The Salvation Army and the American Red Cross have announced grants totaling $80 million from the Lilly Endowment for efforts to meet increased disaster relief needs caused by climate change.

The commitment includes $40 million for each organization to increase capacity, training, and preparedness, especially in communities that face recurring threats. The two organizations often work as close partners, providing complementary services on the front lines of disasters. The Salvation Army will use the gift to increase warehousing capacity in strategic locations; build warehouse infrastructure to receive, sort, and distribute disaster supplies; recruit and train volunteers; and improve the emergency disaster services fleet. The Red Cross will support innovations in its case management system, upgrade its disaster event management and geographical information system, improve operational readiness and capacity through investments in its warehousing network, and enhance the response capacity of its regional organizations and chapters.

“With their national reach and immense networks of dedicated staff and volunteers, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army have for generations stepped up to provide aid and leadership in times of crisis. In virtually every natural and man-made disaster, they provide direct assistance and help coordinate efforts with governmental agencies, faith-based organizations, other nonprofits, and countless individual volunteers,” said Lilly Endowment chair and CEO N. Clay Robbins. “These grants are intended to bolster the long-term capacity and effectiveness of these essential organizations and not to support the needs arising from a specific disaster.”

(Photo credit: American Red Cross)