AFP Disaster Relief and Fundraising Efforts Page (Updated May 3, 2010)

On January 12, Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake. The same fate befell Chile on February 27. In response to the critical and overwhelming challenges that these countries now face, AFP has put together this Disaster Relief and Fundraising Efforts Page.

This page is not meant to be comprehensive, but simply an easy way that members can keep up to date on the situation in Haiti, and give to support the relief efforts. We know that we have many members who work for organizations involved in the relief efforts.

If you don't see a resource or organization listed here and would like it posted, please email the AFP Webmaster (webmaster@afpnet.org).

Additional Chile and Haiti Efforts:

The State Department has set up hotline for Americans to inquire after family in Haiti: 888-407-4747. In addition, the State Department has announced that those wishing to contribute can simply text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.

In addition, Haitian musician Wyclef Jean is asking people on Twitter to donate to his organization Yele Haiti: @wyclef: Haiti is in need of immediate AID please text Yele to 501501 and donate $5 toward earthquake relief.

GreatNonprofits and GuideStar have launched a web site focused on disaster response in Haiti. The site contains reviews that can help the public identify the organizations that are working the most effectively on the ground in Haiti, so they can then make informed and confident donation decisions to help the relief effort. The site is http://www.greatnonprofits.org/haiti.

The organization Christian Relief Services is partnering with the United Way of the National Capital Area to provide medical items and cash to its partner in Haiti, Fondation pour les Enfants d'Haiti, a Haitian Non Government Organization with a hospital and orphanage near Port-au-Prince that was not damaged in the recent series of earthquakes. The hospital is now overwhelmed with people of all ages seeking assistance. Read more.

The African Advocacy Network, which is a project of Dolores Street Community Services, will be offering legal assistance to take advantage of the Obama administration’s new policy of offering Temporary Protective Status, (TPS) for Haitians. It intends to use this policy resource to promote family reunifications for Haitians that have family linkages within the San Francisco Bay Area.

For more relief organizations click here.

• Disaster Response Checklist Available at No Cost to Nonprofits, Donors & Governments
Doing more measurable good and no harm with disaster response dollars is a challenge amid the chaos and confusion following a disaster. Now available is a practical Checklist for well considered planning, implementation, evaluation and training. It's based on debriefings and on the literature of what works and what doesn't.

• "Lessons Learned from Haiti" - Free Web Seminar Series on Rapid Response Fundraising
Blackbaud, Inc. is offering a free web seminar series to help nonprofits build strategies for mobilizing, soliciting, and stewarding supporters during and after times of disaster. Blackbaud nonprofit experts and partners developed the seminars based on their work with nonprofits that are involved in Haiti relief efforts. The free series, entitled "Lessons Learned from Haiti," includes five seminars that will kick-off on March 11 and will continue through May.

• "Planning Disaster: The Role of Philanthropy in Anticipating and Responding"
This past October, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and the McCormick Foundation Conference Series convened an invitational summit on philanthropy and disaster relief. The summit brought together 32 of the nation’s leading experts from key nonprofits, foundations, government organizations, corporations, and news organizations to candidly discuss how best to strengthen the philanthropic preparation for and response to disasters.

• Disaster Relief - Resources for Charities and Contributors
In the aftermath of a disaster or in other emergency hardship situations, individuals, employers and corporations often are interested in providing assistance to victims through a charitable organization. The IRS provides a number of resources to help those involved in providing disaster relief through charities. (IRS.gov)

• Red Cross’ Innovative Communications Response
I wanted to tip my hat to the American Red Cross for its immediate and creative communications strategy on the situation in Haiti and fundraising for relief efforts. (Nancy E. Schwartz – Getting Attention blog)

• Message From Steve Gunderson, President and CEO, Council on Foundations
“Let us know how you are assisting—whether directly to Haiti, through a partner organization or through those in your local communities—so we can share the information with others in our field.”

• The DOs and DON'Ts of Disaster Donations
Good intentions sometimes are not enough. This article offers an honest conversation about the impact of aid.

• Why People Give During Disasters
The perceived credibility of a disaster-relief organization matters quite a bit, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Twente in The Netherlands.

• Keep updated with all of the developments regarding Chile on AFP’s Chile Blog.

• Keep updated with all of the developments regarding Haiti on AFP’s Haiti Blog.

• General disaster relief news and resources can be found on the AFP Disaster Relief Blog.

• The ONE Blog has comprehensive updates on the situation in Haiti.

• Updated information and general ways to help during disasters can be found at USAID.