Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DRI Foundation?

The DRI Foundation:

• Provides funding to help those affected by disasters
• Provides scholarships to enter the profession of emergency response, crisis management, business continuity and disaster recovery
• Provides opportunities for volunteerism

Why did DRI International create the Foundation?

DRI International is a 501(c)6—a professional trade organization and cannot accept donations, necessary for funding charitable activities. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 and can accept donations and provide grants and aid to those in need.

Who can nominate an organization for a grant or other aid?

The DRI Foundation relies on the DRI’s global network of certified disaster management professionals to look for opportunities for the foundation to provide support or aid. Please contact us at giving@driif.org.

How does the Foundation select what organizations receive grants?

The Giving Committee of the DRI Foundation Board of Directors has procedures for determining equitable and balanced distribution of support or aid.

How can I contact the DRI Foundation with requests or ask questions?

Please send an email to getinvolved@driif.org.

How long has the Foundation been around?

DRI Foundation is a 501c(3) charitable organization launched in 2011.

What is the Foundation’s vision?

Our vision is “Giving Back, Moving Forward.”

How does the Foundation execute that purpose?

Our mission is to promote disaster risk reduction awareness through partnerships and education, and aid recovery efforts through fundraising and volunteerism.

What is Disaster Risk Reduction?

• Term more commonly used in non-profit space, used in place of business continuity.
• Concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causal factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment and improved preparedness for adverse events.

What makes a community resilient?

Below are the six characteristics as identified by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC):

A safe and resilient community…

• …is knowledgeable and healthy. It has the ability to assess, manage, and monitor its risks. It can learn new skills and build on past experiences.
• …is organized. It has the capacity to identify problems, establish priorities and act.
• …is connected. It has relationships with external actors who provide a wider supportive environment, and supply goods and services when needed.
• …has infrastructure and services. It has strong housing, transport, power, water, and sanitation systems. It has the ability to maintain, repair and renovate them.
• …has economic opportunities. It has a diverse range of employment opportunities, income, and financial services. It is flexible, resourceful and has the capacity to accept uncertainty and respond (proactively) to change.
• …can manage its natural assets. It recognizes their value and has the ability to protect, enhance, and maintain them.

DRI Foundation Activities

What does the Foundation do?

The Foundation helps build resilient communities through three focus areas:

• Donations after Disasters – We empower communities to become a part of the recovery process by partnering with local charities. By aiding grassroots organizations and non-profit agencies local to the disaster, we ensure those affected get help as soon as possible.
• Resilience and Rebuilding – We organize opportunities for business continuity professionals to give back to their communities throughout the year, as well as during DRI International’s annual conference.
• Education – We build community awareness for disaster risk reduction and provide access to the skills necessary for preparedness.  The DRI Foundation awards scholarships for college, Women in Business Continuity Management, Veterans, and offers small business training.

What are some of the activities that the DRI Foundation has engaged in?

Here is a sampling of our outreach initiatives:

• The Veterans Outreach Program Committee awarded over 1000 scholarships to veterans to be trained and certified by DRI International so they might transition from military life into professions such as emergency response, crisis management, business continuity, and disaster recovery–in other words free education, certification, and job placement for veterans.
• The Women in Business Continuity Management Committee was formed to bring women together to forge strong personal networks assist women in advancing within their chosen fields and explore and recommend specific actions and strategies to serve the needs of women in these professions.
• Volunteer Day at the annual DRI Conference: The Louisiana coast is an incredibly productive ecosystem largely because of Louisiana’s extensive wetlands. Numerous species of fish, birds and invertebrates inhabit Louisiana’s coastal waters for a portion of their lives, and some reside here for their entire life. Since 1900, Louisiana has lost more than 1 million acres of wetlands and barrier shoreline because of natural processes and human activity. Through the Foundation’s partnership with Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), DRI Foundation volunteers planted over 500 native cypress trees and prepared over 5.51 tons of oyster shells that will be used to rebuild both coastlines and oyster reefs. This helps to ensure that there will be a south Louisiana to enjoy both now and in the future. Our volunteers are making a difference within the communities that we visit.

Learn more about our outreach initiatives in our Annual Review here.

Get Involved

How can I get involved?

The DRI Foundation offers a variety of ways you can show your support for our mission.

• Donate – Our fundraising is successful thanks to the support and generosity of our friends and business partners. The DRI Foundation gladly accepts donations throughout the year to aid charities and disaster relief efforts. Program details are available here.
• Volunteer – Help your community while networking with other business continuity professionals. Program details are available here.
• For partnership and sponsor opportunities please visit our Partnerships and Affiliates page.