The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Awards $250,000 Gift to CDP

March 5, 2013: The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has awarded the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) $250,000 in unrestricted funds to help the organization grow its capacity and resources in order to change the disaster philanthropy landscape.

“Supporting the work of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy strengthens the donor community’s collective capacity to respond to disasters,” said Edmund J. Cain, Vice President, Grant Programs at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.  “The Center is a valuable resource for all donors—whether individuals, philanthropic foundations, or corporations—providing access to information and advice on funding disaster preparedness, response and recovery programs.

“We are so grateful for this generous gift from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.  As one of the leading foundations in disaster philanthropy and research, receiving a grant from the Hilton Foundation is very meaningful and gives us inspiration to carry on with our mission. CDP exists year round to ensure that disasters receive attention before, during, and after an actual event.  We will bridge sectors, states, continents, funders, and communities to ensure that disasters become part of the daily philanthropic dialogue,” says Robert G. Ottenhoff, President and CEO.

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy provides an array of services to help donors focus on the full arc of disaster philanthropy:  from planning and preparedness through to recovery and rebuilding.  Through its work, the CDP is providing opportunities for donor information and education and facilitating donor collaboration and coordination.

“CDP’s goal is to educate donors about a wider array of disaster giving opportunities with an emphasis on disaster risk reduction and recovery through education, connections, and increased disaster philanthropy across all sectors and throughout a disaster’s lifecycle.   This generous gift will support our work to help donors achieve increased impact with disaster-focused gifts,” adds Ottenhoff.

About Us

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Disaster philanthropy has become an all-too-necessary practice in recent years. Yet donors still are challenged to determine how, when, and to whom to give to have the greatest impact. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy helps individual, family, corporate, and institutional donors answer the question, “How can I help?” more easily and quickly in the wake of a disaster. The Center provides a platform of learning and connection with leading disaster experts and other disaster philanthropists that brings more private money to disaster response efforts.  The organization was named one of five “nonprofit highpoints of 2012” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. For more information, please visit www.disasterphilanthropy.org

About the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world’s disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in six priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance abuse, helping children affected by HIV/AIDS, supporting transition-age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hilton’s support for the work of Catholic Sisters. Following selection by an independent international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $1.5 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to a nonprofit organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. From its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants, distributing $82 million in the U.S. and around the world in 2011. The Foundation’s current assets are approximately $2 billion.


CDP mobilizes philanthropy to strengthen communities’ ability to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. It provides expert advice and educational resources, supports diverse coalitions and manages domestic and international disaster funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. Find out more at disasterphilanthropy.org and on X and LinkedIn.

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