CDP Mexico Earthquake Recovery Fund
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck central and southern Mexico on Sept. 19, 2017, killing nearly 400 people.
In Puebla, Morelos and Mexico City, close to the earthquake’s epicenter, there was widespread damage to homes, schools, businesses and public infrastructure.
This earthquake struck as the country still reeled from an initial 8.1 earthquake just off the country’s southern coast. The epicenters of the two earthquakes were roughly 400 miles apart (the distance from San Diego, California to Tucson, Arizona).
While the Government of Mexico has an incredibly high capacity to respond to disasters, international assistance was necessary to support a full recovery for all affected communities.
(Photo: The earthquake left many buildings destroyed across the city, including this one in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City. Source: Natasha Pizzey for Direct Relief)
This fund supported this disaster:
Why we launched this Fund
Center for Disaster Philanthropy research identified several needs that exceeded the capacity of government and local nongovernmental capacity including: housing, medical and mental health needs, and small business recovery.
In the immediate aftermath of the second earthquake, we launched the CDP Mexico Earthquake Recovery Fund to help address these needs.
Grantmaking timeline
Approximately $300,000 was donated to the CDP Mexico Earthquake Recovery Fund.
May 2018 – Full fund distribution
Grant committee
The grant committee for the Mexico Earthquake Recovery Fund included:
Committee Chair: Lori J. Bertman, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge- based Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation. Lori is the co-founder and chairman of the board of CDP.
Aryah Somers Landsberger, Director of Programs, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees
Eliza Brennan, Program Officer, Education/Arts & Culture , International Community Foundation
Carlos E. Mejia, Humanitarian Change Goal Manager, Oxfam America Foundation
Bob Ottenhoff, Former President and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy
The generosity of donors from around the world enabled us to focus funding in the area of economic development and small business recovery.
Fund updates
Mexico Earthquake Grants Support Economic Recovery
Keeping Mexico in Mind
