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 you rely on, the partners 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: Your collective generosity in 2024 totaled $69M in cash grants to your people, with $33M of those grants being awarded in Q4 alone. These record-breaking statistics speak to your extraordinary work, which ensures that your teams are aware of your program, know how to access it and report the impact their grants have on their lives.

 

The power of direct assistance

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.  

Looking ahead: Our vision for the future 

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 clear instructions on process and qualifications and effective end-to-end communication  

• Significantly reduced processing times during large-scale events

• Streamlined reporting to better 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, 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 you’re empowered to maximize your program 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 that you rest easy knowing your people are getting the help they need when life, as they know it, changes in an instant.

 

The value of your trust

Today, we're proud to steward nearly 200 client funds. Your trust in us to provide secure, compliant and expert application review and decisioning is the foundation of our work. That trust drives us to continually improve and innovate for those in need.

At the heart of our mission is the people who need financial assistance: Your 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 and clarifying our processes to accelerate decisions and outcomes, while highlighting how rewarding it is to invest in your 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.  

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. Together, we're not just responding to crises; we're building resilience and positively impacting individuals and their communities across the globe.

Let’s continue to make a positive difference in 2025.

Best regards,

Matt Pierce

CEO

E4E Relief