Disaster Response: Building Faster, Smarter, Community-Led Partnerships Before the Next Crisis Hits

Disasters are no longer rare or isolated. Climate-driven emergencies, humanitarian crises, and community-level shocks are happening more often, impacting more people, and exposing the limits of fragmented response systems.

This pre-conference collective action summit brings together corporate leaders, nonprofits, funders, and solution providers who are committed to moving beyond reactive giving toward coordinated, high-impact disaster response partnerships.

Designed in the spirit of Engage for Good’s Collective Action Summits, this session is not a traditional conference workshop. It is a working convening focused on alignment, real-world challenges, and practical pathways to collaboration—before the next disaster strikes.

What this session will focus on

Participants will engage in facilitated discussion and scenario-based exploration around:

• How corporations and nonprofits can better prepare for disasters before they happen
• Where current disaster response partnerships break down—and why
• The role of corporate assets beyond dollars, including logistics, data, technology, employees, and supply chains
• How to center equity, local leadership, and long-term recovery rather than short-term relief
• What effective cross-sector coordination looks like during the first 72 hours and the first 12 months after a crisis

What you’ll walk away with

• A clearer understanding of how your organization can play a meaningful role in disaster preparedness, response, or recovery
• Practical insights from peers actively working in disaster response today
• New cross-sector connections designed to spark future partnerships
• Shared language and frameworks to guide smarter, faster collaboration when crises occur

Who should attend

This session is designed for:

• Corporate social impact, CSR, ESG, and sustainability leaders
• Nonprofits and humanitarian organizations engaged in emergency response or long-term recovery
• Foundations and funders supporting disaster-affected communities
• Brands, agencies, and solution providers looking to support disaster response responsibly and effectively

If your organization wants to be ready, not reactive, this session is for you.