POST DISASTER: A NEW WAY FOR FMS TO WORK IN THE MID SOUTH
Since Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf region and beyond, the Foundation for the Mid South has worked with others in the region to galvanize our efforts and to (re)build the capacity of the nonprofit sector. In the process, FMS has been extremely fortunate to work closely with our existing network of regional organizations and funders and join a number of new partners in an effort to respond to the disasters in the Mid South.
To help provide an overview of the hurricane-related work the Foundation and its partners have either done or are planning to do in the future, we will periodically report on the guidelines and strategies that FMS established to help guide our hurricane-related work over the next several years.
FMS Strategies for the Recovery Effort:
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- Create immediate opportunities for Mid South nonprofit leaders to share their ideas, voice their opinions, and develop a regional assessment which included specific priorities in regard to rebuilding the region.
>>> Memphis Meeting September 2005
- Share the region's assessment with a larger audience of national agencies, nonprofits, policy makers, and media.
>>> IS / FMS Washington D.C. meeting September 2005
- Seek new partners and expand existing networks – from the smallest grassroots organizations to largest international foundations – to connect new funding opportunities to the organizations that are in the best position to offer valuable insight and solutions to the specific problems facing the communities where the work is to be done.
>>> View a list of our hurricane-related grantees
- Provide direct relief to affected families, individuals, and businesses through corporate and donor advised funds established at FMS.
>>> Entergy's Power of Hope Fund
>>> TECO Bulk Terminal Community Relief Fund
>>> PHOV Employee Relief Fund
>>> Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund
>>> WEVA Videographers in Distress Fund
- Provide critical operating support for hurricane-affected nonprofits who are working to build just and equitable communities in the aftermath of the hurricanes and assist them in their own efforts to recover, rebuild, and reestablish service in their communities .
>>> FMS Hurricane Recovery and Restoration Fund
>>> Allstate Foundation Hurricane Recovery Fund
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Develop a cluster of funds to support rebuilding around a set of needs within a specific sector such as health care.
>>> Mid South Health Initiative
- Affect policy change that would include nonprofits and citizens as part of the solution for the redevelopment of their communities and assure their input in the use of available governmental and public fund.
- Openly report FMS's hurricane-related work and financial management to ensure our accountability to our donors, our grantees, and the public.
One thing is for certain – no one was prepared to address such overwhelming and devesating events such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. What is also certain is that the Gulf region will rebuild, and by working together – the philanthropic sector, the private sector, the federal government, state and local governments – what will be rebuilt will be better than what we had before.
>>> Back to Hurricane Recovery Main Page
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