Travelers Excellence in Community Resilience Award

  
Travelers is committed to raising awareness about disaster preparedness and creating discussion about the importance of improving response and recovery actions after major events. Through its charitable giving arm, the Travelers Foundation, and its public policy division, The Travelers Institute®, the company gives an annual Excellence in Community Resilience Award to recognize an organization that demonstrates leadership in addressing community resiliency.

Award Criteria: Initiatives should demonstrate leadership in addressing safety, community resiliency, and/or financial threats related to catastrophic events.  In addition, the program should take into consideration the varying needs of all residents of the geographic region.

• Organization must have a demonstrated track record of positive impacts related to disaster preparation, mitigation, response and/or recovery.
• Award may be for a new or existing program related to creating community resilience for communities facing risks from hurricane, tornado/hail, and wildfire. Programs related to creating general community preparedness are also eligible.
• The organization or program must demonstrate innovation in the field and intent to share effective strategies with others.
• Academic research projects and surveys are not eligible for the award.

Past Winners Include:

• Rebuilding Together - 2019
• Smart Home America - 2018
• Lowlander Center - 2017
• All Hands - 2016
• Team Rubicon - 2015

Applicant Qualifications: The organization and program must be located within the United States.  Applicants must be IRS-designated public charities or government agencies; individuals are not eligible for the award.  If the project is a collective effort, a single fiduciary organization must be identified.  Organizations must be on sound financial footing and demonstrate strong governance practices. Previous Excellence in Community Resilience Award winners will not be eligible for the award again until three years from the time of the award.

The following organizations will not be eligible for the award:

• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, culture, age, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a military veteran or genetic information.
• Universities, except as fiscal agents for collaborative efforts with other entities in action-oriented initiatives.
• Religious organizations, unless it can be shown that the organization is seeking charitable funds in the direct interest of the whole community.
• Fraternal organizations.
• Political or lobbying organizations.