When disaster strikes, it strikes fast, hard, and indiscriminately. Corporate donations and disaster relief programs can make a real difference for individuals and communities impacted by serious, devastating events.
Whether you’re looking for a way to help employees navigate personal emergencies or non-profits working in disaster zones, there are many ways to turn inspiration into action. Here’s a quick look at corporate disaster relief programs and how you can make the biggest difference with an all-in-one philanthropy platform like Groundswell.
When a natural disaster occurs, it’s natural to want to find a way to lend a helping hand. Fortunately, there are numerous ways companies around the world can use their resources to support those in need. This normally happens through corporate disaster relief programs.
These programs come in various shapes and sizes, from fundraising campaigns to paid time off for affected employees. A company might run its own relief program directly or partner with specific charities to offer aid.
What a corporate disaster relief effort looks like in practice can vary depending on its goals and needs. Typically, though, initiatives fall into one of two categories:
Employee assistance programs, or employee hardship programs, are a simple way to show up for the people who make your company great.
Disaster relief programs such as these cover the many ways businesses can support their employees in times of need. Whether it’s a fire, flood, storm, or medical emergency, corporate programs, like employee disaster relief payments, can make a world of difference.
Corporate relief programs often take the form of donations and grants. Goods such as food, clothing, and medical supplies are examples of in-kind donations, while grants are financial gifts given to organizations providing aid.
Grants are generally more effective, as they provide experienced disaster response personnel with the necessary funds to meet the greatest needs on the ground. In-kind donations should be carefully coordinated with knowledgeable organizations to ensure that the goods you're sending are making a real difference, not creating more clutter, work, or trouble for those in need of assistance.
According to a 2025 survey, 42% of Americans don’t have access to an emergency fund. In the event of extreme weather, health, or personal crises, this can spell disaster for those affected.
Employee assistance funds (EAFs) can help keep your employees fed, housed, and cared for during times of financial hardship.
There are a number of ways to set up EAFs depending on your specific company policy. You may want to consider including emergency assistance in your employee benefits packages, allowing other employees to donate directly through your giving platform, or use a combination of both strategies to ensure employees receive the funds they need to navigate the toughest times.
Employees want to feel involved and connected to the charities they support. Automatic donation matching is one of the easiest ways to motivate your employees’ generosity. In fact, companies that include donation matching in their employee relief programs can see a 40% increase in employee participation.
Empower your giving initiatives with an employee engagement platform that’s intuitive, straightforward, and simple to use. Ease and accessibility mean your employees can access the information and tools they need to get and stay involved with your most important campaigns.
As natural disasters become more intense and widespread, corporate relief programs are more important than ever. Legacy platforms can be cost-prohibitive, inefficient, and cumbersome for businesses looking to make a measurable impact in the causes that matter most. Enter Groundswell.
Our modern, intuitive platform makes it easy to coordinate your employee giving, volunteering, grants, and disaster relief fund efforts on one convenient platform. Easily track, measure, and gather reports on your campaigns to further develop and improve your programs. Manage grants, coordinate volunteer opportunities, and establish employee assistance programs, all while lightening the administrative load for your CSR team.
Unlike other platforms, which can take weeks or months to deliver the funds you raise, with Groundswell, donations are in the hands of your chosen recipient in a matter of hours. That means you can act quickly when disaster strikes, getting valuable dollars into the hands of those who need it most.
Disasters can be sudden, unexpected, and devastating. When you need to act fast, you need software that can keep up.
We believe in democratizing philanthropy so that organizations of all shapes and sizes have the tools they need to make a difference. Changing the world and stepping up to the plate during tough times shouldn’t be reserved only for those at the tippy-top.
Make your disaster relief efforts count with a platform designed to empower you and your employees alike. Our intuitive platform is easy to customize and simple to use, helping you get the most out of your mission to make a real-world difference.
See what makes Groundswell the leading corporate social responsibility and philanthropy platform for disaster relief efforts today. Book a demo with us to start making waves.
