Crisis & Disaster Giving

When a disaster strikes, we all feel the impact and look for ways to offer help. The Vermont Community Foundation stands ready to connect donors with our neighbors in need—both here at home and around the world.

By The Numbers

$13M +

For 2023 + 2024 Flood Relief

Made possible by over 9,000 of our fundholders, corporations, and individual donors who entrusted us to distribute grants across the state.

$10M +

Covid-19 Relief

Filled critical state and federal funding gaps for over 500 nonprofits that supported Vermont’s most vulnerable populations.

$4M +

Tropical Storm Irene Recovery

Primarily focused on the Mobile Home Relief Fund and Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund to those disproportionately impacted by the storm.

When the floods hit, we saw firsthand just how Vermonters show up for their neighbors – volunteering, mucking out basements, feeding people, and giving.

David R. Coates Fund for Vermont Disaster Relief

As Vermont faces an increasingly unpredictable future with more frequent extreme weather events, the need for greater preparedness, along with both immediate and long-term support is more important than ever. This fund, established in early 2025, is a permanent resource dedicated to ensuring immediate and lasting support for Vermont communities affected by natural disasters.

2023 & 2024 Flooding

In the summers of 2023 + 2024, Vermont faced devastating floods that ravaged towns across 14 of 17 Vermont counties. Within 24 hours, the VCF launched the VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund. Our grants supported rural communities, urgent needs, housing, mental health, and businesses, including direct grants to farmers. As of 2024, we continue to focus on these issues and watershed resilience.

Group of people holding check for Covid Response Fund

VT COVID-19 Response Fund

In March 2020, as the pandemic hit Vermont, the VCF stood up the COVID-19 Response Fund to support nonprofits addressing urgent public health and economic impacts. In subsequent phases, we focused on long-term economic recovery, mental health support, and community resilience. These lessons enhanced our grantmaking strategies, strengthening our response to the 2023 flood.

A road washes out during the July flooding in Vermont 2023.

Irene Response & Recovery

In 2011, Irene unleashed unprecedented devastation across Vermont, flooding towns, destroying homes, severing critical infrastructure, and stranding thousands on washed-out roads. With immediate support from our fundholders, local businesses, and partners we mobilized to provide aid. Our collective efforts helped individuals, families, farms and businesses recover and rebuild.

“The Vermont Community Foundation was one of the first that reached out to CVOEO to help in the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding we received allowed our staff to change gears and work with CVOEO’s overstretched food shelves. Many of the donors to the VT COVID-19 Response Fund may be unknown, but they are not at all forgotten. To say I’m grateful is to minimize your impact—thank you!”

Jan Demers

CVOEO Executive Director (2020)

“I've decided to make a second gift to the VT COVID-19 Response Fund, knowing that the funds raised will be well coordinated by all of you and sent out where the need is greatest in our State.”

Jan Blomstrann

Fundholder

“I can’t let money just sit in my fund while this crisis is happening. It only makes sense to put it to work now.”

Miriam Meyer

Fundholder

“I know that New Farms for New Americans can and will rebuild and recover, but what about the farmers? How do they recoup their financial losses? And then the Community Foundation wrote this most glorious email. No additional work at a time of triage and crisis. Just a question: where do we mail the check?”

Alisha Laramee

Program Manager at New Farms for New Americans (NFNA)

“We are honored that the Vermont Community Foundation recognizes the unique value and position that home health and hospice care provides to our community. Our staff is on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis providing essential services to our patients every day. Gifts like this from the VT COVID-19 Response Fund will help us address the overwhelming issues presented by caring for communities in crisis.”

Ron Cioffi

CEO of VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region (2020)

“As a business who was not directly impacted by the floods, we wanted to donate 10% of our July profits to those that lost so much. Stronger together.”

Geoffrey S., Peacham

Crisis & Disaster Giving FAQs

vermont-community-foundation-crisis-disaster-recovery-faq@2x

What is the Vermont Community Foundation’s approach to disaster giving?

Using the most recent flooding in Vermont as an example, our approach can be summarized as:

Centralized Giving for Coordinated Response: The VCF aims to provide immediate aid and support extensive recovery efforts across the state while providing a centralized place for people to give.
Immediate Response and Relief: Focuses on meeting basic needs like food, shelter, and emergency services through fast-moving grants to state and regional partners, small businesses, farms, through local nonprofits.
Building Back Communities: Once emergency needs are addressed, the focus shifts to rebuilding. This phase supports needs like housing repairs, farm recovery, Main Street revitalization, mental health services, and fostering community connections.
Community Resilience: This phase emphasizes long-term resilience. In the case of 2023 + 2024 flooding, this also includes watershed management. Grants target projects that prepare communities for future climate impacts.

How does the Vermont Community Foundation ensure that disaster relief funds are used effectively?

We work closely with local organizations, government agencies, and other partners to identify and address the most urgent needs. The foundation also provides technical assistance and monitors the distribution of grants to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and transparently, supporting both immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts.

What if I want to give to a disaster or crisis outside of Vermont or even outside of the United States? Can I do that through the VCF?

Yes, you can make gifts to disasters outside of Vermont or even internationally through the VCF, as long as the donations are made via a U.S. public charity that operates international programs. VCF facilitates these philanthropic efforts by offering donor advised funds and other giving options, allowing you to grant directly to your chosen causes.

How can I contribute to disaster relief efforts through the Vermont Community Foundation?

Thank you for keeping Vermont a place where people look out for one another.

You can contribute to our disaster relief efforts by:

Donating online to the David R. Coates Fund for Vermont Disaster Relief

Sending a check to The Vermont Community Foundation, 3 Court Street, Middlebury, VT 05753 (Attn: Name of the fund you wish to support)

Making a gift of stock, ACH/wire transfer, or mutual funds.

Your contributions today help your neighbors rebuild tomorrow. Together, we can make a better Vermont for everyone.

Matt Bryan (left) and Olivia Glascoe, Lower Notch Berry Farm Bristol