The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Makes $250,000 Gift to Transform Disaster Philanthropy
April 15, 2014—The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has awarded the Center for Disaster Philanthropy $250,000 for the organization’s operations and to help create a peer-to-peer network in order to promote best practices in disaster philanthropy.
“We witnessed the results of our 2013 investment as CDP served as a valuable resource for donors including individuals, philanthropic foundations, and corporations. Through its website, convenings, special reports and one-to-one strategic guidance, CDP is helping to transform how donors access advice on funding disaster preparedness, response and long-term recovery programs,” said Edmund J. Cain, Vice President, Grant Programs at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. “Our continued support of CDP’s work will continue to help grow the donor community’s collective capacity to respond to disasters.”
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) is a full-time resource to help donors make more thoughtful disaster-related giving decisions and maximize the impact of their gifts.
CDP’s mission is to transform disaster giving by providing timely and thoughtful strategies to increase donors’ impact during domestic and international disasters.
With an emphasis on recovery and disaster risk reduction, CDP aims to:
- Increase the effectiveness of contributions given to disasters;
- Bring greater attention to the life cycle of disasters, from preparedness and planning, to relief, to rebuilding and recovery efforts;
- Provide timely and relevant advice from experts with deep knowledge of disaster philanthropy;
- Conduct due diligence so donors can give with confidence; and
- Create plans for informed giving for individuals, corporations and foundations.
“We are so grateful for this generous gift from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. As one of the leading foundations in disaster research and philanthropy, receiving a grant from the Hilton Foundation is very meaningful and will help CDP strengthen its mission of transforming disaster philanthropy,” said Robert G. Ottenhoff, President and CEO.
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 and AIDS, supporting transition-age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hilton’s support for the work of Catholic Sisters. In addition, 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 $92 million in the U.S. and around the world in 2013. The Foundation’s current assets are approximately $2.4 billion. For more information, please visit http://www.hiltonfoundation.org.
About 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.
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.
