Podcast Summary: "Lessons on Disaster Giving With Patty McIlreavy"

Podcast: Giving Done Right by The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Episode Date: November 20, 2025
Guest: Patty McIlreavy, President & CEO, Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Hosts: Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the complexities and best practices of disaster philanthropy. Patty McIlreavy draws on decades of international humanitarian experience to break down the nuances of effective disaster giving. The conversation covers how donors should think about disaster relief, the balance between immediate and long-term giving, the crucial role of local organizations, the importance of humility and equity, the impact of climate change, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Defining Disaster Philanthropy

• Patty stresses the importance of understanding what qualifies as a disaster. It’s not just the hazard (e.g., hurricane, earthquake) but the intersection of hazard with vulnerability that creates a disaster.
  • Quote (Patty, 03:25):

    “What a disaster is, is when a hazard meets a vulnerability... If you’re caring about social justice, if you’re caring about a community’s recovery, development, even voting rights, you... have to look at the vulnerabilities that exist within your community and how that positions them for hazard when it arrives.”

2. Moving Beyond Emergency Response: Prevention and Resilience

• Phil notes the challenge in motivating donors to give before disasters happen, rather than in reaction to them. Patty argues that prevention—by addressing vulnerabilities—is more impactful than reactionary giving.

  • Quote (Patty, 05:11):

    “We can do things to decrease vulnerabilities. If you're decreasing vulnerabilities, you are decreasing the risk of disaster for that community because they are better prepared to be resilient during that disaster.”

• Example cited: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the lack of digital equity in education, an issue that could have been mitigated through proactive investment in infrastructure.

3. Timing and Strategy of Disaster Giving

• There’s no “one size fits all” for when to give; needs vary by context and community. Patty critiques the common “relief-to-recovery” cycle, urging a more nuanced, ongoing engagement.
  • Quote (Patty, 07:40):

    “I’m not a huge fan of the cycle mentality... Every community, every family, every household, they will all be impacted differently in a disaster. And where they need that help will vary.”

4. Responding to the Emotional Pull: Being Strategic Amid Crisis

• Many donors give due to proximity, scale, or media-driven urgency. Patty calls on donors to mobilize empathy into informed, flexible support—preferably through organizations with long-term commitments on the ground.
  • Quote (Patty, 09:34):

    “People give for three reasons. They give because of proximity, because of scale, or because the media drives them there... It’s good to give in the early days, but give flexibly. Trust your organization. Give to organizations that have a long-term mindset...”

5. Local vs. Big Organizations: Navigating Where to Give

• Patty emphasizes the ecosystem of disaster response, in which both large NGOs and small community-rooted organizations play important but different roles. She suggests using intermediaries like CDP or GlobalGiving to identify trusted local partners when donors lack on-the-ground knowledge.
  • Quote (Patty, 12:11):

    “There’s an ecosystem within the response... There are intelligent intermediaries... who help donors find a conduit to those smaller organizations.”

6. What (and What Not) to Give in Disasters

• Cash is best, as it provides maximum flexibility and avoids the logistical drain of unwanted donated goods. Patty recounts how well-intentioned shipments (like teddy bears and stiletto heels) can create significant burdens, especially when sent internationally.
  • Quote (Patty, 15:43):

    “Imagine... you’re on the receiving end of this. You’re in Haiti, you’re at the airport or the port after the earthquake... what’s coming in instead is a load of teddy bears and coats. And suddenly all that stuff has to be stored somewhere... It’s a glut.”

7. Equity and Media Attention in Disaster Response

• Media coverage and location bias often influence where donations flow, leading to inequities (e.g., Ukraine vs. East Africa). CDP works to draw donor attention to underfunded crises and supports equitable recovery efforts.
  • Quote (Patty, 18:39):

    “There’s over a billion dollars of philanthropic donations to Ukraine already. And I can tell you, the people in East Africa would be jumping for joy over half that number... We try and ensure people are aware of other disasters and how they can help.”

8. Humility, Expertise, and Donor Arrogance

• Patty challenges donor arrogance, underscoring that local organizations and communities know their needs best. She calls for mutual respect between donors, nonprofits, and beneficiaries.
  • Quote (Patty, 20:38):

    “The arrogance of the donors, like, I have and you don’t... I’m always kind of like, oh, wait, was that covered at Wharton Business School?... Let’s be mutually respectful in the same way that I will challenge nonprofits to be mutually respectful of the communities we’re serving.”

9. Pitfalls: When Good Intentions Go Wrong (Haiti Case Study)

• Patty discusses the disastrous effects of uncoordinated aid following the Haiti earthquake and how even expert skills can do harm without contextual understanding.
  • Quote (Patty, 24:13):

    “You had a very, very crowded space... a lot of organizations that were just individuals, well-intentioned, but had never been outside the country before... Harvard did some research... the number of amputations that occurred in Haiti from well-intentioned weekend warrior doctors... was mind blowing... they actually did an enormous amount of harm.”

10. Success Stories: Community-Led Disaster Response

• In contrast, the response to Hurricane Harvey in Houston is presented as a case where local leadership and organizations coordinated a more effective response, underscoring the value of rooted intermediaries like community foundations.
  • Quote (Patty, 26:18):

    “That was very Texas led... funding went in, but it was driven and designed and based on community approaches.”

11. The Role and Approach of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

• CDP acts as both an educator and a fund manager, helping donors find vetted organizations and think strategically about disaster giving, always prioritizing local engagement and recovery over mere response.
  • Quote (Patty, 27:49):

    “Our mission is about elevating the leverage that philanthropy can play... It’s about being attentive to disasters, working with nonprofits on the ground, by speaking to communities... We have a recovery mindset.”

12. Climate Change and the Future of Disasters

• Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of disasters, disproportionately affecting already vulnerable populations. Patty calls for systems-level, intersectional approaches.
  • Quote (Patty, 30:36):

    “The world is on fire... This is going to require a political will across the globe... We have to call on those organizations who don’t think of themselves as disaster philanthropists to recognize... If they truly care about those communities, they have to look at what those risks are that are coming.”

13. Measuring Impact: Value of Prevention

• Prevention is hard to measure—sometimes the best result is “nothing bad happened.” Donors must rethink their hunger for outcomes data and value the long-term, often invisible impact of risk reduction.
  • Quote (Phil, 33:14):

    “In the desire to know what was my impact, you can fail to address things for which the ultimate measure of impact is something not happening.”

  • Quote (Patty, 33:29):

    “That is exactly why disaster risk reduction is never funded... They want to be seen as having given at that moment... That’s where I do think philanthropy can make a difference.”

14. Final Thought: What is “Giving Done Right” in Disaster Philanthropy?

• Quote (Patty, 34:39):

  “Giving done Right to me is about being an informed donor who’s willing to take chances.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Patty, on the purpose of disaster philanthropy (03:25):

  “What a disaster is, is when a hazard meets a vulnerability... If you’re caring about social justice... you have to look at the vulnerabilities that exist within your community...”

• Patty, critiquing the “relief-to-recovery” mindset (07:40):

  “I’m not a huge fan of the cycle mentality because it allows people to feel like there’s a timeframe when it’s over that is very individual.”

• Patty, on emotional giving (09:34):

  “They want to be seen to give. They’re empathizing with the situation. There’s a lot of drivers that bring people into that giving and that immediate response. It’s human nature.”

• Patty, on the dangers of misguided in-kind donations (15:43):

  “What’s coming in instead is a load of teddy bears and coats... It’s a glut. There’s no other word for it. But it’s when people have the best of intentions, but they’re not thinking through, is this really what is needed?”

• Patty, challenging donor arrogance (20:38):

  “Let’s be mutually respectful in the same way that I will challenge nonprofits to be mutually respectful of the communities we’re serving. The community knows themselves best, and they will tell you best what they need.”

• Patty, on failure in disaster giving (24:13):

  “Individuals who wanted to help, who had skills to help, but who didn’t have the understanding and the experience and knowledge of working in those conditions and actually did an enormous amount of harm.”

• Patty, on success in disaster response (26:18):

  "That response went effectively... but it was driven and designed and based on community approaches."

• Patty, distilling her philosophy (34:39):

  “Giving done Right to me is about being an informed donor who’s willing to take chances.”

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• Defining Disaster Philanthropy: 03:08 – 04:37
• The Power of Prevention: 04:37 – 07:07
• When and How to Give: 07:07 – 11:05
• Community Roots vs. Big Brands: 11:05 – 13:58
• Cash vs. In-Kind, What Not to Give: 13:58 – 17:12
• Media, Equity, and the Donor’s Mindset: 17:12 – 20:38
• Risks of Donor Arrogance: 20:38 – 23:35
• Case Study – Haiti’s Missed Lessons: 23:35 – 26:13
• Case Study – Houston’s Effective Response: 26:13 – 27:49
• How CDP Guides Donors: 27:49 – 30:12
• Climate Change and the New Disaster Normal: 30:12 – 33:14
• Measuring the Value of Prevention: 33:14 – 34:39
• Final Question – Giving Done Right: 34:28 – 34:45

Overarching Tone and Final Reflections

The conversation is honest, thoughtful, and urgent in tone. Patty consistently emphasizes humility, listening, and equity. The hosts underscore the importance of self-awareness for donors and reflect on their own learning through the episode.

Closing Quote (Patty, 34:39):

“Giving done Right to me is about being an informed donor who’s willing to take chances.”

For Listeners: Takeaways to Improve Your Disaster Giving

• Focus on reducing vulnerabilities and supporting resilience, not just reacting to disasters.
• Prioritize cash donations to trusted local organizations and intermediaries.
• Be aware of the limitations of your own knowledge and expertise.
• Consider the equity of your response and the “invisible” value of prevention.
• Use intermediaries and do research to identify organizations with local roots and long-term commitment.
• Measure success not just by visible results, but also by what suffering or loss is prevented.
• Practice humility, listen to those closest to the issues, and be flexible in your approach.

For more resources and disaster giving guidance, visit givingdoneright.org.