Building Resilience: Baxter’s Philanthropic Approach to Disaster Preparedness and Relief

Imagine living in a town destroyed by a hurricane, residing in a remote village swept away by a tsunami, or in a city center that is ravaged by wildfire. How can we help ensure people and communities in these situations have access to the support and resources they need?

Baxter and the Baxter Foundation are committed to improving health resilience globally, particularly in communities where our employees live and work. Our holistic approach to supporting community disaster preparedness and relief encompasses a range of initiatives designed to provide timely support and resources during crises. This commitment is reflected in our partnerships with leading organizations and our proactive strategies to help ensure communities are better equipped to handle disasters.

Comprehensive Disaster Preparedness and Relief Efforts

Manufacture-to-Donate Partnerships

At the heart of Baxter's philanthropic disaster relief strategy is our manufacture-to-donate program, an industry best practice in which we proactively manufacture products twice a year specifically for donation. This means that humanitarian partners can rely on having many of Baxter's critically needed, long-dated products available year-round - not solely during emergency situations - to help provide sustained support for underserved communities around the world. We are proud to partner with Americares and Direct Relief on this program.

Americares / Andrea Pane

Photo Credit: Direct Relief

Disaster Relief Partners

In addition to our manufacture-to-donate program, the Baxter Foundation actively works with several leading disaster relief partners, providing funding support as well as a 2:1 Baxter employee contribution match. These partners include:

• American Red Cross (ARC): during disasters, the American Red Cross works with partners to provide safe shelter, food, emergency relief supplies, emotional support health services and financial assistance to those in need. Our partnership helps ensure their capacity to respond swiftly and effectively on the ground when disaster strikes. Building on our 38-year relationship, in 2024, the Baxter Foundation became a member of ARC's Annual Disaster Giving Program, a preparedness initiative using pre-disaster investments to further enable the organization and its volunteers to quickly take action to help individuals and families in their times of greatest need.
• Americares: a health-focused relief organization whose workers respond to emergencies and help to restore health services for survivors. Our membership in Americares Rapid Impact and Support for Emergencies (RISE) program provides a reliable stream of flexible funding that helps the organization maintain a constant state of readiness and launch robust responses to more than 35 emergencies annually.
• International Health Partners: this organization focuses on delivering medical aid to those in need, particularly in low-resource communities. Our collaboration helps ensure that vital medical products reach communities affected by crises as quickly as possible.
• International Medical Corps: by supporting this organization, we contribute to their efforts in providing healthcare and training in disaster-stricken areas, helping communities rebuild and recover.
• UNICEF: one element of our partnership with UNICEF focuses on protecting children and families during emergencies, helping to ensure access to essential services such as healthcare, nutrition and education.

Photo Credit: American Red Cross

Americares / Andrea Pane

Photo Credit: International Health Partners

Photo Credit: International Medical Corps

Photo Credit: UNICEF USA

Case Study: Community Resilience After Hurricane Helene

Baxter's disaster preparedness and relief efforts played a crucial role in supporting our response to Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024, which damaged our North Cove, N.C., manufacturing plant where more than 2,500 people are employed. From a philanthropic perspective, the Baxter Foundation donated more than $4 million to support recovery and relief efforts. This included:

Employee Support:

• Within two days, we established an Employee Support Center a few miles from our plant. This was an important presence where employees could come to a physical location to get information and resources. The site offered access to basic supplies such as food, water and toiletries, as well as access to portable generators, showers, laundry machines, credit union services and laptops with internet access.
• We launched our first-ever employee Immediate Response Program (IRP). This program provided rapid financial assistance to employees who were impacted by the disaster, helping to ensure they received the help they needed as quickly as possible.
• The Foundation allocated additional funds to its Employee Disaster Relief Fund (EDRF) to help with personal property damage and emergency expenses.

Community Support:

• In addition to supporting our employees directly, the Baxter Foundation and our employees donated to nonprofit organizations working on relief efforts in the area, including to our disaster work partners like the American Red Cross, Americares and International Medical Corps. These organizations were on the ground providing shelter, meals, medical and relief supplies, mental and psychosocial support and comfort to those impacted by the hurricane.

A Mission Rooted in Community Engagement

Baxter's Mission to Save and Sustain Lives extends beyond the products, therapies and services we offer to the many ways we give back to communities around the world. Over the last five years, the Baxter Foundation has donated nearly $10 million in response to 30 disasters, impacting people in 98 countries. By fostering strong partnerships and implementing effective strategies, we aim to create a lasting impact that extends beyond immediate relief. Together, we're making strides towards a healthier, more resilient world for all.

Published September 2025

Top Image Provided by American Red Cross

Learn More

Baxter's Response to Hurricane Helene

• 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report
• Where Clean Water Flows, Resilience Grows