Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy

Nearly five years ago, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused unprecedented devastation in and around New Orleans, and in towns and rural areas throughout the Gulf Coast region of the US. The storms laid bare a long list of grievous problems, from inadequate infrastructure to government incompetence and social inequity. They also stirred a stunning outpouring of philanthropic support – desperately needed, tremendously helpful, but not without missteps.

The experience has taught many lessons, both positive and negative. From 22 to 24 March, more than 300 people from the philanthropy, non-profit, government and private sectors gathered in New Orleans for the Katrina @ 5: Partners in Philanthropy conference to discuss what worked and what didn’t, and how disaster philanthropy can do better – not just along the Gulf Coast but in communities everywhere.

The Katrina @ 5 conference was a collaboration of 36 US philanthropic organizations, with Association of Small Foundations as the organizing partner. It focused on three themes: Respond, Rebuild, Transform.

Speakers hailed philanthropy’s importance immediately after the storms and in the years since, as communities seek not only to rebound but to be stronger than ever. Said Flozell Daniels, CEO of the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, ‘The outstanding investments by philanthropy have been critical to any progress we’ve made.’

Speakers and participants also spoke frankly about ways in which philanthropy can better anticipate and respond to both short- and long-term disaster-related needs. They urged funders to have unrestricted funds ready to disburse quickly to volunteer agencies, without the usual need for time-consuming documentation. They stressed the importance of listening to local people who understand the community and its needs.

Actor Wendell Pierce, a New Orleans native who started a non-profit to help rebuild his Pontchartrain Park neighbourhood, closed the conference with several exhortations: ‘Give general operating support grants.’ ‘Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate.’ ‘Take risks – please do not come here and work with the same old ineffective individuals and institutions.’

Lennie Magida is Senior Manager, Development & Communications, at the Association of Small Foundations. Email lennie@smallfoundations.org

Event Katrina@5
Date 22-24 March 2010
Location New Orleans, US
Organizer Association of Small Foundations

For more information
www.smallfoundations.org