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.
Why give to the DRI Foundation?

Show pride in your affiliation with DRI International and the business continuity industry by giving together. There is strength and solidarity in numbers. By combining our donations, we will send a message of support, help, and hope from our community to those in need.

How can I make a donation? You can give via check or online. Program details are available here.

Want to double your donation?  Go to Double the Donation and find out whether your employer would match your donation or even your volunteer hours. Click here.

Where does my money go when I donate to the DRI Foundation?

100 % of your donations go to initiatives, not operating costs.  Learn more about our outreach initiatives here and in our Annual Review.

What are other ways to donate?

Click here to learn more about other ways to donate including:

  • Annual Auction Benefit – Your employer can offer its skills, services, and products for a good cause, to be auctioned off at our international conference.
  • Matching and Volunteer Grants- Organizations can encourage philanthropy by offering matching support and volunteer opportunities for their employees.
  • Charity Choice –  Purchase charity gift cards or make a donation of the remaining balance on your retail gift cards, credit card points, and employee incentive programs.

Volunteerism

 Why volunteer via the DRI Foundation?

We can leverage DRI’s relationships with governments and worldwide relief agencies to empower DRI’s global network of certified disaster management professionals with opportunities to give back to their communities.  What better way to do that than with the global community of certified business continuity professionals within our network?

Are these certified professionals uniquely qualified to help out?

Yes, we believe that the everyday skills and experiences of our professionals makes them great resources to help out and be supportive of communities under duress from an outage.  Their understanding of crisis situations and passion for emergency response and business continuity practices makes them qualified to assist.

Are any specific construction or rebuilding skills required?

No, many projects will involve non-construction activities and those willing to help will always have meaningful assignments provided.

Will the volunteers be working alone?

No, our methodology for volunteerism promotes a practice of partnering with local authorities, aid organizations and support groups.

Other than the primary purpose of helping people in time of need, are there other reasons for me to get involved with the volunteerism efforts in a specific location?

DRI has agreed to award Continuing Education Activity Points (CEAPs) for your work and the time spent helping out and ‘giving back.’ You will also have the opportunity to network with others at the volunteer sites and to learn from the aid organizations and local responding professionals. For more information on earning CEAPs through volunteerism, contact Michele Ostler at mostler@drii.org or (866) 542-3744.

How can I get more information on earning CEAPs through volunteerism?

Fill out our Volunteerism Form or contact Michele Ostler  at mostler@drii.org or call 866-542-3744.

How can I get more information about volunteerism with the DRI Foundation?

You can fill out  this form or contact Bonnie Canal, the DRI Foundation’s director of volunteerism, at bcanal@driif.org  or call 866-542-3744.

Can I get people from my company, not necessarily certified professionals, involved in volunteer efforts with the DRI Foundation?

Yes, we encourage all of our Certified Professionals to become active and get their companies involved. We welcome the participation of all those willing to help out.

How can I sign up to be on a list of willing volunteers?

Fill out our Volunteerism Form or contact getinvolved@driif.org

Contact Us

Where can I get more information on the DRI Foundation? What is your address?

  •  Send an inquiry via our Contact page, send an email to getinvolved@driif.org, or call 646-619-3599.
  • To inquire about becoming a partner or an affiliate, click here.
  • Our address is:
    Disaster Recovery International Foundation Inc.
    2 Park Place
    Suite 2B
    Bronxville, NY 10708