List of Disaster Relief Organizations
21 organizations · Updated
Disaster relief organizations are the nonprofits and government agencies that respond when a hurricane, earthquake, flood, wildfire or conflict strikes. They provide emergency shelter, food and water, medical care and search and rescue, then stay for the long work of rebuilding. This list covers 21 of the organizations that respond most often, including the American Red Cross, FEMA, World Central Kitchen, Direct Relief, and Team Rubicon.
14 of them operate internationally; the other 7 work nationally or regionally. Each profile shows what the organization does, where it is headquartered, when it was founded, which of the 141 disasters we track it has responded to, and a direct link to donate. Filter the list by type of aid or scope, or search by name.
Showing 21 of 21 organizations
What disaster relief organizations do
Most organizations specialize. Some arrive in the first hours with rescue teams and supplies, others feed thousands of people a day, and others spend years rebuilding homes. The organizations on this list break down by type of aid:
- Emergency Response16 organizations
- Food & Water9 organizations
- Medical Aid7 organizations
- Shelter & Housing6 organizations
- Rebuilding5 organizations
- Faith-Based5 organizations
- Mental Health2 organizations
- Search & Rescue1 organization
- Animal Rescue1 organization
- Children & Families1 organization
- Veterans & Military1 organization
How to choose an organization to support
Give money, not goods. Cash lets responders buy exactly what is needed close to the disaster, without the cost of shipping and sorting donated items. FEMA calls it the fastest and most effective way to help.
Support a group that is already responding. Each disaster page lists the organizations working on that response, with links to their disaster-specific appeals.
Check before you give. Confirm a charity's tax-exempt status with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and look up its ratings on Charity Navigator. Be cautious with unfamiliar appeals that appear right after a disaster, when fake charities are most common.
Need help yourself rather than looking to give? See disaster assistance resources for federal and state programs.