Supporting communities in crisis: Evidence on funder motivations, barriers and opportunities
10:30am ET / 9:30am CT / 2:30pm GMT
Complex humanitarian emergencies – where conflict, political instability and crises such as human suffering, climate shocks and widespread poverty are layered together – are among the most underfunded crises in the world by the philanthropic sector. Our State of Disaster Philanthropy 2025 research revealed that after a record-breaking 2022 fueled by the Ukraine humanitarian crisis, philanthropic giving for complex humanitarian emergencies declined to 10.1% of total disaster funding in 2023.
Funders care deeply about human suffering, but what drives them to act in response to complex crisis settings and what holds them back is not well understood.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) and Accountable Now carried out research that explored what motivates philanthropic giving in these contexts, what gets in the way and how to overcome those barriers.
This webinar will share highlights from the newly-released research report, “Philanthropy Isn’t Indifferent, It’s Uncertain: Understanding Philanthropic Funding in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies.” Panelists will discuss how funders are providing support, the pathways for philanthropic engagement and how funders can work together to effectively support communities affected by complex humanitarian emergencies.
CDP’s Austin Snowbarger, director of strategy and research, will discuss research findings with Marina Kobzeva, consultant with Accountable Now on this research. Austin will also moderate the discussion with the following panelists:
- Jason Chau, Senior Program Officer Emergency Response, Gates Foundation
- Gloria Doñate, Head of Humanitarian Aid, Irene M. Staehelin Foundation
Promotional support for this webinar is provided by Alliance Magazine, Council on Foundations, Giving Compass, Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN), Network of Engaged International Donors (NEID), PEAK Grantmaking, Philanthropy California, Philanthropy New York, Philanthropy Southeast and United Philanthropy Forum.
Accessibility information
Automated captioning in multiple languages will be available via Zoom during the webinar. CDP desires to provide accessible webinars. Please email Natalie Chang by April 3 with any accommodation requests.