VOLUME 3 | SUMMER 2021
DON'T MISS: THE FUTURE OF RELIEF FUNDS
Thursday, August 19 @ 12:00 PM EST

Following the recent release of our 10-year report, "A Decade of Assistance: Offering Hope through Disaster & Hardship Relief Funds," join us a for a live thought leadership panel event.

Register below to attend this exclusive event - full recording will not be made widely available.
NEWS
MINIMUM MONTHLY FEE REDUCTION
We are pleased to announce that beginning September 1, 2021, we are reducing our standard minimum monthly fee from US $425 to US $400 across all funds.

As you know, Emergency Assistance Foundation utilizes a variable fee structure based on fund activity to keep costs low, and our basic fees have not increased since our inception. We remain committed to minimizing fees so that we can maximize the dollars sent to individuals in need. With this goal in mind, and due to continued productivity enhancements, we are now prepared to begin reducing fees where possible.

The minimum monthly fee supports fund operation and administration and is typically covered by variable application and donation fees. This reduction means that just two standard U.S. grant applications (a US $200 fee each) will now cover the minimum, versus the three applications previously required. Our goal - as always - is for every fund to have enough activity, through donations and applications, to avoid the minimum monthly fee entirely.

NOTE: The newly reduced fee, which begins September 1, will be processed in early October. Fees for August, which remain the same, will be processed in early September.
BY THE NUMBERS
OUR IMPACT: 2021 YEAR TO DATE
From January through July 2021, together with our valued Fund Partners, we have received $56.5 million in donations and awarded $40.8 million in grants to more than 54,200 individuals. Thank you for your continued commitment to helping your own!
GRANT RECIPIENT TESTIMONIALS
"Just before the second wave of Covid-19 hit in India, my father lost his job. We both used to pay the bills together by sharing the expenses. However, with his unemployment, the entire financial well-being of the family now rests on my shoulders. This grant allowed me to ensure we had basic necessities at home and could catch up on our bills. I may not know you personally, but your willingness to help another human being across the world is very much appreciated."

"The damages sustained to my home during the hurricane created a truly stressful situation - and as COVID-19 basically paralyzed the normality of everyday life, having 8 children at home under shelter at home mandates already had its challenges. This grant saved me from having to choose between fixing my home or providing my kids with essentials."
TIPS & REMINDERS
APPLICANT SUPPORT
Emergency Assistance Foundation's full-time, multi-lingual Applicant Support team uses leading technology to provide a variety of communication channels, including live chat, texting, click-to-call, and a dedicated Fund email address and phone number with live answers Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 9 PM EST and Saturday & Sunday, 9 AM - 5 PM EST.

For the speediest resolution, we always recommend that applicants contact our Applicant Support team directly with any questions or concerns throughout the grant application process, rather than the Fund Partner contacting us on the applicant's behalf. Our Applicant Support email address is ApplicantSupport@EmergencyAssistanceFdn.org, and Fund-specific contact information is included at the top of each page of the online application.
GRANT PAYMENT PROCESSING
What happens after Emergency Assistance Foundation initiates a grant payment?

After Emergency Assistance Foundation awards a grant, we take the necessary steps to initiate a grant payment. Once the payment is initiated, there are steps that the grantee must take in order for the payment process to proceed. The timeline is always dependent upon the payment method selected, the specific event, and the country in which it has taken place.

U.S. grant payments (both IRP and standard) are dependent upon the grantee opening the eCheck email from app@echecks.com and following the steps to choose a payment retrieval method from the various options. Note that in the United States, primary payments will be made directly to vendors on the grantee's behalf where possible.

Non-U.S. grant payments (both IRP and standard) are dependent upon various factors. First, the grantee must complete the Western Union enrollment form, a link to which is sent via email from WesternUnion@EmergencyAssistanceFdn.org. Once the grantee completes the enrollment form and EAF processes the payment through Western Union, other factors outside of EAF’s control include:

> Country-specific government and banking regulations, including the treatment of charitable grants.

> The impact of disasters on governments and banking systems.

> If the grantee opts for a cash pickup at a local Western Union Retail location, they must open the email sent to them containing their unique Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) and provide the MTCN, along with government-issued identification, in order to collect the grant payment in person.
RESOURCES
> NEW: Within Tableau, our real-time diagnostic reporting tool for funds, you now have the ability to filter for the number of months you'd like to review on a given report. Choose any range between 12 and 48 months to view.
> NEW: Our IRP vs. Standard Grant Timeline provides helpful information about the differences between the award and grant payment timelines for Immediate Response Program grants and standard grants.

> Need a refresher on our Immediate Response Program? Our basic overview document and video are great places to start.

> The EAF Communications Archive houses a digital library of all emails sent to our Fund Partners in one convenient location, so you can easily access past newsletters, disaster alerts, and more. (If you don't remember the Fund Partner Portal password, reach out to your Relief Fund Senior Advisor.)