🚨 Disaster ReliefNational

Strongward (formerly SBP)

Focuses on long-term disaster recovery, helping families get back into safe, repaired homes through its Homeowner Recovery Services and advising communities on running recovery programs through its Community Advisory Services.

Roughly 80% of disaster giving comes in the first week, Strongward notes — your gift funds the long recovery after, getting families back into safe, repaired homes.

You give directly to Strongward (formerly SBP). randomcharity.com takes $0 and never touches your money.

What Strongward (formerly SBP) does

Strongward, formerly known as SBP (and originally the St. Bernard Project), is a U.S. nonprofit focused on long-term disaster recovery — the months and years after a hurricane or flood when families are trying to get back into safe, repaired homes. It works directly with homeowners through its Homeowner Recovery Services and also advises communities on running recovery programs through its Community Advisory Services.

The organization was started in 2006 by Liz McCartney, a teacher, and Zack Rosenburg, a lawyer, who moved from Washington, D.C., to volunteer in the recovery after Hurricane Katrina. Its rebuilding work has drawn on AmeriCorps members and volunteers, and it is known for borrowing process-improvement methods from Toyota: after adopting them in 2011, it reported cutting typical rebuild times from 12–18 weeks to about six weeks per home. Over the years it has worked in places including New Orleans, Joplin, Staten Island, Houston and Puerto Rico.

Strongward points out that roughly 80% of disaster giving happens in the first week after an event, while long-term recovery struggles for support; donations here go toward that later phase. Charity Navigator rates the organization four out of four stars.

Key facts

  • Founded in 2006 by Liz McCartney and Zack Rosenburg to help with recovery after Hurricane Katrina (wearestrongward.org/about-us)
  • Operates as Strongward as of 2026; its site states 'SBP is now Strongward' (wearestrongward.org)
  • After adopting Toyota Production System methods in 2011, cut typical rebuild time from 12–18 weeks to about 6 weeks per home (Wikipedia)
  • Has worked in communities including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Joplin, Staten Island, Houston and Puerto Rico (Wikipedia; Strongward impact page)

Before you give

  • The rebrand did not change the tax ID: the Strongward donate page lists EIN 26-2189665.
  • Donate page lists one-time and monthly gifts, tribute gifts, legacy giving, stock, donor-advised funds, ACH/wire, check, and corporate/employer matching.

Common questions

Is Strongward (formerly SBP) a legitimate charity?

Tax status: US 501(c)(3) — donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers. It files with the IRS under EIN 26-2189665, and its annual returns are public on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer. Independent ratings — Charity Navigator: 4 of 4 stars. As with any charity, check its latest filings before a large gift.

Are donations to Strongward (formerly SBP) tax-deductible?

US 501(c)(3) — donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers.

Where does Strongward (formerly SBP) work?

Strongward (formerly SBP) works in United States. It is based in New Orleans, LA.

How do I donate to Strongward (formerly SBP)?

Use the Donate button on this page — it goes straight to Strongward (formerly SBP)'s own donation page on wearestrongward.org. randomcharity.com doesn't process payments, doesn't see your card details and takes no cut.

Sources

  1. wearestrongward.org/
  2. wearestrongward.org/about-us/
  3. wearestrongward.org/donate/
  4. wearestrongward.org/our-impact/
  5. charitynavigator.org/ein/262189665
  6. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBP_(nonprofit_organization)

Profile researched and last reviewed September 2026. Ratings and figures change — the linked evaluator pages always show the current version.

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