Patricia McIlreavy, President & CEO, Center for Disaster Philanthropy
In this conversation, Patty McIlreavy, a humanitarian leader and president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, shares her insights on the complexities of disaster response, the importance of philanthropy in recovery efforts, and the need for adaptive leadership in the humanitarian sector.
She discusses her personal journey, the impact of childhood experiences on her career, and the critical role of unrestricted funding in enabling organizations to respond effectively to crises.
Patty emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying vulnerabilities that lead to disasters and advocates for a shift in how philanthropy engages with communities to foster resilience and long-term recovery.
In this episode, Patty also discusses the transformative impact of a $60 million unrestricted donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott (the third donation from MacKenzie that CDP has received), highlighting how such contributions can empower organizations to innovate and support communities more effectively.
Takeaways
Patty's childhood of scarcity shaped her understanding of community needs.
Disasters are exacerbated by underlying vulnerabilities, not just the events themselves.
Philanthropy should focus on being partners in community recovery, not just funders.
Long-term recovery projects are essential for building resilience.
Political solutions are complex, but humanitarian aid must continue for those suffering.
Trust is crucial for transitioning to unrestricted funding in philanthropy.
There are always opportunities for positive change, even in crises.
The current moment presents a chance to reform humanitarian practices for better outcomes.
Quotes from episode
"A disaster isn't the hurricane or the flood itself, but what happens when that event meets underlying vulnerabilities."
"Helping people is not inexpensive, but it's still rewarding and it's still valuable."
"Hope is talking to a community and seeing what they've done with so little, what they've been able to accomplish."
"If you don't want us to exist, then stop having wars. If you don't want us to exist, then actually look at better anti-poverty programming in your communities."
"There's always opportunities in the worst moments."
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