Partnership Makes the World Go ‘Round: How Airlink Found its Footing and Funding
Throughout spring of 2025, the humanitarian sector has seen a mobilization of forces akin to when a major disaster breaks out. In this case, the disaster we are all facing is a funding crisis
First, it was the shock of USAID being dismantled and reduced from a staff of 10,000 to merely 294, coinciding with the cut of funding to global programs, including those related to disaster relief.
We witnessed firsthand many of our partners feel the floor drop from beneath them. Many are still in free-fall, seeking to rebound from the devastating realization that the money may not be there this year, or next year, or the one after. At roundtables, virtual and in-person, the questions come up again and again: how can we continue our programs with shoestring budgets?
That is a question which translates to: how can we decide who gets aid, and who doesn’t?
While many organizations have lost a vast percentage of their budgets, Airlink is in a fortunate position to have the majority of its funding come from the aviation industry at large. Nevertheless, every single funding stream, including our own budget section substantiated by USAID, is indispensable in sustaining all of our humanitarian programs on behalf of our NGO partners worldwide.
That being said, it’s clear that Airlink, among others, needs to look elsewhere for financial backing.
Second, the scramble across the industry has rattled organizations as they seek new champions and backers ready to support their missions and invest in their initiatives. Yet, some governments throughout Europe have scaled back their funding toward humanitarian programs in lieu of bolstering their budgets for defense spending. Journalists are reporting that large sector foundations and government-backed departments won’t be able to adequately fill the gaps or meet the increasing humanitarian demands around the world.
So where, then, do we turn?
2025 marks fifteen years since Airlink was founded by members of ISTAT Foundation, an aviation-based group that realized the power of flight in moving first responders and humanitarian aid around the world – and quickly. Throughout these fifteen years, Airlink has relied on a number of initial stakeholders who early on believed in the vision of the organization. But as it grew, and as our operations expanded and demands came through, Airlink needed to also find ways to increase the available funding to fulfill the requests for aid transport.
For Airlink, supporting people, the people experiencing the humanitarian need – the communities in crisis – was always our North Star. In any pitch, we had to highlight our niche services and emphasize how a partnership or commitment to us could convert into real impact. We focused on the benefits a company could derive by working alongside us, both in sustainability and quarterly goals.
And one by one, aviation partners, suppliers, engineers, and foundations chose to work with Airlink, and commit to our mission, aligning themselves with goals in humanitarianism.
These early and consistent partnerships have turned into opportunities for Airlink to expand its operations and regionalize. So, when USAID scaled down, Airlink felt secure – because our airline partners and aviation supporters had been there all along. They had unlocked our fullest potential as a humanitarian aid organization. The question remained, though: would Airlink be able to offer enough airlift for the increased demand from the NGO sector? Would these changes affect procurement, and responses in general? And how could Airlink meet them where they were? We first turned to our aviation partners, who listened to our concerns.
The aviation sector has stepped up, and we are seeing them re-committing to offering their resources in these more difficult times.
We are anticipating an increase in requests from NGO partners, who are going to need more monetary relief in order to get their aid to communities in crisis. As we dip our toes into hurricane season, we all hold our breath, waiting to see how it shapes up, calculating what it could cost us as organizations, and families unknowingly in the path of hurricanes.
Hurricanes are not the only disasters, either. Cyclone season for the Pacific will be here in Fall. Unpredictable disasters, like the Myanmar earthquake in March 2025, may yet come to pass. Ongoing conflicts globally are expected to continue to strain populations who have limited medical aid and access to nutritional food.
Organizations have the ability to procure and prepare the resources requested by communities around the world. They are on the ground, assessing needs and identifying the gaps that require global assistance. Our airline and freight-forwarding partners have the planes and means to move the aid; but it’s Airlink who can connect the two and use our strength in logistical prowess to get the aid from one point to another.
A direct route is rarely an option. Our team will make calls to our trusted partners and see which routes may have room for a few seats for first responders, or storage space for extra cargo. Most NGOs, understandably, won’t have the time or insights to know how to look for deals on tickets or negotiate for reduced or free airlift.
But those partnerships we forged over a decade ago, now stand firmly in our corner when we make an ask. Often, most offer space and seats upfront, demonstrating commitment to what we expect will be the need for the year – and if more is needed, we make a call.
These moments that wake us up and realize we need to be quick on our feet when it comes to funding remind us that none of us should be comfortable. But there are ways that we can prepare and find partnerships who will remain steady and weather the storms.
Turning to investors is not an easy task. It requires diligence and patience. Airlink had its years of being scrappy and navigating choppy waters as it sought dry land. We have, in turn, learned lessons along the way for organizations seeking to find their footing after the tumultuous first half of the year.
Airlink was fortunate to have a number of top-tier partners, many who have supported the organization throughout the years, commit and recommit their support in line with our 15th Anniversary. For fifteen years, we have navigated difficult periods of finding enough funding to cover the distances we go to ensure we fulfill all of our requests. We are proud that our dedication to these missions and transparent communications with those who align with our goals has resulted in the building of substantial trust between us and our partners, resulting in an incredible $15+ million being gifted to fund our future. (Read our full press release here!)
When we first embarked on this journey fifteen years ago, we didn’t know where it would take us. Through each lesson learned, and each new venture struck, we find ways to adapt and overcome all obstacles – just by reaching out to potential allies and making an ask.
Bottom line is: we never know what is possible until we forge that connection, come together over a table – virtual or real – and see what our shared strengths and resources can make happen.
If you’ve been inspired to support Airlink, I invite you to reach out to us, and together we can find opportunities to make a global impact.