SHOREVIEW, Minn. - The Deluxe Corporation Foundation today announced a contribution of $250,000 to the American Red Cross Ready Rating program to help businesses, schools and organizations prepare for disasters.

The Insurance Information Institute reports that up to 40 percent of businesses fail following a natural or man-made disaster. According to a 2012 Red Cross survey, 50 percent of small businesses reported that they do not have a business continuity plan in place. In response to these findings, the Red Cross developed the Ready Rating program, a free, web-based platform that assists members in assessing their current level of disaster preparedness. Ready Rating also provides tools, tips and best practices to help improve their level of preparedness.

“The Red Cross Ready Rating program is an excellent example of an initiative that is a natural fit for the Deluxe Foundation to support,” explained Lee Schram, CEO of the Deluxe Corporation and President of the Deluxe Corporation Foundation. “Small businesses often overlook the need to prepare for the unknown, so programs like Ready Rating are essential to include in every small business toolkit.”

The Deluxe Corporation Foundation focuses on long-term solutions that help people, business and communities thrive and grow. Since 1954, the Foundation has donated nearly $100 million to charitable organizations. The donation to the Red Cross continues the Deluxe Foundation’s long-term commitment to the organization, and marks one of the larger donations made during the year.

“The Foundation annually donates $100,000 to the Red Cross to help prepare for potential disasters. Investing in the Ready Rating program aligns with our goals because it supports and strengthens communities, businesses and schools that may not otherwise be prepared for a natural disaster,” said Jenny Anderson, director of the Deluxe Corporation Foundation.

Since its U.S. launch in 2011, Ready Rating has nearly 11,000 member businesses, organizations and schools. FEMA estimates that for each dollar invested in disaster risk reduction, approximately $4 in post-disaster response and recovery costs could be saved. Eighty percent of members reported that the Ready Rating helped their organization improve its preparedness. Of members affected by disaster, nearly 70 percent reported that the actions they took as a result of the program helped them reopen more quickly.

“Support from the Deluxe Foundation is critical to our ability to build resilient communities,” said Phil Hansen, CEO of the American Red Cross Minnesota Region. “Their very generous donation will help solidify the Ready Rating program in this region and across the country, ensuring organizations of all sizes are able prepare for and recover when disaster strikes.”