International grants  

By integrating recovery and preparedness for future disasters, communities will be better able to sustain themselves and their resources in regions where seasonal flooding is having increasing impacts every year. To that end, the following internationally-focused grants weave preparedness and recovery interventions using dollars from the Disaster Preparedness Fund and other recovery-focused CDP pooled funds. 

• Association for Women’s Awareness and Rural Development (AWARD) received $17,000 from the Disaster Preparedness Fund as part of a $150,000 grant made with money designated for flood recovery in South Asia. The grant will support AWARD’s work rehabilitating the flood-affected communities of District Khairpur in Pakistan through improved housing, WASH, livelihoods and disaster risk reduction support. Interventions include the construction of 180 inclusive latrines and handpumps in six rural areas, training 180 community members in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), providing 90 flood-affected women with skill development training, and supplying 25 women with micro-enterprise and livestock support. 
• Rizq received $17,000 from the Disaster Preparedness Fund as part of a $100,000 grant made with money designated for Pakistan flood recovery. The grant will support long-term, climate-resilient housing and community-based resilience-building initiatives for disaster-affected families in Sindh. Interventions include constructing 150 climate-resilient eco-homes, establishing an agroforestry nursery and community training sessions on eco-housing construction techniques and disaster preparedness. Additionally, some focused support will focus on activities in the districts of Khanewal and Multan in Punjab, an area that experienced significant agricultural losses during recent floods. These activities will focus on reviving agricultural livelihoods for 70 flood-stricken farmers across 300 acres of land by providing certified climate-resilient seeds, land preparation, soil restoration and training in agricultural best practices and precision irrigation. 
• Tameer-e-Khalaq Foundation was awarded $21,000 from the Disaster Preparedness Fund as part of a $129,000 grant made with money designated for South Asian flood recovery. Funding will strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness by empowering vulnerable communities and institutions to anticipate, mitigate and respond to climate-induced disasters in Balochistan, Pakistan. Interventions include the formation and training of 10 inclusive Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) committees, Community-Led Disaster Risk Management (DRM) planning, emergency preparedness and psychosocial support. 

To learn more about CDP’s Disaster Preparedness Fund and how your investment can equip communities to withstand inevitable future disasters and recover equitably when they occur, contact us at info@disasterphilanthropy.org.