GoTravel

I know this is a travel board but I'm having a hard time finding the right entity to donate money.

Does anyone have any working knowledge of charities and where or how my dollars could be best used?

Normally I would just donate to the Red Cross but reading the FF R&R would Doctors Without Boarders be better? What about Americares?

Does anyone know?

Judyrem

Just saw on CNBC today a segment about charities. They referred to Forbes as there source for info. Google that and see what's what.

Anonymous

Actually, Google itself has added a link on its home page, that takes you to a list of worthy organizations.

Doctors without Borders (AKA Medecins sans frontieres) is a great organization, but not remotely capable of dealing with large-scale emergencies. My money is going to the Red Cross and UNICEF.

Anonymous

I should add that I worked in international health for decades and have worked directly with several of the candidate organizations (UNICEF, Save the Children, etc.). What you want in a situation like this is not only a great reputation, but also the administrative infrastructure to manage a massive effort.

FainaAgain

Go to CNN.com, print a list of charities accepting money for Tsunami victims, rule out the ones you don't like, see how many left. Do it again. When 2 or 3 left, send smaller checks to each one. Seriously, it may work for you.

anna_k

I've donated online to the Red Cross and Doctor's Without Borders.

buckeyemom

I am donating to both the Catholic Relief Organization and the Red Cross...

sueredrx

I looked up organizations on two sites that rate charities - American Institute of Philanthropy (www.charitywatch.org) and Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org). Below is a comparison

Name,% Spent on Programs,Charity Watch Rating

Americares, 98%,A
American Friends Service Committee,80%,A-
American Red Cross,82%,A+
CARE,92%,A-
Direct Relief Intl,99%,B
Intl Rescue Committee,90%,A
Oxfam,76%,A-
Project Hope,93%,B+
Save the Children,90%,A-
World Vision,85%,B+

Based on what I read, I think that AmeriCares Foundation is well suited to contribute to. Its stated purpose is " to provide emergency medical and other disaster relief aid to areas throughout the world."

Any of these organizations are wonderful, and you may decide that another one is more suited to your goals or considerations.

mikemo

I just donated to the American Red Cross International Fund - PO Box 37243; Washington, DC 20013 via my Schwab Charitable Trust.
I want the world to know the US is involved.
The Doctors without Borders don't have "staying" power anywhere in the world as they are small and "French".
M

travelinwifey

Mikemo, I'm not quite sure what you are saying... you do know they are associated throughout the United States, right? That sounded very bigoted. Now why you call it a small organization is beyone me, I know of a handful of physicians locally from the UNITED STATES that donate their time every few years, sometimes years at a time, to help volunteer for this organization. They help people in disadvantaged countries for free for very long periods of time. Might I suggest you read their website www.doctorswithoutborders.org to learn about the charity. I am sorry but that comment made me upset.

Here is Doctors without borders 2003 financial report: www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/info.shtml


Regarding reputable charities that one can be guaranteed the money is going to the right place:

Father Bede Wevita
Saint John Neumann Catholic Church
4519 Simmons Street
Las Vegas, NV 89032

This Priest is native Sri Lankan, a good, honest man, and loved by many. If interrested, be sure to write "Sri Lanka relief fund" on the envelope.

www.sjnc.org

gail

When choosing which charity to donate to, I took advice of one TV talking head - the agencies that already have a presence in that region of the world and/or are accustomed to dealing with enormous relief efforts are perhaps better suited to this disaster than other reputable organizations. Red Cross/Crescent, Unicef, Care, Oxfam seemed to meet these criteria. Personally, the Red Cross lost me after the donation fiasco after 9/11 - but they do some wonderful work.

I have found it interesting that these private charities seem to better able to meet immediate needs of survivors than many of the local or distant governments - I assume that is because that is what they specialize in. The US and other countries are having task force meetings to discuss what to do with their contributions (a good idea, since spending the money effectively is important), but these charities are already able to hand out aid. (Our money went to Oxfam)

Anonymous

The local governments have trouble responding because they have absolutely no resources to spare, or to set aside or reallocate for these situations. And of course many of their staff have been personally affected by these disasters, losing homes and/or loved ones. Also, both the local organizations and the international ones benefit if you and I realize they need the support.

buckeyemom

Here is the website for Catholic Relief Charities:

http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=41794

Check on the Asian Board, they have a list of charities, especially the smaller, local ones.

TC

Here is a link that has good information to sort out reputable organizations helping victims of the tsunmi diaster in Asia.

http://www.networkforgood.org/topics...=AOL&cmpgn=CRS

I made my donation to The American Red Cross on Amazon.com I went to the site to do some shopping and on the opening page of Amazon is a notice. You can make an easy donation with any credit card. Amazon is coordinating the funds and 100% of the money goes to the Red Cross.

Andrew

I gave money to both Doctors Without Borders and Merci Corps.

Andrew

Birdie

A good resource for charitable organizations is www.usaid.gov. I was reading this morning about the Europeans that skipped their New Year's celebrations to donate the money normally spent on these celebrations. I couldn't help thinking of the massive destruction on the other side of the world as I watched the parties and celebrations in Disney, NY, etc.

buckeyemom

Ran across this link about Americans giving to the relief effort...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

travelinwifey

Thanks for responding Mikemo, but I just don't agree. My spouse is a cardiologist, and 2 members of his group have spent time in Asia as well as others locally volunteering for this organization. We know it as a very well respected organization, and we know people that have donated their time, which are also very well respected, and are good hearted people.

I don't know anything about the charity being "overwhelmed". I think all relief effors may be overwhelmed at this time. It's not my particular charity either, for me it was just strange to see someone complain about what we know to be "good" charity from personal experience.

Cheers, no hard feelings

lilbuddy

We gave to Doctors Without Borders.
They were the first on the scene @ Aceh provence.

mikemo

CNN reported the Doctors without Borders sitting on their hands without transportation tonight while the USN is up front and delivering.
Clearly a major league logistical mess.
M