Support Our Neighbors in Need Through the Disaster Recovery Fund

In Greater Des Moines (DSM), we don’t back down from a challenge. We come together, we develop collaborative approaches and we help our neighbors in need. As we face the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, we rise to the occasion with the same better together spirit we know and expect from our community. That is why on behalf of DSM, the Community Foundation has activated the Disaster Recovery Fund. Gifts to the Disaster Recovery Fund will support our most vulnerable populations as they are facing the staggering effects of COVID-19. By supporting the Disaster Recovery Fund we can give with the reassurance donations will be used to quickly deploy resources to where they are most needed and to quickly adapt to evolving needs. We may not know what tomorrow will bring, but thanks to the Disaster Recovery Fund we stand ready to meet the demands of the community.

Collaboration Through Philanthropy

The Disaster Recovery Fund was developed as an outcome of the recently created Disaster Recovery Coordination Team. This cross-sector coalition brought together disaster response and philanthropic organizations in DSM to develop a collective strategy for charitable giving during times of disaster. The collaborative planning that has taken place over the past year has played out quickly and positions us to be at our best during times of crisis. Times such as this. The Disaster Recovery Coordination Team consists of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, United Way of Central Iowa, Polk County Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross — Central Iowa Chapter, IMPACT, Polk County and Community Family and Youth Services — Polk County. 

The Community Foundation contributed an immediate $200,000 to the Disaster Recovery Fund while United Way of Central Iowa provided an additional $100,000. This collaborative community effort also received initial support from Businessolver Foundation, Cultivating Compassion: The Dr. Richard Deming Foundation Fund, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation and the Polk County Board of Supervisors. Additionally, donors can be assured 100% of contributions made to the Disaster Recovery Fund will be used for disaster recovery. The Community Foundation is contributing the cost of administration to maximize the dollars available to our community at this critical time.

Community Support

The Disaster Recovery Fund Grantmaking Committee will be working side-by-side with 211 to ensure resources from the fund are supporting our community’s valuable nonprofit organizations that are providing critical services to our most vulnerable. For our nonprofit organizations, an online COVID-19 Pandemic Nonprofit Portal has been developed to update 211 on programming and services in the wake of COVID-19. The site also provides a survey for nonprofits to share their COVID-19 challenges, so we have a compilation of how the pandemic is affecting the local nonprofit sector.

We are appreciative of the support already given to the Disaster Recovery Fund, but now is the time for each of us to consider how we can do our part to be #DSMstrong. We live in a generous community, a community that cares for its neighbors, its businesses and its nonprofits. The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic are indeed unprecedented, but we know the strength that comes from community. We know that we are #DSMstrong and we know we are always better together.

You can count on The Partnership to continue to share accurate and fact-based updates as well. See more on COVID-19 here.

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