Midwest Early Recovery Fund

The Fund catalyzes recovery efforts two weeks to 18 months after disaster events, including tornadoes, flooding, earthquakes, landslides and wildfires, in a 10-state region that includes Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and the Native nations that share the geography. Learn more about our region.

Early recovery is not defined by a time period that is consistent across communities or disasters. Instead, it refers to the period of time when an organization or community is transitioning from response to recovery. This transitional time includes planning and working toward long-term recovery to rebound from the disaster event. Early recovery typically occurs in the two weeks to 18 months after a disaster event but may shift, especially in Native and Tribal Communities.

Tribal and Native American communities throughout the region face many challenges that are compounded when disaster events occur, such as harsh conditions and large disparities when compared to non-Native communities. These disparities result from long-term disinvestment in Indigenous communities by federal and state government, relief organizations and philanthropy. In times of disaster, Native communities are left on their own to figure out how to recover. Disaster recovery in Native communities involves multiple partners, collaboration and a significant investment of time, technical assistance and capacity building. Learn more

Low-attention disasters are the norm in the Midwest. With 20% of the landmass and only 10% of the population, it is a region with hundreds of small and rural communities that do not attract much public attention when affected by a disaster. Without national news coverage, recovery resources are scarce. Federal and state dollars are rarely allocated to address the needs of those most vulnerable to the impact of flooding, fires, tornadoes or severe storms. Learn more.

Our grants support:

• Early Recovery Services such as a disaster recovery coordinator, disaster case management, volunteer and construction management and long-term recovery group staffing.
• Education & Outreach such as long-term recovery group development, training for early recovery services, community meetings/convenings, community needs assessments and outreach events or projects in the community.
• Programs that address the needs of marginalized populations such as Native Americans, children, persons with limited English proficiency; older adults; refugees, immigrants and migrants; persons with disabilities and low-income communities. Services for these populations can take various forms, including bilingual case management, psychosocial support, childcare supports, translation and interpretation services, and culturally appropriate logistics/supplies for food or goods.

See a list of our grantee partners.

Our relational and data-driven approach to the “when, where and how” of our grantmaking involves the three steps:

1. Impact Study & Needs Assessment We analyze indicators of social vulnerability, post-disaster impacts and recovery capacity or assets. It helps us identify low-attention, under-resourced, disaster-affected communities.
2. Community Conversations and Grantee Partner Identification Once we identify a community in need, we reach out to local actors to build and deepen relationships. We offer strategy sessions about next steps, roles, training and coaching resources. Conversations with stakeholders continue as needed to help us – and them – understand their community’s unique challenges, what solutions work best for them and how the needs and responses change over time.
3. Grantee Partnership  We vet potential grantee partner organizations and collaborate to develop a plan and proposal, fill out a low-burden application and collect necessary documentation. Based on the information, our staff undertakes due diligence, reviews and approves. We are available for check-ins and technical assistance throughout the grant period.