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AFP Disaster Relief and Fundraising Efforts Page (Updated July 5, 2011)

Last year, Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake. In response to the critical and overwhelming challenges that the country faced, AFP 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 with ongoing and recent disaster 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).


Recent Natural Disasters in U.S. (Midwest, South, Northeast)
For the latest Disaster Relief news and resources, please visit AFP's Disaster Relief Blog.

This Spring has seen a series of devastating natural disasters hit the South and Midwest regions of the United States. Between the recent flooding of towns all along the Mississippi River and the deadly storms and tornadoes that have ripped through communities in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and now Missouri, Kansas and Minnesota, there is urgent need now and for the foreseeable future to safeguard and rebuild these communities. The following relief efforts are now underway. We will update this page as we learn more. Know of additional efforts? Let us know at webmaster@afpnet.org.

Donation/Support Efforts - National:

The United Way supports agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army to be on the front lines of tornado relief efforts. Go online to donate to the United Way's Tornado Disaster Fund, call 1-855-205-HELP or text "TORNADO" to 50555 to donate $10. Visit the website for drop-off locations to donate items like bottled water, diapers and flashlights.
• The American Red Cross is helping tornado victims recover by providing food, shelter and essential relief supplies such as hygiene kits, work gloves, tarps and coolers. To donate, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. People can also text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
• To support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts, you can donate online at www.salvationarmyusa.org. People can also donate via text - send “JOPLIN” to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Confirm when prompted with “yes.”

AmeriCares is delivering bottled water, medical aid and other critically needed supplies to communities across the South and Central U.S. To donate, go online or call 1(800) 486-HELP.
Convoy of Hope's disaster response team, with the help of volunteers, is providing food, water and supplies at distribution sites. Visit the organization's website to find out about volunteer opportunities or to make a donation.
Save the Children works to distribute truckloads of shoes, diapers, portable cribs and toys to affected families. Donations to the group's Southern U.S. Tornado Children in Emergency Fund will support the ongoing needs resulting from the devastating tornadoes.
Direct Relief USA is working with partners across the Southeast to supply them with the medical aid they need for patients and people affected by severe storms and tornadoes. Donations can be made on the website.
The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) is seeking donations to assist in its efforts to help those affected by recent storms and tornadoes in the Midwest.

Donation/Support Efforts - Regional:

• The American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay is accepting donations of any size from people who want to help the residents of those communities hammered by the tornadoes in Central and Western Massachusetts. People can donate online at www.redcross.org or by phone: 1-800-RED-CROSS. Those who wish to donate can also text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to send $10 to the organization.
• The Minnesota Council of Foundations has set up a website highlighting volunteer opportunities, donations, and other news focusing on the areas of Minneapolis impacted by the tornado.
giveMN has created the North Minneapolis Recovery Fund to support the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by the tornado.
• The United Way of Greater St. Louis is accepting donations and volunteers to help those impacted in the Joplin area. Those interested in volunteering should list their availability and expertise on their Joplin Storm Recovery Volunteer Form.
• The Heart of Missouri United Way has established the Tornado Relief Fund to help victims.
• The Community Foundation of Kansas City has created two funds to pool donations, which you can make donations to online - the Joplin Missouri Disaster Relief Fund and the Reading Kansas Disaster Relief Fund. Community Foundation staff will perform the due diligence to ensure that grants from both funds are awarded to organizations addressing the immediate needs of the victims of the tornadoes, such as providing food, shelter and medical care/supplies. If you would like to donate with your credit card, please call 816-842-7444.
Ozarks Food Harvest has set up a list of food agencies that are helping the hungry in this tornado-striken region.

Web Resources:

The Salvation Army's blog - http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/ - provides running updates on relief efforts on the ground, as well as key information on how folks can best help ongoing outreach.
• The Red Cross operates a National Shelter System Google map, where people can find information about shelters in their area.
• In addition, the Red Cross encourages people to register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to let loved ones know they are safe. From a smartphone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the "List Yourself as Safe and Well" or "Search for Friends and Family" link.

Relief Spark is a nonprofit focused on remodeling schools, but in the wake of the tornado, it has turned its Twitter feed into a valuable resource of information. Sample tweets direct first responders to meeting places and to posting what shelters have just opened their doors.
• On Facebook, a page have been created to help residents find loved ones and join in the recovery process, including the Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery Page and a Joplin, MO Survivors’ Page.
OzarksFirst.com, a local community and new site, has also put together a tremendous resource with help hotlines, phone numbers and web pages for volunteers and victims. It provides emergency numbers, the state senator’s office number and special hotlines for nurses and doctors looking to lend a hand.

 

Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami

On March 11, 2011, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan during the night, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. The crisis continues with aftershocks, fires and failing infrastructure. The following relief efforts are now underway. We will update this page as we learn more. Know of addditional efforts? Let us know at webmaster@afpnet.org.

Donation/Support Efforts:

• ammado has established fundraising community/appeals for international donations at www.ammado.com/japanappeal benefiting the Japanese Red Cross and www.ammado.com/japanappeal/usdonors with opportunity to contribute in over 75 international currencies and every major payment method worldwide. You can also put the ammado giving widget on a website or blog, as well as on Facebook using the Facebook “Give Now” application.
• The Japan Fundraising Association has started a message campaign on Facebook. JFA believes that Japanese disaster victims will find courage and strength in knowing that supporters from all over the world hold them in their thoughts and prayers.
Visit http://www.facebook.com/idonatedforJp.
• The Institute of International Education has launched the Emergency Assistance Fund for Japanese students who are in the United States and are facing serious financial difficulties due to the recent earthquake and tsunami. IIE’s goal is to help these students to be able to complete their studies so they can go home and help rebuild their shattered communities. International student advisors and campus representatives can nominate their students by visiting www.iie.org/JapanEAF and downloading the nomination form.
Greater Giving in partnership with the American Red Cross has launched the Japan Tsunami and Earthquake Relief Initiative.
• Mercy Corps is helping provide emergency assistance, such as shelter, food and blankets, to earthquake survivors in Japan with our longstanding partner, Peace Winds. People can donate at www.mercycorps.org/donate/japan or text "MERCY" to the number 25383. Donations will be used to meet immediate and longer-term needs of families affected by this disaster.
• The Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA International) is supporting an evacuation center of 1300 displaced persons. Donations can be made at www.adra.org, or text "Support" to 85944 to add a $10 donation to your cellphone bill.
Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach
Save the Children is working to provide a safe environment to children living in desperate conditions due to the earthquake and tsunami.
NetHope is coordinating relief efforts for Japan. NetHope is a group of organizations that collaborate to handle disaster relief issues and help rebuild communication infrastructure.

• In response to the quake, The Red Cross has already launched efforts in Japan. Visit Redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone.
Save the Children is organizing efforts and donations to its Children's Emergency Fund.
GlobalGiving.org has launched The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund to gather funds that will be given to a variety of relief organizations helping victims of the earthquake.
• To contribute to the Salvation Army's efforts to send teams to Japan, text 'JAPAN' or 'QUAKE' to 80888 to make a $10 donation or visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.

Web Resources:

Giving for Japan Disaster Now Totals More Than $161 Million (The Chronicle of Philanthropy - March 25, 2011)
• Pew Internet article: Americans under age 40 are as likely to donate to Japan disaster relief through electronic means as traditional means
Network for Good Response Page: Network for Good has created a comprehensive website compiling all the onging relief effrots for surivivors of the Japan quake and tsunami, allowing quick donations to a number of charities to aid emergency needs.
Charity Navigator: This site provides an excellent guide and resources on negotiating your way through the charity and donation process, and has created a special page on the Japanese quake and tsunami.
• Google has launched the Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake to help connect people that may have been displaced due to the disaster. Google has also launched a crisis response page listing local resources and emergency information.
PayPal has announced that all transactional fees incurred by money transfers to US 501(c)(3) organizations (or charities registered with the Canada Revenue Agency) between March 11 and April 10 will be directed to relief efforts in Japan.

For the latest Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami relief news and resources, please be sure to visit AFP's Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Blog.

 

Disaster Relief Organizations

ActionAid
Adventist Development and Relief Organization
American Jewish World Service
American Red Cross
AmeriCares
ammado
Baptist World Alliance
Brethren Disaster Ministries
Campus Crusade for Christ
CARE
Catholic Relief Services
Church World Service
Direct Relief International
Doctors Without Borders
Food for the Poor
Free the Kids.org
Global Aid Network (GAiN)

Greengrants.org

Habitat for Humanity International
Heart to Heart International
Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach
International Medical Corps
International Orthodox Christian Charities
International Red Cross
International Relief and Development
International Relief Teams

JustGive.org
Loma Linda University
Mercy Corps
Mercy Ships
National Credit Union Foundation

Operation USA
Oxfam International
Partners in Health
Plan International USA
Rotary International
Salvation Army
Samaritan's Purse
Save the Children
Save the Children - Canada
Shelterbox
Solar Cookers International
SOS Children’s Villages-USA
Trees, Water and People
UNICEF
United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund
World Concern
World Food Programme
World Vision

Fundraising Resources

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.

 

Social Media

• Please follow the AFP Disaster Relief Blog for all releif efforts and developments worldwide.
• The ONE Blog has comprehensive updates on the situation.
• Updated information and general ways to help during disasters can be found at USAID.

 



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