The most effective ways to help Los Angeles

The recent wildfires across Greater Los Angeles left a trail of destruction that devasted individuals, families and organizations, and we extend our thoughts to all who were affected.

During crises, including natural disasters, it’s common to feel uncertain about how to make an impact. Yet you can make meaningful contributions in many ways—volunteering your time, giving your financial resources and helping the nonprofit organizations working tirelessly to support those in need.

Helping people who are in great peril is one of the most intrinsic forms of philanthropy. Your support might even have a transformative effect on relief and rebuilding efforts.

But donating can be difficult during a crisis. Information from the field can be inaccurate, and the number of charities asking for donations during and after a disaster can suddenly proliferate.

To help you give effectively in times like these, we offer these insights, including questions to help you with due diligence, considerations for the disaster’s later phases, and ways to track your donations’ impact.

Know the charity

Whether you are looking to volunteer your time, financial resources or expertise, it’s essential to choose established, registered charities with a proven track record in disaster management. Look for charities that have demonstrated success in prior crises and/or that are familiar with the area. When you’re looking, you may find charities with needs that have emerged during the crisis that also align with your existing philanthropic goals.

If you find yourself drawn to new charities, ensure they have applied for 501(c)3 status or are using a registered fiscal sponsor. Evaluate the charity’s leadership, reputation and capacity to manage funds and assess needs effectively.

Key questions

• Does the group have a deep understanding of the issues and problems it’s addressing and strong ties to the communities being served?
• Is the organization led by skilled leaders who have a proven track record—especially in times of crisis?
• Does the organization have the capacity and resources to effectively deliver programs and services?
• Does the organization collaborate with peers, and if it’s been in existence for a while, does it maintain a good reputation with its funders?
• Is its financial management sound, with diverse revenue sources and a pattern of financial stability? You can verify this by reading its Form 990 (a tax-exempt nonprofit’s tax return), publicly available from a variety of sources.

Adapt your action and impact

Disaster recovery is a complex process. It requires a strategic approach to addressing immediate needs—emergency shelter and supplies, for example—and to long-term needs as well, including reconstruction and ongoing mental health support. Philanthropy plays a crucial role in these multifaceted efforts.

While disaster fundraising often declines after six months, the needs on the ground persist.

Key considerations

Think about the evolving situation as having several phases:

• Phase 1—Urgent needs
  
  The first focus is on a rapid response to provide essential services and critical supplies: emergency shelter, food and water, medical assistance, psychological support to individuals coping with trauma.
  
  While this has already occurred in Los Angeles, normally in an emergency, your first step should be to find out if distribution channels for emergency supplies have been established, and if charities and government departments are coordinated to ensure that the people with the greatest needs are reached first.
  
  Recognize that needs may vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, and news reports and social media may not be fully accurate on the state of the disaster region (resource deployment may seem slower than expected, for example, but perceptions may not reflect the reality on the ground).
  
  
• Phase 2—Recovery and rebuilding
  
  Once the immediate crisis has been managed, efforts shift to restoring normalcy and beginning reconstruction. This involves debris removal, restoring homes, repairing infrastructure, and engaging the community to foster collaboration and ownership.
  
  
• Phase3—Building resilience and promoting sustainability
  
  These actions can better prepare communities for future disasters. They include conducting disaster preparedness training and prevention, undertaking sustainable development projects and economic recovery programs, and advocating for policy change to reduce the community’s vulnerability over the long term.

Measure your impact

You should certainly gain an understanding from the recipient organization of where the needs are greatest, but equally important is setting clear expectations for your contributions so that your donations will be used for the purposes you intend.

Key tips

• If reasonable, you might ask charities to provide periodic reports, on the target population’s and organization’s current needs, and how it’s responding (although you wouldn’t want to make inquiries that would divert scarce resources away from its ability to function during a crisis).
• If you have contributed significant funds to an organization, consider conducting a site visit, if possible, or requesting a meeting with leadership three to six months after the donation, to learn more about how your donation is being used.
   

Leverage our help and expertise

As we have come together to support Los Angeles and its surrounding communities, our collective efforts can help rebuild lives, restore hope and ensure a more resilient future for all. J.P. Morgan Private Bank is committed to helping you make a difference.