How do we effectively fundraise, donate, and manage volunteer engagement for international crisis situations?

When a tragic international disaster strikes it often raises questions similar to this among donors and nonprofit organizations alike. On January 12, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the already impoverished nation of Haiti bringing these important questions to the forefront once again. If you are a charity or nonprofit dealing in international aid or a donor, this topic guide presents reports on lessons learned from previous international disasters.

The Canada Revenue Agency has just published this web guide: Questions and Answers about giving to Charity to Help Victims of Disaster available on their site here: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/dnrs/lrt/fq-eng.html

Reaching Out Across the Ocean: The Organizational Response to the Tsunami Disaster (Updated) Source: The Conference Board of Canada, April 2005, 9 pages
This report is great in terms of seeing a breakdown of what kinds of aid helped the most in the Tsunami disaster. Key messages outline the statement that cash is a great donation, both in short and long term. Issues with disaster fundraising is that long term fundraising is required, but about 80% of the response happens in the first few weeks.
Gifts in kind are not to be ignored however and this discussion presents corporation  partnerships with nonprofit organizations to deliver gifts of aid such as : water, medical supplies, transportation (see page 3).

Lessons from the tsunami : top line findings Souce: Fritz Institute, c2005
This report is a great "top ten" of lessons learned if funding or raising funds for emergency or disaster. Most persistent message from this report? Those organizations with current local infrastructure are best suited to deliver effective service.

Disaster grantmaking : a practical guide for foundations and corporations. Source: Council on Foundations
For foundations, this document helps guide long term strategic planning and discusses how to take pause and consider how your foundation’s support will in fact be most effective.

Broader studies include:

After Katrina : public expectation and charities' response, edited by Elizabeth T. Boris, C. Eugene Steuerle. Publisher: Washington, D.C.The Urban Institute, 2006

Giving in the aftermath of 9/11 : final update on the foundation and corporate response, Loren Lenz, Leslie Marino. Foundation Center, c2002

Finally, are you uncertain of who to fund, do some research. The emergence of social media donation methods has created simpler & quicker ways to donate. Consider that your donation will also be needed in the coming months as much as it is immediately after the crisis occurs. Imagine Canada’s Ethical Code program has a listing of organizations that have adhered to ethical fundraising practices. See a recent news report from CBC’s The National on Haiti and feedback from various charities, including Imagine Canada.

For more research and reports: search our  library catalogue:  http://ic.andornot.com

Try the following terms in the "Keywords" field: disaster OR "international relief"