About


NECHAMA is a voluntary organization that provides natural disaster preparedness, response, and recovery services nationwide. Through the years we have brought comfort to disaster survivors by training and mobilizing thousands of volunteers to help communities after floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters.

NECHAMA is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota and have a location on Long Island, NY in response to Hurricane Sandy.

Our Heritage

NECHAMA's work is rooted in the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, Hebrew for repairing the world through acts of goodness. We offer help to all people affected by disaster on the basis of need regardless of religious affiliation.

We also welcome anyone willing to volunteer and serve others to join us. Our collective work is not done in an effort to proselytize; rather we train, equip, and lead volunteers that assist disaster survivors in the spirit of goodwill and creating mutual respect among all people.

Our Staff

Bill Driscoll Jr.
Executive Director
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Dan Hoeft
Operations Manager
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Starbuck Ballner
Administrator & Development Associate
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Ross Topol
Communications & Operations Fellow
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Our Board
  • Gene Borochoff, President
  • Rhonda Schwartz, Vice President
  • Todd Heilicher, Treasurer
  • Rabbi Lynn Liberman, Secretary
  • Alex Arbit
  • Bette Birnbaum
  • Matthew Erickson
  • Sarah Gruesner
  • David Kohn
  • Rich Kronfeld
  • Sally Lorberbaum
  • Joel Mandel
  • Anna Schorer
  • Chuck Selcer

History

We grew from a group of caring friends with a car trunk full of tools helping after a local flood to a nationally respected disaster preparedness, response, and recovery organization that leads volunteers to get dirty doing good around the USA.

Read the St. Paul Pioneer Press article recounting NECHAMA's first deployment.

Testimonials

NECHAMA is a top-rated nonprofit on GreatNonprofits.org

Click the badge below to read amazing testimonials and stories about the work we do.

National VOAD

National VOAD is the forum where nonprofit organizations that respond to disaster as part of their overall mission share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle in the United States.

NECHAMA is a member of National VOAD and five state level VOADs. Our Executive Director Bill Driscoll Jr. serves as Secretary on the National VOAD board of directors.

National Service

One of NECHAMA’s strongest allies is the AmeriCorps NCCC program. NECHAMA trains hundreds of NCCC members each year in how to safely and effectively respond to disaster.

During active deployments, NECHAMA regularly leads teams of AmeriCorps NCCC members in the field. We are true believers and vocal supporters of National Service programs and have on several occasions hired NCCC alums, after their year of service, for program support roles.

Financials

NECHAMA is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible.

Tax ID#

411998750

2011: IRS 990

(click to view)

IRS Letter of Determination

(click to view)