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Our Community Matters • 17 •
For communities and individuals affected by natural disasters, recovery takes not weeks or months but decades, and requires long-term assistance as well as short-term relief.
Disaster grantmaking: how to maximise your impact after a calamity BY JOSHUA PRESSER, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT
As the world grapples with climate change, natural disasters such as bushfires, floods, droughts and cyclones are becoming increasingly common, affecting the health, wellbeing, economy, and built and natural environment of communities. Disaster grantmaking will continue to be an area of interest for grantmakers in the years to come.
In times of crisis such as the Australian bushfires of 2019–20, there is often a rush to get money out the door, but how do grantmakers decide how to proceed in these situations? Do you rush money out to the immediate relief efforts, or do you sit back and take a more strategic and considered approach? How do grantmakers choose whether to fund urgent relief efforts, medium- or long-term recovery efforts, or mitigation and prevention
