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As we move into 2026, the demand for humanitarian support continues to intensify. The increasing frequency of natural disasters — such as the devastating Southern California wildfires — along with ongoing geopolitical conflicts and economic uncertainty, highlights a critical need: employee relief funds that can deliver timely, adequate financial support when your team members face crisis or personal hardship.
Why Employee Relief Funds Are Crucial in 2026
When crisis strikes, employee relief funds become more than financial aid — they offer hope. Whether it’s natural disasters, serious illness, or overwhelming medical costs, these programs allow organizations to respond quickly and ensure employees don’t face hardship alone.
Climate Central reports that catastrophic weather events in the first half of 2025 caused $101.4 billion in damage — the costliest six months ever recorded. Fourteen major events, including Midwest tornado outbreaks, East Coast storms, severe Texas weather, and the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January (estimated at $61 billion alone), drove these losses. And that total doesn’t include later disasters such as the deadly Central Texas floods, where experts are still assessing the costs.
Looking ahead, climate outlooks show continued volatility. The World Meteorological Organization warns that global temperatures are likely to remain at or near record highs through 2029, fueling more frequent and intense extreme weather. Independent analyses from Climate Central and AccuWeather reinforce this, projecting warmer-than-normal conditions, increased flooding risks, and rising drought threats across parts of the US as we move into 2026 — all of which heighten the potential for storms, heat waves, and wildfires.
2025 in Review: A Year of Unprecedented Challenges
According to the Gallagher Re 2025 Natural Catastrophe and Climate Report, the US suffered 15 weather disasters of at least $15 billion in the first half of the year.
Reflecting on 2025 underscores the need to establish a relief fund in 2026. Key events included:
- Los Angeles Area Wildfires: In January 2025, two unprecedented wildfires swept through the Los Angeles region, becoming the most expensive wildfires in recorded global history. The 2025 California wildfires now rank as the eighth-costliest weather-related disaster ever recorded worldwide.
- Central Tornado Outbreak: From March 13–16, 2025, a widespread and deadly tornado outbreak — the largest ever recorded in March — swept across the Midwest and into the Eastern United States, with additional severe weather extending along the East Coast, causing about $10.6 billion in damage.
- North Central & Eastern Tornado/Storm Outbreak: The significant tornado outbreak on May 15–16, 2025, devastated communities across the Midwest and East, resulting in 27 fatalities — most near St. Louis, Missouri, and London, Kentucky — and numerous injuries. The event further underscored a concerning eastward shift in tornado activity toward more densely populated regions, a growing trend observed in recent years.
- Central US Tornado and Flooding Outbreak (April 1–7): A major, weeklong severe weather event affecting the nation’s heartland, producing widespread tornadoes, damaging storms, and significant flooding, with total damages estimated at $4.3 billion.
- Texas Hill Country Flash Floods: On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flooding struck the Texas Hill Country, as rapidly rising water along the Guadalupe River overwhelmed communities. At least 135 lives were lost, including 117 fatalities in Kerr County alone, making it one of the deadliest floods in US history. Enhanced tropical moisture fueled a mesoscale convective vortex, producing intense, prolonged rainfall.
Together, these events reinforce an urgent truth: people need rapid, reliable support when a crisis strikes. In 2025, EAF provided more than $31 million in assistance to individuals and families globally, offering a lifeline as they navigated the aftermath of devastating disasters, life-altering illnesses, and unplanned medical costs.
Why 2026 is the Time to Launch a Relief Fund
Experts say the coming year could be even tougher, with challenges like:
- Economic Instability: Amid ongoing policy uncertainty, two major risks stand out: rising bilateral tariffs on merchandise imports and broader restrictions on critical exports. Such actions could heighten global tensions, disrupt trade, and affect a wide range of countries and industries. The resulting shifts in production and supply chains may drive up costs, push prices higher, slow growth, and reduce long-term economic efficiency.
- Ongoing Humanitarian Crises: The ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East keep driving people from their homes and putting even more strain on the global economy.
Launching an employee relief fund allows organizations to stay ahead of emerging risks and deliver timely financial support when employees need it most.
The Advantages of Starting a Relief Fund
Establishing an employee relief fund creates a lasting impact by:
- Strengthening Resilience: Relief funds empower individuals to recover from crises faster, reducing long-term economic and emotional strain.
- Enhancing Organizational Reputation: Companies that support their employees during crises foster appreciation and trust, boosting morale.
- Promoting Financial Stability: For those affected by disasters, financial assistance can make the difference between recovery and lasting hardship.
Organizations like EAF make it easy to set up a relief fund, providing comprehensive third-party relief fund administration.
How Establishing a Relief Fund With EAF in 2026 Can Help Your Organization Support Employees in Need
If you’re interested in making sure your team members are taken care of, but are unsure about how to launch an employee relief fund, we’re here to help!
In the aftermath of severe weather, a disaster, or personal hardship, your organization needs the ability to help impacted team members rebuild and recover from the potentially devastating impact. A relief fund can boost morale and allow your employees to donate and contribute directly to the support of fellow team members. Establishing a relief fund can alleviate the stress that disasters and hardship put on those within your organization and allow them to stay focused on recovering from the event.
If your organization is interested in launching a relief fund, consider establishing a fund with EAF today. As a financial first responder, we’re resourceful and fearless in ensuring that financial assistance reaches individuals in need, no matter the unique circumstances involved.
By establishing a fund with us today, your organization can assist members of your team affected by natural disasters and other hardships. Relief fund grants can help impacted individuals pull through difficult times and start on the path toward recovery. If you’d like to learn more about how your organization can help your team during crises, you can review additional information about how a fund works or contact us today. We look forward to helping you make a difference for those who need it most!
