At The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, we take seriously our commitment to and track record of both excellent stewardship of donated funds and the wise investment of those funds through grants to quality nonprofit programs benefiting the citizens and communities of Middle Tennessee.
That is why from day one of the historic flood of 2010, The Community Foundation, in conjunction with city officials, community leaders and relief organizations, has been at the forefront of disaster response – to maximize the effect of contributions for our community to recover. Our structure and philanthropic expertise, paired with years of planning and coordination to ready a disaster response plan, have allowed us to deploy resources strategically and effectively in the flood’s aftermath to address immediate and long-term needs.
How Flood Relief Works
The Community Foundation plays an active role in flood relief, through its two disaster response funds: The Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund, which supports relief and restoration in Davidson County, and the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund, which supports relief and restoration throughout the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee we serve. We also facilitate gifts from donors who have specific ideas about the kinds of projects they want to support for flood relief.
We are focused on getting people’s lives restored from the flood, stretching every dollar, making highly informed grant decisions and retaining flexibility to address emerging needs.
Here is how the process works:
- During a time of disaster, The Community Foundation serves as a central location for collecting donations of any size, from anywhere, into disaster funds. There is no fee paid to The Community Foundation from its flood relief funds.
- Then we work with volunteer committees of community leaders and long-term recovery groups, to make grants from the funds to nonprofit organizations and government agencies, not to individuals, that we know are providing direct services and have established systems in place to assess needs and get help to flood victims.
- Grants were made proactively to first responders in the flood’s aftermath, and then in reaction to grant applications submitted by qualifying organizations.
- After local nonprofits apply for grant funding, and get approved, The Community Foundation works expeditiously to distribute funds.
- Finally, we also monitor for needs which aren’t being met and actively encourage collaboration among responders to craft solutions.
- Our role is to ensure that resources are deployed to organizations that are getting help to people who need it most – and doing so reliably, efficiently and with consistency. Because our grantees provide assistance to people impacted by the flood, many flood victims aren’t aware Community Foundation flood funds are part of the equation.
- Due diligence is a key component of disaster grantmaking, with ongoing reports required of every organization that receives a grant. Along with ensuring grant funds are used to meet the needs intended, we are continuously working with experts and people on the ground to keep our response, and that of grantees, agile according to evolving and emerging needs.
- Two years after the flood, our recovery work is wrapping up in many areas, and funding left available to support flood recovery is detailed here. Applications from qualifying organizations serving the needs of flood victims are still accepted.
The Community Foundation is also focused on transparency in tracking the flood response, made possible by the generosity of thousands of people who contributed to meet the needs of flood victims. Visit “Where Is the Money Going?” to get information about financial contributions received to Community Foundation disaster funds and a breakdown of grant dollars awarded to date.
Recovery looks different than it did a year ago, and certainly much different than two years ago. Together, through the generous contributions of thousands of people and the work of hundreds of nonprofits, our community is being rebuilt and restored. We are focused on ensuring remaining resources are invested wisely to support long-term needs from the flood of 2010, and continue to monitor our grantees with ongoing programs for flood victims.
The Community Foundation has pledged to be a part of years of long-term recovery and ensures funds continue to pinpointed by our grantees on helping flood victims recover.
