Support Charities Providing Aid to Chile
On February 27, 2010, Chile was rocked by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. This is the 5th most powerful earthquake in the world since 1900. The death toll from the earthquake and resulting tsunami stands at over 700. And even though Chile’s building codes were more stringent than in Haiti, many buildings and roads are in ruins. Millions are without power and access to basic necessities.
Already this year Americans have given a billion dollars to help with the Haiti recover efforts. And given the recession’s impact on Americans’ personal finances, we fear that donor fatigue – the concept that donors are either unmotivated or unable to give again – will make it difficult for charities to raise the funds need to properly assist in Chile.
However, we know that Americans are the most generous people in the world when it comes to voluntary donations. Therefore, for those of you who do plan to give, we offer the following tips to help you identify a charity providing relief in Chile that is worthy of your support.
Avoid Newly-Formed Charities and Give To An Established Charity That Has Worked In Chile - 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 Chile. 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.
Consider The Nature Of The Charity’s Work – Not every charity is responding in the same way. Some are providing medical assistance, some shelter, some food and water. Others will be more focused on either short term or long term rebuilding efforts. And some are just helping to fundraise for other nonprofits. Think about what it is you want your philanthropic investment to accomplish and then take the time to find the charities doing that work. At Charity Navigator we link to each charity’s website so that you can quickly learn more about their plans to help in Chile.
Designate Your Investment – Generally, it is best to trust your chosen charity to spend your donation as it sees fit. But with disaster related giving, you should specify that you want your donation only used to respond to this particular crisis.
Do Not Send Supplies – Knowing that thousands 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 Chile. But this type of philanthropy is simply not practical or efficient. Even if your box of supplies could get to Chile, 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.
Be Careful Of Email Solicitations
Be Leery Of People That Contact You Online Claiming To Be A Victim – Unless you personally know someone in Chile, anyone alleging to be in this position is most likely part of a scam. Obviously, people affected by the earthquake and tsunami are in no position to contact you directly for assistance.
Delete Unsolicited Emails With Attachments - Never respond to unsolicited emails. Do not open any attachments to these emails even if they claim to contain pictures from Chile. These attachments are probably viruses.
Be Inspired By Social Media, But Still Do Your Homework – Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs are delivering heart-wrenching images and information about Chile to our computers and phones. Many of them include pleas to donate. While these tools can be a powerful tool to inspire your desire to help, you should not blindly give via these vehicles. You must take the time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help to ensure that it comes from a legitimate nonprofit.
Seek Out The Charity’s Authorized Website – Refer to our blog about the Haiti earthquake as to why this is important.
Carefully Consider Making A Text Donation - So long as you do your homework, texting your donation can be a safe way to give. This type of giving is great for those who want to give immediately, who want to make a small commitment (such as $5 or $10) and may not take the time to sit down hours after seeing an appeal for help and write a check to a charity. It is also a great way to give for those who want to remain anonymous. But texting donations do have a downside. For one, donors may not take the time to research the charity. Also, processing text donations can be expensive for charities and it can take as much as three months for charities to receive your donation. Please visit our blog about the Haiti earthquake and text donations for a longer explanation.
Avoid Telemarketers – As always, hang up the phone do your homework and give directly to a charity.
Do Not Expect Immediate Results, But Do Keep Tabs On What Your Donation Accomplishes- It takes time for charities to mobilize, to assess the problems that need to be addressed and to develop effective solutions. Donors need to be patient so charities will not feel pressured to plunge in and offer ineffective aid, simply to placate impatient donors. That doesn't mean donors shouldn't hold the charities accountable for delivering on their promises! Be sure to follow up with the charity in a few months to find out (a) how your donation was put to use and (b) if the organization needs additional support to complete the recovery effort.
