Haiti: How to give
From CrisisWiki
| URL | http://www.crisiswiki.org/Haiti:_How_to_give |
|---|---|
| Specific emergencies | Haiti earthquake of January 2010 |
| Resource type | Giving help after an emergency |
| Resource sub-type | General Aid, Aid Agencies, Donations, Information |
| Types of emergencies handled | Earthquake |
| Area(s) covered | Haiti |
| Sorting Parameter | aac |
Monetary donations are generally much more useful and effective than are donations of supplies. Cash donations can be used to procure specific items on a priority-needs basis in the exact quantity and quality required and usually reach the affected region more quickly. By contrast, commodity contributions can involve the use of scare resources (transportation, staff time, warehouse space, etc.) for non-crucial or inappropriate items, and can sometimes cause more harm than good.
Contents |
SMS: Easy for You
US only:
- American Red Cross: SMS text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts (ARC Newsroom)
Finding Reputable Organizations
Charity Navigator, a U.S.-based independent charity evaluator, has published a list of charitable organizations with a history of working on massive disasters and/or of working in Haiti.
PrimeWriter has a similar but more extensive list of charitable organizations.
Charity Navigator offers the following recommendations:
- Avoid Newly-Formed Charities and Give To An Established Charity That Has Worked In Haiti - Establishing a new charity is hard enough, but in a crisis, the odds of succeeding are slim to none. Think of it this way: would you entrust all your savings in a financial firm that just opened, doesn't even have stationery, and whose employees have no experience in investing money? Doubtful. Find a charity with a proven track record of success in providing disaster relief and one that has worked in Haiti. Start with the list of charities on the right and if a group you are considering supporting isn’t there, then take the time to thoroughly research it before making a gift.
- Do Not Give To The Haitian Government – Haiti is known to be a corrupt country. And news reports post earthquake indicate that the government is pretty much not functioning. If that isn’t enough reason not to give directly to the Haiti government, then consider the fact that contributions to foreign governments are not tax deductible.
- Do Not Send Supplies – Knowing that millions of people are desperately in need of food and water, it is hard not to want to pack up a box of supplies and send it to Haiti. But this type of philanthropy is simply not practical or efficient. Even if mail could get to Haiti, no one is set up to receive these goods, much less organize and distribute them to the victims. Furthermore, charities are often able to partner with companies to acquire large amounts of in-kind donations such as bottled water and new clothing. Instead of boxing up and sending your old clothing, have a garage sale and turn your used goods into cash and donate that to a worthy charity.
Consider the Future
It is vital that people continue to donate to aid organizations working on reconstruction and development in Haiti in years to come. Haiti does not just need disaster relief, it needs ongoing investment to ensure that it is rebuilt in a way that will make it less vulnerable- this earthquake should NOT have killed so many people. To ensure that a disaster like this does not occur again, people who are interested in the relief effort now can consider making a long-term commitment to donating to organizations that have committed to implementing responsible, transparent, participatory and long-term development projects in Haiti.
