Emerging, Important Needs

Florida communities face a challenging road to recovery following Hurricane Ian. In the aftermath of the devastating Category 4 storm, coastal towns in the Sunshine State are decimated, and the death toll continues to rise. Hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses and people are still without power.

If you would like to support recovery efforts, consider donating to the following community foundations located in some of the hardest hit areas of Southwest and Central Florida:

• Central Florida Foundation (Central Florida, including the Orlando area) — Central Florida Disaster Recovery Focus Fund
• Charlotte Community Foundation (Charlotte County) — Charlotte County Disaster Relief Fund
• Collier Community Foundation (Collier County) — Collier Comes Together Hurricane Relief Fund
• Community Foundation of Sarasota County (Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties) — Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund
• Community Foundation Tampa Bay (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties) – Tampa Bay Rapid Response Fund
• Givewell Community Foundation (Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties) — United Community Relief Fund
• Gulf Coast Community Foundation – Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief Fund
• Manatee Community Foundation (Manatee County) – MCF Disaster Relief Fund
• The Miami Foundation – Florida Grassroots Hurricane Community Recovery Fund
• The Southwest Florida Community Foundation (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties) — SWFL Emergency Relief Fund

SDF Fund Advisors: These recommended charitable funds are eligible for a grant from your donor-advised fund. Our Donor Services Team can help you make a grant from your fund: DonorServices@sdfoundation.org or (619) 814-1332.

Throughout the last several months, several communities across the country have come under threat of gun violence.

We grieve for those who lost their lives, those injured and those who are traumatized as a result of the senseless, horrific shootings in Highland Park, IL, Uvalde, TX and Buffalo, NY.

Highland Park, Illinois
To help those directly impacted by the mass shooting in Highland Park, the Highland Park Community Foundation has established a July 4th Highland Park Shooting Response Fund. All contributions to the Response Fund will go directly to the needs of survivors and families impacted by the shooting.

Uvalde, Texas
The San Antonio Area Foundation is partnering with the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to support the community of Uvalde through two charitable funds.

1. The Uvalde Strong Fund is a relief fund for victims, their families, and others affected by the shooting.
2. The Uvalde Strong Survivors Fund will provide direct financial assistance to the survivors of the deceased and those directly affected by this tragedy.

Buffalo, New York
The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has also launched two funds to support survivors of the May 14 shooting and to advance racial equity in their region.

1. In partnership with Tops and the National Compassion Fund, the Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund will provide direct financial assistance to the survivors of the deceased and those directly affected by this tragedy.
2. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and United Way of Buffalo & Erie County have partnered to establish the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund to take action and to work to address immediate needs in their community, long-term community rebuilding, and systemic issues that have marginalized communities of color.

SDF Fund Advisors: These recommended charitable funds are eligible for a grant from your donor-advised fund. Our Donor Services Team can help you make a grant from your fund: DonorServices@sdfoundation.org or (619) 814-1332.

After months of tension, Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, February 24. Attacks of war have put millions of civilians at risk. Many have volunteered to fight or been caught in the crossfire, with refugees escaping to neighboring countries. Ukrainians desperately need emergency aid.

Below is a list of organizations you can support that are providing aid from the U.S. and abroad. We will continue adding to this list in the coming days.

• King Baudouin Foundation Humanitarian Response Fund for Ukraine: Contribute directly to trusted organizations based in Ukraine. This fund is pooling contributions to be distributed to three local nonprofits working on the frontlines – Caritas Ukraine, People in Need Ukraine, and the Polish Red Cross. These three organizations provide food, shelter and medical assistance to vulnerable individuals across Ukraine and to the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who are seeking refuge across borders.
• International Rescue Committee: Mobilizing resources to aid Ukrainian refugees forced to flee their homes.
• CARE: International humanitarian organization providing immediate crisis response in Ukraine with the aim of reaching 4 million people with food, water and hygiene kits.
• Center for Disaster Philanthropy Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recovery Fund: This Fund will focus on medium- and long-term recovery, ensuring access to basic services and including education, food, health, protection, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene.
• UNICEF: Response teams have been on the ground providing humanitarian relief in Eastern Ukraine since 2014, and UNICEF has launched an emergency appeal to raise funds to scale up relief efforts in the country and assist those fleeing to other countries. UNICEF is supporting health, nutrition, HIV prevention, education, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and protection for children and families caught in the conflict.
• Global Communities / Project Concern International: The Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund supports humanitarian assistance in impacted communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled. Global Communities has worked in Ukraine for the past six years, forming deep relationships with local communities. With staff on the ground and established trust, they are well-positioned to assess needs and help Ukrainians address the current crisis.

SDF Fund Advisors: All of the recommended organizations are eligible for a grant from your donor-advised fund. Please contact your Donor Services Team with any questions at DonorServices@sdfoundation.org or (619) 814-1332.

COVID-19 deepened racial inequity in many aspects of society and the events of the recent past have shined a light on systemic racism, especially as it impacts Black communities.

For San Diegans who are looking for ways to make an impact, the Black Community Investment Fund provides an opportunity for you to help make San Diego County a better, stronger and more equitable region so every San Diegan can thrive, prosper and feel like they belong.