VSF 15: Volunteer/Donations Management
From Portland NET Wiki
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
- Links
- Managing Spontaneous Volunteers in Times of Disasters – The Synergy of Structure and Good Intentions: https://www.fema.gov/pdf/donations/ManagingSpontaneousVolunteers.pdf
- When Disaster Strikes...How to Donate or Volunteer Successfully!: https://www.fema.gov/pdf/donations/when_disaster_strikes.pdf
- PBEM Video on SUVs: https://portlandnet.tumblr.com/post/660650922841686016/management-of-spontaneous-unaffiliated-volunteers
- Hawai'i Community Foundation - Maui Strong article on their phased approach to disbursing aid: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/11/15/executive-overseeing-150m-maui-strong-fund-defends-phased-approach-disbursing-aid/
- WA Point of Distribution Guide – Site selection tool: https://mil.wa.gov/asset/5ba4212df38c7 (could be useful for assessing donation reception sites)
- PBEM NET SUV video: https://vimeo.com/593125021
- PBEM NET SUV intake: https://bit.ly/4853Sq0
- Value of volunteer hour: https://independentsector.org/resource/value-of-volunteer-time/
- Donated Resources to offset the jurisdiction’s cost-share for federally declared public assistance disasters - Page 88 of the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide V4: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_pappg-v4-updated-links_policy_6-1-2020.pdf
- "Managing Liability in CERT Programs": https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/CERT_Liability_Guide%20v2.pdf
- Non-profit of Oregon: https://nonprofitoregon.org/ (really great support for non-profits, even for COADs and LTRGs to understand best practices for handling donations/funds/etc)
- Homeland Security Digital Library: https://www.hsdl.org/c/ (search for “volunteer and donation” to pull up example plans)
- Videos regarding why cash is best and the cost to moving physical donations:
- Adam Knows Everything – Why You Shouldn’t Donate Canned Food to Charities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbYInILDj6Q (showed in class)
- Why Cash is Best for Disaster Relief (CIDI): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MjTDpxxIQ (did not show in class)
- Why Cash is Best (CIDI) https://www.cidi.org/how-to-help/why-cash-is-best/ (did not show in class)
- Plan Examples and Guidebooks
- Hamilton County Volunteer and Donations Management Plan (Shown in class): https://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17889/2022-HCEM-Volunteer-and-Donations-Management-Plan-PDF
- Michigan – Local Disaster Logistics and Donations Management Planning Handbook (shown in class): https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/msp/EMHSD/documents/Local_Disaster_Logistics_and_Donations_Management_Planning_Handbook__Pub_107a__Stakeholder_Review_Dr.doc?rev=e04998bf93374a82b1b9551307ba0e80
- Stillwater NY Donations Management Taskforce: https://stillwaterny.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Donations-Management-Task-Force.pdf
- Puget Sound Region – Volunteer and Donations Management Toolkit: https://mil.wa.gov/asset/5ba4214c4c839
- Minnesota HSEM - Local Volunteer and Donation Management Guidebook: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/emergency-managers-resources/Documents/2022-local-volunteer-donation-management-guidebook.pdf
- State of Oregon Emergency Operations Plan – ESF16 Volunteers and Donations Annex: https://www.oregon.gov/oem/Documents/OR_EOP_ESF_16_Volunteers_Donations.pdf
- Attached you will find the following:
- DRAFT ACS MOU: This is simply to serve as an example of an MOU. This one is from Adventist Community Services to a state emergency management agency regarding state level coordination of donations management
- ORVID and OCS Overview
- Message Map Template
- Local Annex Review Checklist
Text Source: New Zealand guidance
2014.07. .Puget Sound Volunteer and Donations Management Toolkit
VSF 14.01.01: BEECN Volunteer Knowledge Base
| File/Resource | Description | Author | Publish Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEECN Guidelines | The BEECN Guidelines is the "blueprint" for the BEECN program and covers the nuances of program policies. A regular BEECN volunteer doesn't need to know the Guidelines to carry out their responsibilities, but reviewing them will enhance knowledge and provide a more complete picture of the program. | PBEM | 2017.10.03 |
| BEECN video content | Video content relevant to BEECN volunteer responsibilities. | PBEM | - |
| BEECN on Tumblr | Media articles tagged as relevant to BEECN volunteer responsibilities. | PBEM | - |
| Portland Basic Emergency Operations Plan (BEOP) | The BEOP is the framework that governs how the City of Portland responds in the aftermath of a major disaster. Being familiar with it can provide BEECN volunteers with heightened situational awareness. | PBEM | 2016.02.15 |
| Seattle Emergency Hubs | One of the programs that BEECN was based on. Summary videos are HERE and HERE. | 2014 | |
| Hollywood’s big lie about disasters: In crises like Spain’s blackout, the natural reaction is generosity, not panic | Case study reflecting that survivors are more inclined to help other survivors in a disaster, countering assumptions that people behave badly towards each other. | Javier Salas / El Pais | 2025.05.06 |
| Where We Go When Everything Breaks: Placemaking Lessons from Asheville's Recovery | Case study about how usual social spaces become key to disaster recovery, which is a principle idea behind BEECN. | Project for Public Spaces/Ryan Smolar | 2025.05.16 |
| Elite Panic vs. the Resilient Populace | Focus on the 1964 Alaska earthquake and the emergent volunteers who came together and helped people. Noted because BEECNs may become gathering points of spontaneous volunteers who want assignments. | James B. Meigs for Commentary Magazine | 2020.05.01 |
