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For Nonprofits
Nonprofit Partners
The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance (GHDA) is dedicated to building a stronger, more resilient region by partnering with nonprofits, whose deep community connections, adaptability, and program expertise make them vital to accelerating recovery and building resilience.
Year-Round Nonprofit Engagement Strategy
Informed by lessons learned from administering two joint disaster funds in 2024, GHDA has developed a transparent and impactful strategy to engage nonprofits year-round through funding opportunities, convenings, and resource sharing. This strategy aligns with our commitment to deploy disaster funding with thoughtful urgency while ensuring collaboration with trusted nonprofit partners.
Nonprofits that meet GHDA’s eligibility criteria and can adhere to GHDA’s nonprofit partner policies are classified as either a Core or Community Partner, based on their ability and capacity to provide specific disaster services (defined in the eligibility criteria) given various disaster scenarios and populations served.
| Core Partners | Community Partners | Friends of GHDA |
Disaster Services + Scenarios | Can quickly and efficiently activate at least one primary disaster service after any size natural disaster | Provides a primary or secondary disaster service after any type and any size disaster | Does not provide primary or secondary services or does not meet eligibility criteria |
Population(s) Served | Open to new clients, serves broad population | Open to new clients, serves broad or special/niche population | Not applicable to this classification system |
Grant Potential When a Fund is Activated | Likely to be funded after most natural disasters if they meet requirements/ services/ geography | May be funded after widespread disasters (less likely) | Unlikely to be funded based on requirements / services / geography |
Interested in becoming a partner? If your organization meets the eligibility criteria and can adhere to the nonprofit partner policies, please click here to submit your interest. The GHDA team will review your submission and follow up via email with the next steps.
Opportunities for All Nonprofits
GHDA is committed to engaging nonprofits throughout the region, regardless of their partner status with us. All organizations are encouraged to subscribe for disaster preparedness resources and invitations to select GHDA convenings that foster collaboration and highlight best practices, contributing to a more resilient Greater Houston community.
Looking for preparedness resources? Click here to download and share with your staff, volunteers, clients, and other networks.
Want to be even more actively involved? We encourage all nonprofits that are active in the disaster preparedness, response, and/or recovery space to regularly attend local disaster collaborative meetings specific to our region. These are not only fantastic networking opportunities, but also the most proactive way to get connected to other disaster resources and ultimately improve our collective response to future disasters. If you’re not already attending these meetings, here’s how to get connected:
Texas Gulf Coast Region Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (TGCR VOAD) for organizations that participate in immediate response & recovery post-disaster.
Fort Bend Recovers meets bimonthly, email Caroline Egan.
H-Town Recovers (Harris County Long-Term Recovery Committee) meets bimonthly, HTownLTRC@unitedwayhouston.org.
Montgomery County Community Assistance Recovery Efforts & Services (MCCARES) meets bimonthly, email Kimberli Mahoney.
Waller County Recovery Committee meets as needed, email Bobbie Wilson.
Frequently Asked Questions
GHDA is a philanthropic partnership between United Way and the Community Foundation that mobilizes and coordinates funding to support nonprofit organizations providing disaster-related services in the Greater Houston region. GHDA does not deliver direct services; instead, it invests in and strengthens nonprofit partners to support coordinated, effective disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. GHDA is not a separate, standalone 501c3. United Way of Greater Houston serves as the fiscal agent for the partnership.
GHDA’s service area includes Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, and Waller counties. Funded activities must support disaster-impacted communities within this region.
Eligible organizations are nonprofit entities that provide disaster-related direct services and demonstrate alignment with GHDA’s mission, values, and commitment to coordinated, client-centered recovery. Organizations must also have the capacity and willingness to participate in system-level collaboration and shared accountability.
Yes. While GHDA’s primary focus is disaster response and recovery, additional funding may be available to support disaster preparedness and resilience efforts that strengthen the region’s collective readiness before disasters occur.
No. GHDA does not provide services directly to individuals or households. GHDA funds and supports nonprofit partners that deliver disaster-related services on the ground.
GHDA takes a data-informed approach to funding decisions, drawing on trusted, multi-source data to identify communities experiencing disproportionate disaster impacts. This approach helps ensure philanthropic resources are targeted where needs are greatest.
GHDA works closely with trusted partners and agencies, including local Offices of Emergency Management, the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), United Way of Greater Houston, and Connective. Data sources may include:
- The Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT)
- 211 HELPLINE disaster-related calls
- ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) household data
- U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) poverty data
- Connective Needs Assessment Survey
- The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) at the census tract level
Together, these sources help GHDA understand both the scale and distribution of disaster-related needs.
Disproportionately impacted communities are geographic areas (typically zip codes) where disaster-related harm and recovery needs are significantly greater than in surrounding areas, due to both the scale of damage and underlying social and economic conditions that limit households’ ability to prepare for, withstand, and recover from disasters.
GHDA identifies these communities by analyzing multiple, trusted data sources to assess total need, proportional need, and extent of damage, with particular attention to areas where a high concentration of low-to-moderate income and ALICE households are more likely to be un- or under-insured. This analysis is further refined using the Social Vulnerability Index at the census tract level to surface smaller pockets of heightened vulnerability within high-need zip codes.
Disaster recovery is most effective when organizations work together. GHDA prioritizes coordination to reduce duplication, reach vulnerable populations to strengthen referrals, improve communication, and ensure resources reach households efficiently and equitably across the region.
Yes. Funded partners are expected to participate in relevant coordination efforts, convenings, and shared communication processes. These opportunities are designed to foster connection, shared learning, and collective impact, while being mindful of partners’ capacity and avoiding unnecessary administrative burden.
Yes. Grant reporting, timely communication, and participation in required meetings are core expectations of GHDA-funded partners. Reporting is designed to support shared learning, transparency, and continuous improvement.
GHDA prioritizes inclusive, trauma-informed, and client-centered disaster services. Partners are encouraged to reduce barriers to access, align with shared messaging, and co-design programs with us that support both long-term recovery and longer-term resilience.
Partner classifications are used internally by GHDA to support coordination, planning, and funding strategy. GHDA does not recommend that partners publicly share or promote their classification, as it is not intended as a public designation or ranking.
Funding decisions are informed by disaster context, community need, data analysis, partner capacity, program design, and alignment with GHDA’s coordinated recovery approach. GHDA values transparency and incorporates partner and community input where possible.
GHDA may use aggregated, de-identified data and partner-provided stories to communicate regional impact and inform funders and stakeholders. Confidential or sensitive information is handled with care and shared only as appropriate and with permission.
Organizations are encouraged to review GHDA’s mission, values, eligibility criteria, and partner expectations. Alignment with coordinated recovery, collaboration, and client-centered service delivery is essential.
Participation in the organizational review process helps GHDA and its partners accelerate disaster recovery by maintaining up-to-date organizational information, which ensures partners are well-positioned to quickly access and deploy future disaster recovery funding if their applications are granted. This process is designed to be an efficient and transparent way to accelerate recovery across our region while recognizing the unique capacity of each organization.
Community Partners are required to participate in year 1 of the 3-year cycle and highly encouraged to participate in years 2 and 3.
Core Partners are required to participate annually. However, years 2 and 3 of the 3-year cycle are generally lighter in content than year 1.
- Year 1: 2025
- Year 2: 2026
- Year 3: 2027
- Year 1: 2028
- Year 2: 2029
- Year 3: 2030
For additional questions or clarification, please email info@disasteralliance.org.
Questions?
We will continue to update this webpage as the Disaster Alliance continues to grow.
- For questions about the Nonprofit Portal: info@disasteralliance.org
- For general questions about the Disaster Alliance: Brooke Campbell at bcampbell@unitedwayhouston.org
