Hurricane
Victims Need
Your Help Today
Millions of
people along the
Gulf Coast are
suffering from
the devastation
from Hurricane
Katrina. They
desperately need
water, food,
shelter and
medical care
today. You can
join the effort
to provide
life-saving aid
by making a
donation to one
or more of the
organizations
listed above.
-
Give
To An
Established
Charity:
Don't let an
unscrupulous
charity take
advantage of
your goodwill.
Find a charity
with a proven
track record
of success
with dealing
with this
region and
this type of
disaster.
Avoid
fly-by-night
charities
created
specifically
to deal with
Hurricane
Katrina relief
efforts. Even
well-meaning
new
organizations
will not have
the
infrastructure
and knowledge
of the region
to efficiently
maximize your
gift. If you
do feel
compelled to
give to a new
charity, be
sure to get
proof that the
group is in
fact a
registered
public charity
with 501 (c)
(3) status.
-
Designate Your
Gift:
Worried that
your donation
will go
towards the
charity's
general
operating fund
or saved for
an upcoming
crisis? This
is a very
understandable
concern. Many
charities do
encourage
donors not to
designate
their gifts so
that the
charity can
decide how
best to
utilize the
money, but
depending on
your
confidence in
the charity's
ability to
make that
determination,
you may want
to tell the
charity
exactly how to
use your gift.
By designating
your gift
specifically
for Hurricane
Katrina relief
efforts,
you'll ensure
that your
donation will
be used for
the victims of
this
particular
disaster.
-
Avoid
Telemarketers:
Be wary of
fundraisers
who pressure
you to make a
contribution
over the
phone. Never
divulge your
credit card
information to
someone
soliciting you
via the phone.
Instead, ask
the fundraiser
to send you
written
information
about the
charity they
represent and
do some
research on
your own. Once
you feel
comfortable
with the
charity, send
the
organization a
check directly
in the mail,
or give
through their
website, thus
ensuring 100%
of your gift
goes to the
charity and
not the
for-profit
fundraiser.
Research And
Follow Up:
As always,
take the time
to find a
charity you
can trust.
Charity
Navigator
offers this
list of
highly-rated
charities
working in the
wake of
Hurricane
Katrina to
help you in
your efforts.
Use our free
financial
evaluations to
search for
other well-run
charities
worthy of your
support. And
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 they
need
additional
support to
complete the
recovery
effort.
|
|
