As we reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future, I am honored to send this note as E4E Relief’s CEO. Our journey together has been one of growth, learning and unwavering commitment to providing direct assistance when it's needed most.
The disaster relief and employee financial assistance landscapes are constantly changing, and 2024 was no exception. While we cannot predict the next disaster, we learn new insights about the effects of disasters on the needs of applicants each time. We've witnessed firsthand the increasing demand for relief and the rapid evolution of response from storm to storm. This dynamic environment has reinforced our commitment to precision, timeliness and adaptability in our approach. One of the most striking observations I’ve had in the past year is the speed at which people respond to crises. We remain committed to being the preeminent Emergency Financial Relief experts who understand the nuances of this vital work and the innovators who will continue to push the boundaries of what's possible.
In 2024, our team responded to over 100,000 requests for assistance from individuals all over the world; many of whom were impacted by a variety of disasters including floods in Brazil, hurricanes in Texas and Florida and beyond, as well as those who navigated the effects of personal hardship including unexpected medical events, domestic violence and death of a loved one. What we continue to see is that, regardless of the immediate response and relief efforts from other nonprofits, Emergency Financial Relief programs provide a unique and timely lifeline during crisis.
The results are well-documented and worth repeating: We awarded $69M in cash grants to individuals sponsored by corporations, with $33M of those grants being awarded in Q4 alone. These record-breaking statistics speak to the investment our compassionate clients make to positively affect others’ lives.
In our 24-year experience, we've learned the most effective way to provide assistance is through giving money directly to individuals in need and empowering them to stabilize unexpected costs. Consider the profound impact of $1,000 being delivered within ten days of an unexpected financial setback. For someone living paycheck-to-paycheck, this amount can mean the difference between stability or months of struggle to rebuild after a disaster or hardship. In fact, our latest ImpactStack℠ data shows that 87% of our grantees were able to maintain financial stability because of the assistance they received. This statistic underscores a critical truth: Without financial well-being, people risk making decisions that have longer term consequences, possibly leading to food insecurity, housing instability, loss of work time and mental well-being.
Providing direct assistance to individuals at scale, with utmost quality and care, remains one of our industry's greatest challenges. To that end, we're setting ambitious 2025 goals for our platform and refining processes to address the complex and critical nature of timely and reliable financial relief. The following represents a few of our key focus areas:
An enhanced applicant experience that provides clarity and effective end-to-end communication
Reduced processing times during large-scale events
Streamlined reporting to inform and support your program leaders
To advance these efforts, we are reorganizing some of our teams and elevating our leaders. I believe the seamless end-to-end applicant experience I mentioned earlier is only possible if we direct our focus on the intersection of our technology and our operational processes. With that in mind, I have appointed Courtney Ramey as our new Chief Operations Officer. In this role, she will ensure our internally developed and supported technology platform is optimized to complement the hands-on processes that our dedicated in-house staff apply to every request for assistance.
Additionally, to elevate our cross-departmental symmetry and maximize every opportunity to add value, Davida Rivens has been appointed our Chief Impact Officer. In this new role, Davida will champion collaboration across our client experience, marketing, communications and partnerships and business development functions. She will also cultivate our expertise – staying hyper-focused on emerging trends and themes affecting individuals across the globe – to ensure that our clients are empowered to maximize their programs holistically.
With most of our permanent staff having supported relief efforts since 2020, we're fostering a high-performance culture that is motivated by being the best in the business every day. Among our chief objectives this (and every) year is ensuring people are getting the help they need when life, as they know it, changes in an instant.
At the heart of our mission is the people who need financial assistance: the people. They are hard-working folks who, like all of us, may need the kindness of others when times are tough. We're committed to simplifying our processes to accelerate decisions and outcomes, while highlighting how rewarding it is when company leaders invest in their colleagues’ well-being.
As we move forward, I want to assure you of my unrelenting focus on our end goals and my commitment to delivering clear, compassionate and meaningful solutions that ensure the right people receive the right assistance at the right time.
In 2025, we endeavor to, not just respond to crises, but to also build resilience and positively impact individuals and their communities across the globe.
I look forward to connecting with you this year.
Best regards,
Matt Pierce
CEO
E4E Relief