Disaster Response and Resiliency
Now Accepting Nominations for the Citizens Awards
For 25 years, the Citizens Awards have recognized businesses for their leadership in solving the world’s biggest challenges. Awards are given in nine categories, honoring the most innovative and impactful corporate citizenship programs, from economic opportunity to education to disaster response. Apply by June 21, 2024.
We deliver education, training, tools and resources to help employers prepare for disasters and resume the important work of serving communities.
We activate purpose-built partnerships and technology platforms that ensure accurate, timely information from the ground and help speed decision-making in moments of crisis.
We break through the clutter to identify specific place-based needs and help the right kinds of relief get to the right places in the right order.
We connect leaders from the highest levels of business, government, and nonprofits to spread good ideas and solve problems together.
Press Release
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in partnership with American Express, launched a grant program to help small business owners recover from natural disasters. With support from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, the first round of funding totaling $500,000 will be used to provide $5,000 each to Maui-based small businesses impacted by the catastrophic wildfires of August 2023.
Small businesses serve as the economic engine of this nation. Yet, they are often the most vulnerable when disasters strike. It's estimated that 25% of businesses do not reopen following a major disaster. Developed in partnership with FedEx with support from Allstate, the Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R) is a multi-year initiative to support small businesses impacted by disasters.
Programs
Latest Content
This month marks National Preparedness Month, which reminds us all to prepare for disasters and emergencies of all kinds. It’s especially pertinent this year as we face uncharacteristic and unpredictable weather patterns, with impacts of wildfires, hurricane season, and severe storms impacting communities across the U.S. and the globe.
On August 8, 2023, a series of wildfires broke out in Hawaii. Affecting Maui and other island communities, the wind-driven fires have led to mass evacuations, widespread damage, and numerous lives lost.
On July 26-27, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosted the 12th Annual Building Resilience Conference. The conference brought together prominent business leaders, government officials, and industry experts to share knowledge and best practices through action-oriented panels, fireside chats, and keynote speeches.
UPS, Meta, Google, Abbott, and Medtronic cross-sector response highlights
Six weeks after a series of devastating earthquakes struck Türkiye and Syria, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation led two discussions during the U.S.-Türkiye Business Forum: Prioritizing Resilient Partnerships, convened with the U.S. Chamber’s U.S.-Türkiye Business Council on March 13. As the region begins to focus on recovery to meet humanitarian needs, this creates opportunities for strengthening relationships and building stronger, more resilient communities.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation recently convened cross-sector leaders to discuss the state of Ukraine’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, commemorating one year since the Russian invasion.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today launched private-public coordination efforts to help the areas impacted by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. This includes a corporate aid tracker currently showing pledges from the U.S. business community totaling more than $33.1 million.