Grants for Humanitarian Aid
Learn about grants for humanitarian relief by browsing our curated list of top climate change funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities using the search tool for GrantFinder. Subscribers can also browse our guide on immigrants and refugees for related insights, and climate change. Become a member.
Funding trends in humanitarian aid
Individual giving is substantial when it comes to humanitarian aid, and this is an area of philanthropy where small donors can collectively have a huge impact. World Vision, an international Christian evangelical humanitarian aid organization that focuses on small, individual gifts is an example of an organization that raises individual funds for its flagstone child-sponsorship programs. Indeed, many religions have long traditions of humanitarian philanthropy, so you’ll find crisis relief a priority for Jewish federations, as well as Catholic charities and other funders connected to religious communities.
Humanitarian aid funders often make grants in response to disasters that affect communities to which they are connected. Many community foundations have disaster relief funds, which are increasing in scale as disasters multiply.
In contrast, corporate giving for disaster relief and humanitarian aid is most often directed to affected regions where a company has a business presence.
Rapid relief grants tend to occupy the lion’s share of charitable dollars in this area, while grants for resilience measures and disaster preparedness have historically received only a small fraction of funding. As disasters worsen, some private foundations and community foundations are taking a longer-term approach to disaster prevention and relief funding. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy is a philanthropy-serving organization that helps individuals, foundations, and corporate donors to give effectively in response to humanitarian crises. While philanthropic giving for humanitarian relief is substantial, the biggest funders of humanitarian relief are often governments.
As disasters worsen, some private foundations and community foundations are taking a longer-term approach to disaster prevention and relief funding. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy is a philanthropy-serving organization that helps individuals, foundations, and corporate donors to give effectively in response to humanitarian crises. While philanthropic giving for humanitarian relief is substantial, the biggest funders of humanitarian relief are often governments.
Foundations for Humanitarian Aid
ABBOTT FUND
The Abbott Fund awards large grants for disaster relief and refugee aid, but they tend to go toward large organizations.
ABBVIE FOUNDATION
The AbbVie Foundation supports organizations responding to natural and man-made disasters occurring around the world.
THE ACTUARIAL FOUNDATION
Though a minor area of funding for this organization, disaster relief grants have addressed math classtroom affected by hurricanes.
AGILENT FOUNDATION
Tax filings reveal an interest in disaster relief work, which focuses on supporting large, established organizations around the world.
AGUA FUND
The Agua Fund supports relief programs that provide fund hospitals, medical care, and other support in disaster-stricken regions.
PAUL G. ALLEN FAMILY FOUNDATION
This foundation’s giving for disaster and humanitarian relief supports organizations largely in the Northwest and those addressing COVID-19.
ALL WITHIN MY HANDS
This funder supports disaster relief and recovery efforts in the United States through its critical local services funding area, although this is not a primary focus of the foundation’s giving.
ALLSTATE FOUNDATION
The Allstate Foundation supports nonprofit organizations responding to natural disasters, but not refugee movements or asylum issues.
HERB ALPERT FOUNDATION
The foundation’s humanitarian relief work is broad and national.
ALSTOM FOUNDATION
The Alstom Foundation funds disaster response, relief, and recovery efforts in regions of the world in which the company has an employee and operational presence.
ALWALEED PHILANTHROPIES
The Alwaleed Philanthropies supports disaster relief and response organizations working around the world. It does not appear to prioritize grantmaking in the refugee space.
AMALGAMATED FOUNDATION
The Amalgamated Foundation launched its COVID-19 Response funding program in 2020 to support “workers, families and communities” through the crisis.
AMAZON
Amazon.com, Inc. makes grants and in-kind donations to nonprofit organizations working in the areas of STEM education, housing equity, disaster relief and hunger.
AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE
This funder makes grants through a Jewish lens across the world, especially for humanitarian aid.
AMGEN FOUNDATION
It provides “funding to support those affected by natural disasters, global disease outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies” by “working with trusted, international partners.
ANDERSEN CORPORATE FOUNDATION
Andersen conducts disaster and humanitarian relied work through its Human Services program, which works to enhance self-sufficiency amongst the poor, senior citizens, and the disabled. It also gives awards for emergency recovery services for communities suffering from natural disasters.
ANTHONY ROBBINS FOUNDATION
Robbins focuses its grantmaking on rebuilding communities after natural disasters.
ASPCA FOUNDATION
The ASPCA’s Emergency and Disaster Response grants provide support to animal welfare organizations and agencies in communities that have been affected by natural disasters.
AT&T FOUNDATION
The AT&T Foundation supports organizations providing relief and recovery services to communities hit by natural disasters. It does not prioritize refugees.
AURORA HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative supports projects related to humanitarian relief, human rights, and higher education across the globe.
AUTODESK FOUNDATION
The philanthropic arm of the software company awards grants for disaster response and relief, as well as in-kind donations and employee volunteers.
BALL FOUNDATION
The Ball Foundation supports programs that distribute canned drinking water for recovery efforts, and also partners with the American Red Cross Disaster Responder program.
BAYER FUND
This foundation focuses on rapid-response efforts to global disasters and supports groups with which it has an established relationship. It also funds a small number of projects suggested by its employees.
BD FOUNDATION
Charitable arm of medical technology company Becton Dickinson, this funder supports large INGOs through its disaster response/relief program. Will fund efforts that address both acute and protracted disasters anywhere in the world.
BLACKROCK PHILANTHROPY
BlackRock Philanthropy typically supports larger international disaster response and humanitarian aid organizations. It supports both refugees and disaster relief.
JACOB AND HILDA BLAUSTEIN FOUNDATION
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation supports organizations helping refugees and asylum seekers around the country.
BOOZ ALLEN FOUNDATION
The Booz Allen Foundation awards grants to disaster response and relief organizations working within the United States. It does not appear to fund refugee-related work.
OTTO BREMER TRUST
The Otto Bremer Trust’s Restorative and Emergency Services grants support a wide range of services for “individuals and families facing disruptive forces in life,” including not only natural disasters, but domestic violence, sexual assault, fire, medical emergency, or economic hardship.
MARGARET A. CARGILL FOUNDATION
Cargill supports disaster relief efforts nationally and internationally. Internationally, it focuses on capacity building and providing operations support.
CELANESE FOUNDATION
The Celanese Foundation funds organizations that help victims of natural disasters. The foundation does not award grants to refugee organizations and causes.
CENTER FOR ARAB AMERICAN PHILANTHROPY
The Center for Arab American Philanthropy makes grants to support the Arab American community nationwide. Its grantmaking supports racial justice, community development, disaster relief, and women and girls, and it also serves to raise the profile of the Arab community in the United States.
CHILD HEALTH FOUNDATION
This foundation’s humanitarian relief grants focus on children’s health in less developed nations.
CISCO FOUNDATION
Cisco largely supports natural disaster response and relief. Those working to provide recovery and relief efforts for manmade disasters will find it difficult, if not impossible, to attract Cisco’s grantmaking.
CITI FOUNDATION
Though the Citi Foundation does award grants for immediate disaster relief, the foundation tends to focus on rebuilding communities and strengthening local economies in the aftermath.
CLARA LIONEL FOUNDATION
The Clara Lionel Foundation supports climate resilience, disaster relief, racial justice, global health, immigrants and refugees, and other issues of interest to the founder in the U.S., the Caribbean and other countries around the world, particularly in Africa.
COCA-COLA FOUNDATION
Large organizations with worldwide recognition and reach receive the lion’s share of the Coca-Cola Foundation’s grants for disaster relief.
COMIC RELIEF
Comic Relief focuses its grantmaking on helping refugees and displaced populations access safe shelter and basic necessities such as food and clothing.
EVAN CORNISH FOUNDATION
The U.K.-based Cornish Foundation funds projects and programs that support vulnerable refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant populations.
CROWN FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES
Crown Family Philanthropies focuses its disaster and refugee grantmaking on organizations providing psychosocial support in areas of the world recovering from conflict.
DEVON CREEK FOUNDATION
The Devon Creek Foundation awards grants to support disaster relief efforts around the world. The foundation also supports organizations responding to global refugees.
DANPAUL FOUNDATION
The DanPaul Foundation’s refugee grantmaking focuses on helping young refugees resettle in their new countries.
DELUXE CORPORATION FOUNDATION
The foundation supports disaster relief via donations to the American Red Cross.
DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
Dow has responded to recent natural disasters in areas of the U.S. where it maintains operations.
DREAM BLUE FOUNDATION
The Dream Blue Foundation provides humanitarian aid and relief to Syrian refugees. It also gives to education programs to help refugees fill the gap left by war and disaster.
ELEVANCE HEALTH FOUNDATION
The Elevance Health Foundation (formerly known as the Anthem Foundation) is dedicated to the health and wellness of all Americans and focuses on maternal and infant health, substance abuse, healthy diets, and community and disaster relief.
ELMA RELIEF FOUNDATION
ELMA Relief awards grants to support organizations working in disaster response, rebuilding, and risk reduction related to predictable disasters. The foundation focuses on children and underserved populations.
ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS FOUNDATION
The rental car holding company’s charitable arm supports disaster and recovery efforts worldwide. Grants tend to be modest in amount. Most recipients are chosen by Enterprise Holdings employees.
EVERY MOTHER COUNTS
Every Mother Count’s makes emergency response grants for organizations serving expectant women and girls in areas that have suffered natural disasters or humanitarian crises.
FARMERS INSURANCE
Farmers Insurance invests in job readiness programs through its education grantmaking.
FCA FOUNDATION
While the FCA Foundation does not name specific priorities, it supports a number of organizations that provide disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery services in the United States.
FEDEX FOUNDATION
This nimble corporate funder awards disaster relief, recovery, disaster preparedness grants and grants related to management programs.
SAMUEL FELS FUND
In address immigrant, refugee, and asylum populations, the Samuel Fels Fund prioritizes organizations based in or serving the Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, region.
FLUOR FOUNDATION
The Fluor Foundation focuses its disaster-related grantmaking on relief, prevention and preparedness efforts.
FORD FOUNDATION
Ford does not award many grants in the refugee space, but when it does so, they are large. Ford also gives generously to relief work on select natural disasters.
FRANKEL FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Frankel Family Foundation supports long-term educational programs for refugees and displaced persons.
FREEPORT-MCMORAN FOUNDATION
This a small operation of modest means that supports disaster relief and recovery efforts in areas of the world in which the company operates.
GATES FOUNDATION
Grantmaking for disasters is similar to other grantmaking by Gates—large gifts go to big-name organizations focused on scalable, replicable projects.
GE FOUNDATION
This funder largely supports big disaster response organizations like the American Red Cross.
GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
GM broadly supports disaster relief efforts.
GERE FOUNDATION
The Gere Foundation’s humanitarian and disaster relief funding invests in efforts for Tibet and to work to integrate refugee programs in developing countries.
GIUSTRA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
The Giustra International Foundation supports global organizations focused on global development, humanitarian and disaster relief, and security and human rights.
GIVE2ASIA
This foundation supports disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and resilience-building programs in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.
GOOGLE.ORG
This tech funder supports groups that use technology to address disaster and refugee issues. Tends to support large INGOs; grantseekers should contact the foundation for more insight into funding.
GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION
Grand Circle’s disaster relief funding targets natural disaster relief efforts in areas where “local governments cannot adequately provide basic needs.”
GUPTA FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Gupta Family Foundation awards grants supporting disaster relief organizations in the United States and abroad.
DOROTHEA HAUS ROSS FOUNDATION
The Dorothea Haus Ross Foundation seeks community organizations that work to secure healthcare, education, and rights for vulnerable children.
HEXBERG FAMILY FOUNDATION
The foundation has supported disaster relief and humanitarian aid efforts in Southern California and beyond.
HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION
The Home Depot Foundation’s Disaster Relief program area mobilizes the company’s “merchandising, supply chain and operations teams” to provide relief services following natural disasters throughout the United States.
IKEA FOUNDATION
The IKEA Foundation provides unrestricted disaster relief funding to select partner organizations working in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
IMPACT LEBANON
The Impact Lebanon supports various efforts to support the Lebanese community through initiatives related to activism, volunteerism and diverse programming.
INTEL FOUNDATION
The Intel Foundation supports disaster and emergency response and relief efforts in the United States and around the world.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON FAMILY OF COMPANIES FOUNDATION
Johnson & Johnson supports disaster relief and humanitarian aid efforts around the world.
KPMG FOUNDATION
The KPMG Foundation awards grants to disaster response and disaster preparedness organizations.
LAWRENCE FOUNDATION
The Lawrence Foundation awards grant to environmental organizations located in the United States; however, grantee organizations may operate projects elsewhere in the world.
LOWE’S FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE GIVING
Lowe’s supports disaster relief in the U.S. and around the world through corporate donations to large national organizations and NGOs.
MACY’S INC.
Macy’s supports local relief and recovery from disasters throughout the United States through its Disaster Relief initiative.
MATTEL CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION
Mattel makes its grants for disaster relief through its Strengthen Communities program, which also support community development, health initiatives and disaster relief worldwide.
MEDTRONIC FOUNDATION
Medtronic also provides grants for disaster relief grants through it Civic Engagement focus area. These grants seek to help “communities prepare, respond, recover and build.”
METLIFE FOUNDATION
The MetLife Foundation awards disaster response and relief grants to organizations working in the United States and around the world.
MICHELIN CORPORATE FOUNDATION
The Michelin Corporate Foundation tends to support large national and international refugee and disaster response and relief organizations.
MICROSOFT PHILANTHROPIES
Humanitarian grantmaking here seeks to help refugees and displaced populations rebuild their lives.
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS FOUNDATION
This corporate funder centers its giving on first-responder training, preparation programs and public disaster education campaigns.
NASIRI FOUNDATION
The Nasiri Foundation awards unrestricted grants to organizations relieving human suffering around the world.
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE FOUNDATION
In all regions of giving, Nationwide strongly prioritizes Tier 1 and Tier 2 requests: Emergency and Basic Needs, and Crisis Stabilization.
NEWMAN’S OWN FOUNDATION
This foundation prioritizes disaster relief and recovery grants to small, community-based foundations.
NANDO AND ELSA PERETTI FOUNDATION
This Rome-based funder focuses on disaster response efforts and wide-reaching refugee efforts. Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation’s grants for disaster relief and refugees are relatively wide-ranging.
OMRON FOUNDATION
The Omron Foundation awards grants to organizations responding to natural disasters in the United States and around the world.
OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS
Open Society’s grant money includes work to assist refugees around the world.
PANDA CARES
Panda Cares has made donations of money, food and protective gear in response to several recent disasters.
PFIZER FOUNDATION
The Pfizer Foundation supports natural disaster response and relief organizations that operate around the world.
PIMCO FOUNDATION
The foundation’s disaster relief grantmaking overlaps significantly with its hunger relief funding.
PROCTER & GAMBLE
Supports response, relief, and preparedness efforts around the world. Often provides in-kind donations.
PRUDENTIAL FOUNDATION
This funder awards both immediate disaster and relief grants and long-term support for international organizations.
PWC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The PwC Foundation supports disaster relief and humanitarian aid via its humanitarianism initiative. This funding program’s three goals are to help communities prepare for natural disasters, to support relief organizations and to invest in “cutting-edge humanitarian ventures that advance socially inclusive models of support.”
QUAIL ROOST FOUNDATION
The Quail Roost Foundation’s Emergency and Contingency grants generally provide support for natural disasters and humanitarian crises around the world.
RAINBOW WORLD FUND
The Rainbow World Fund supports humanitarian aid organizations that address the needs of both LGBT refugees and non-LGBTQ communities around the world.
ROCHE
Roche awards disaster response and relief grants to nonprofit organizations working in developing countries. Roche offers cash grants as well as in-kind donations and logistical support.
ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
Rockefeller works on disaster issues through its resilience frame. It’s humanitarian relief work also focuses on COVID-19.
DR. SCHOLL FOUNDATION
The Dr. Scholl Foundation supports disaster and refugee organizations across the United States; however, organizations that are grantmaking entities themselves are not eligible for a Dr. Scholl Foundation grant.
SAINT-GOBAIN FOUNDATION
The Saint-Gobain Foundation offers an Employee Emergency Assistance Program for “unexpected circumstances such as a national disaster, military deployment, or other qualifying events.”
SCHULTZ FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Schultz Family Foundation supports natural disaster response and relief efforts taking place in the United States and U.S. territories, but does not support refugee or asylum relief.
SEMPRA ENERGY FOUNDATION
Sempra provides response and relief grants to regions of the world that have been affected by large-scale natural disasters. The foundation does not provide funding for man-made disaster relief or events that are a result of conflict.
SINGING FOR CHANGE
Much of this foundation, associated with Jimmy Buffett, focuses on disaster relief, among other related interests.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
Southwest Airlines supports organizations that help communities prepare for disasters as well as those responding to regions affected by disaster.
BARBARA STIEFEL FOUNDATION
The Barbara Stiefel Foundation funds disaster relief efforts as it sees fit in the United States and abroad.
T. ROWE PRICE FOUNDATION
The T. Rowe Price Foundation awards grants in response to natural disasters in the United States and around the world.
UBS OPTIMUS FOUNDATION
The UBS Optimus Foundation centers its disaster and refugee grantmaking on the safety of children affected by crises.
UPS FOUNDATION
UPS is practically a one-stop shop for organizations working in disaster relief. Those fortunate enough to receive funding get access to a treasure trove of resources for making positive impacts in disaster zones.
VISA FOUNDATION
The Visa Foundation focuses its disaster and humanitarian aid grantmaking on working with governments, international relief organizations and other key actors helping communities impacted by crisis.
VITOL FOUNDATION
The Vitol Foundation responds to natural and manmade disasters and invests in refugee education around the world.
VOYA FOUNDATION
Supports both large NGOs and lesser-known groups that respond to natural disasters abroad; some U.S. response is funded as well. Prefers to make single-year rather than multi-year grants.
WALMART FOUNDATION
The Walmart Foundation offers two ways for organizations to apply for a disaster relief grant—through its Local Giving and National Giving programs.
WELLSPRING PHILANTHROPIC FUND
The Wellspring Philanthropic Fund is a global grantmaker that supports a wide variety of causes, including racial equity, economic justice, support for women, children, the LGBTQ community, people living in poverty, refugees, and those with disabilities.
WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION
The foundation gives globally for humanitarian and disaster relief through grants and in-kind donations.
XEROX
The company supports humanitarian and disaster relief and recovery efforts through its Disaster Relief program, which “provides aid to our employees and their neighbors in crises during natural disasters.”
