August 19, 2010
More than one-fifth of Pakistan is currently under water, USA Today reports. Sixteen-hundred people have been reported dead and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that almost 14 million people have been displaced. Two million of those displaced are now reported to be homeless.
Flood survivors use PUR sachets provided to them by Oxfam to disinfect drinking water.
Despite the magnitude of the disaster in Pakistan, the response from individual donors and grantmakers alike has been characterized as “sluggish”. Why has the response been so anemic, and what can yet be done for the survivors of this natural disaster?
Understanding the Sluggish Start
Although NGO’s now report a slight uptick in aid flowing to Pakistan, there is still much need, and the mystery remains why the response to the disaster has not mirrored the response to past natural disasters. A blog post at Asian American Giving suggests that reasons may include:
- The death-toll and ill-effects of the flood are not as dramatic or immediate as the earthquake in Haiti in January or the 2004 tsunami.
- Donors are experiencing fatigue in this economy, and those in the West in particular are not accustomed to giving during the summer months.
- There are concerns among donors that money given to support relief efforts may end up in the hands of the Taliban.
The Prognosis, and What Individuals Can Do
Due to the nature of the natural disaster in Pakistan, the full effects will not be accounted for until well after the water line has receded.
Just yesterday the U.N. released a message warning of the specter of disease hovering over the children of Pakistan, particularly those who have been walking through sewage contaminated water with their families to find dry ground. Outbreaks of endemic cholera, upper respiratory infections and diarrhea are a part of a growing list of threats to these 3.5 million children.
If you’re interested in helping the people of Pakistan, there are many trustworthy NGO’s responding to the disaster who are eager for your support — Oxfam, MercyCorps, Doctors Without Borders, and UNICEF among them. For a more complete list of options visit USA Today, or Asian American Giving.
The Philanthropic Response
To track ongoing developments in the philanthropic response to the floods in Pakistan, please visit the response page on the Council of Foundation’s site.
Minnesota Council on Foundations is currently collecting information from our members regarding the philanthropic response in Minnesota to the flood. If you’re a grantmaker in the state, please email a description of your activities to news@mcf.org.
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Posted by MCF Webmaster
March 16, 2010
The media fervor has died down, but the work goes on in Haiti. Last week, MCF’s Global Funders Network hosted a briefing on the disaster relief efforts in that country. Speakers from nonprofits on the ground in Haiti spoke about their efforts, what they’ve observed and learned, and what role funders can play in this effort and in future disaster responses.
Speakers:
- Monte Achenbach, senior director of programs, American Refugee Committee
- Michele Boston, co-founder and executive director, No Time for Poverty
- John Hasse, senior director for Latin America and the Caribbean, World Vision
- Ali Lutz, Haiti program coordinator, Partners in Health
- Lisa Rothstein, international manager, Healing Hands for Haiti
Following are notes summarizing the Q&A discussion:
- For some nonprofits who previously had difficulty gaining corporate support, the support of the business community has been appreciated during this disaster relief effort.
- Some lessons to be learned regarding in-kind donations:
- Much of what is donated is not needed; Haiti is a small island, and there are “cemeteries” of unused product.
- Storing products is a problem. With buildings demolished and hurricane season approaching, there aren’t places to store product that is currently sitting outside unprotected.
- Transportation of product is also a challenge. Right after the disaster, even if product was shipped to a port other than Port-au-Prince, the gas lines were cut off, so there was not fuel for truck transport.
- Some education needs to be done about what is needed in disasters. Nonprofits need to clearly articulate specifically what they need. Money is the most flexible and allows the organization to use it where it’s needed.
- Nonprofits, especially small organizations, need to learn to say “no thank you” to some product donations that don’t match the need; but sometimes that’s hard, especially if the organization is trying to develop a relationship with a donor/company.
- When donating product, think of the donation in baby steps: how will it get to where it’s needed, how will it be stored, will it get used before its expiration date, is there a plan to get the product from one organization to another organization that can use it?
- Nonprofits saw some coordination and sharing of goods on the ground in Haiti, but it didn’t seem like there is much coordination before the product was sent to Haiti.
- Regarding shelter and sanitation needs, the country is still in emergency mode.
- While some believe the United Nations cluster groups were on the right track in trying to facilitate communication around the relief efforts, others thought much could be improved to effectively and efficiently coordinate and lead during the immediate response phase.
- Many Haitians do not feel safe inside buildings and will not go inside, yet want to stay by their homes, so many are cooking, eating, working outside their homes and businesses, even if the building is still standing; we need to be sensitive to this when rainy season comes and rebuilding starts.
- It is a struggle to have even the large NGOs coordinate their disaster response – each disaster and situation is different; however, there could be a role for funders in helping to enable this.
- Important to track outcomes – not just what’s being done, but to make sure that what’s being done is meaningful.
- An immediate response to a disaster often fills donors’ need to feel needed and to help, but donors should also look at supporting long-term rebuilding/response efforts. This may require some education, so that employees, for example, understand that their company is responding to the disaster – even though the response is not immediate – in an effective way that works for the company. (Employees are often the driving force of corporate responses.)
Join the conversation: If you’re a funder, what are the burning questions you’d like to ask of nonprofits on the ground in Haiti? And to the nonprofits, what would you ask or discuss with funders if you could sit across the table from them?
MCF has compiled responses by Minnesota grantmakers to the Haiti earthquake. We continue to update this site as we learn more. Our website also contains valuable disaster relief resources for grantmakers.
- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate
Leave a Comment » | disasters, nonprofits | Tagged: Ali Lutz, American Refugee Committee, Global Funders Network, Haiti, Healing Hands for Haiti, John Hasse, Lisa Rothstein, Michele Boston, minnesota, Monte Achenbach, No Time for Poverty, Partners in Health, Relief Efforts, World Vision | Permalink
Posted by Chris Noonan
March 2, 2010
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake, the fifth biggest ever recorded, hit just off of Chile’s central coast on Saturday, February 27, at 3:30 a.m., according to the BBC News. The earthquake and ensuing tidal wave have already claimed more than 700 lives in Chile; and this number, officials report, is bound to rise as relief crews begin to sift through the rubble. In total, 500,000 homes were destroyed, and more than 1.5 million Chileans remain without power.
With the tragedy in Chile following so closely on the heels of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, many are making revealing comparisons regarding the two Latin American countries, and the charitable response to the natural disaster in each nation, as in this article from The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Although the earthquake in Chile technically had 500 times the force of the earthquake in Haiti, the infrastructure in place ensured that many newer buildings, built to strict codes, did not collapse as they did in Port-Au-Prince.
As Anne Applebaum pointed out in her article in The Washington Post today, it’s a poignant illustration of how, although earthquakes are accidents of fate, the ability to respond adequately is not. The resilience of a nation in the face of disaster is the result of a stable government and a good economy. It’s this critical difference that will mediate the philanthropic response from both individual donors and grantmakers alike.
Regardless of the differences, however, there is still real need among the people of Chile for support. Individuals looking to donate to earthquake survivors in Chile may read about opportunities to contribute aid in this article from the Huffington Post. Those wishing to keep up to date on the latest activity related to the Chilean earthquake can find a wealth of up-to-the minute information at Google’s Support Disaster Relief in Chile webpage.
- Cary Lenore Walski, MCF web communications associate
Leave a Comment » | disasters | Tagged: Chile, earthquake, Haiti, infrastructure, natural disaster, philanthropic response | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster
February 16, 2010
As our nation’s attention focused on the natural disaster in Haiti last month, another natural disaster struck closer to home. A devastating ice storm struck the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota on January 21. The storm, coupled with ongoing extreme weather, left the reservation’s 15,000+ residents without heat, water and electricity. Some, including national MSNBC pundit Keith Olbermann, believe the federal response has been sluggish.
Regardless, the response from the independent sector and individual donors has been inspiring. Thanks to the efforts of individuals, tribes, the Bush Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation, Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP), and the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), over $280,000 in contributions has been raised to support relief efforts to the tribe since early February.
GiveMN.org has also agreed to cover the credit card transaction fees of contributions made through NAP so that 100 percent of donations will go to support the tribe. Help has also flowed in from Native nations across the U.S. Yoche Dehe Wintun Nation has made a $100,000 commitment to assist the tribe. The Shakopee-Mdewakanton Sioux Community similarly has promised $25,000 to support relief.
Thanks to this support and the hard work of those on the ground, power has been restored to 95 percent of homes, and most are receiving drinking water and propane to heat their homes. However, many long-term needs still remain. Damage to homes is severe, with broken water pipes that have led to flooding, and in turn, freezing — making repair work impossible for many until spring thaw.
If you want to support the relief effort, the Bush Foundation is recommending that individuals contribute through the NAP or SDCF page at GiveMN.org.
Leave a Comment » | disasters | Tagged: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Disaster Philanthropy | Permalink
Posted by MCF Webmaster
February 5, 2010
The aftershocks of the earthquake in Haiti will be felt for generations. What role should philanthropy play in rebuilding?
I listened in on a recent conference call organized by the partners of Katrina @ 5 about philanthropy’s response to the earthquake in Haiti. Several speakers from government and philanthropy spoke about the current relief efforts in Haiti and the long term role for foundations in disaster response. You can listen to a recording of the conference call here and learn more about Katrina @ 5 on their website. Also, see how Minnesota grantmakers are providing support to Haiti on the Minnesota Responds webpage.
The panelists on the call offered advice to foundations thinking about engaging in disaster philanthropy. Regine Webster, from Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors, emphasized these recommendations:
- Support organizations with long standing history of working in the affected area, especially those organizations that have solid relationships with people in the area.
- Support disaster risk reduction, like disaster-proof construction and other proactive efforts.
- Support underfunded needs in disaster recovery, like mental health and other psychosocial support.
- Commit multi-year funds to rebuild public goods, like schools and transportation systems.
- Support advocacy efforts, not only by encouraging government efforts like debt relief, but also for the creation of more sustained and coordinated disaster preparedness and response.
Rebecca Hove from the Bridgeway Foundation spoke about the importance of developing relationships with people on the ground and with organizations already working in the affected area. She said that the Bridgeway Foundation is providing unrestricted support to local implementers in Haiti who have proven distribution and communications methods and can make sound assessments of urgent critical needs. Bridgeway Foundation has also built a local coalition called Houston Helps Haiti. Hove said that their strong collaborations with organizations and people on the ground has prepared them to mobilize and respond more quickly than many of their colleagues.
Chris Page from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors addressed the reasons why the situation in Haiti is so different from other developing areas struck by disasters. He believes it is because so many institutions in Haiti simply haven’t existed or haven’t been reliable. The recovery in Haiti will be less about rebuilding the country, and more about building anew. Page encouraged donors to look at phases of redevelopment and think about strengthening the country to protect against future losses. Building trust in individuals and institutions creates stability that can lead to a transparent and functional democracy that is more prepared to respond to disasters in the future.
Patrick Corvington, Senior Associate of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and CEO Designate of the Corporation of National and Community Service, is a Haitian American and came to the United States as a teenager. He talked about using his emotional and personal connection with this disaster to help the Annie E. Casey Foundation think about its response. He talked about focusing on one area of relief and thinking through these questions:
- Can we act?
- What value can we add?
- How do we engage?
Corvington said that foundations that do not have relationships with Haiti, do not do disaster relief, or cannot respond as quickly should think about what they do well and how they can contribute in the long term, without getting in the way in the short term. If a foundation can’t respond in the immediate relief effort, how can the organization play to its strengths and provide recovery support months or years after the disaster has occurred?
All of the panelists talked about the long term infrastructure for disaster philanthropy. Here are some suggestions they offered for the foundation community to consider:
- Stay on mission. Either add disaster funding to an existing mission or stay with what you know best and provide information and resources to those working in affected areas.
- Promote donor and philanthropic engagement with established international relief organizations.
- Promote more collaboration between foundations, government, and NGOs in disaster response.
- Instead of taking on a first-responder role, philanthropy should focus on the rebuilding and transforming phases of disaster recovery.
- Philanthropy can help ensure that attention is paid to the long term, ongoing issues the affected areas face after the immediacy of the situation has subsided.
With donations for Haiti slowing, this is an opportunity for foundations to step up and do what they do best: invest in extended and focused support on the needs of a community in order to have a systemic, enduring impact.
The question we should ask ourselves about Haiti should be the kind of question foundations should ask every time they consider responding to a disaster: What kind of Haiti do we want in the future?
- Stephanie Jacobs, member services manager
Leave a Comment » | disasters, international | Tagged: Annie E. Casey Foundation, Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors, Bridgeway Foundation, Corporation of National and Community Service, Disaster Philanthropy, Haiti, Houston Helps Haiti, Stephanie Jacobs | Permalink
Posted by Stephanie Jacobs
January 20, 2010
U.S. Army soldiers help the crew of a U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) unload food and supplies at the airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, donations to support disaster relief work to Haiti currently exceed $275 million. A poignant and unwelcome reminder of how badly this support is needed came with reports this morning of an aftershock in Port-au-Prince measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale. Minnesotans have a long history of offering aid in times of need to people both at home and across the globe, and the current crisis is no exception.
To help individuals, grantmakers and the members of the media keep track of donations made to support the people of Haiti, MCF has created a special Minnesota Responds webpage to track how Minnesota grantmakers are responding.
According to the information that we’ve collected so far, over $2.3 million has been promised in direct donations to relief agencies by Minnesota corporate grantmakers and foundations. An additional $2.1 million has been pledged for matching employee contributions, and over $1.5 million worth of goods have been ear marked for the relief effort.
If you’re a grantmaker in the state of Minnesota, regardless of whether or not you’re a member, MCF invites you to keep us up to date on how you’re responding to aid the people of Haiti. You can keep us informed using this online form.
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Posted by MCF Webmaster
January 19, 2010
I heard a “fad vs. revolution” question posed on the radio this morning on the way to work. It was in reference to another topic, but it struck me, because I’ve been thinking this past weekend about all the various ways individuals are donating to the relief efforts in Haiti – via text messaging being the vehicle most prominently publicized.
Fad or future? What's your take on using SMS or texting to make donations?
I’ve been keeping my eyes open for any organization that is asking people to send in checks, but those appeals are almost nonexistent as most organizations are directing donors to their websites. A few are promoting phone numbers that take credit card donations, but these also are rare.
Is appealing for financial support via text messaging a fad or a revolution? How many more people will donate who wouldn’t have given otherwise, because it’s just a quick few punches with the thumbs and $10 is on its way? Preliminary numbers certainly point to the success of this appeal. If people give $10 via texting, but they would like to give more, will they? How?
Charitable giving is a $5.5 billion endeavor in Minnesota, according to MCF’s Giving in Minnesota, 2009 Edition research. Of this, 76 percent or $4.19 billion came from individuals. Over the past decade, charitable giving in Minnesota increased 67 percent, and the number of grantmakers in the state rose by more than 65 percent. In just a year, from 2006 to 2007, foundations and corporate giving programs increased their giving by 10.1 percent to $1.32 billion.
Has innovation or evolution in philanthropy contributed to this increase? What factors – technology, outreach strategies, messaging, donor-advised initiatives to name just a few examples – are redefining how and what we give? Which individuals and organizations are leading the way? These topics and more will be the focus of our spring issue of Giving Forum.
In the meantime, join the conversation on texting to support relief efforts in Haiti by commenting on this entry. I’m interested to hear others’ perspectives.
- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate
Leave a Comment » | communication, disasters, fundraising, giving forum, in the news, individual giving, leadership, nonprofits, promotion of philanthropy, technology | Permalink
Posted by Chris Noonan
January 15, 2010
In response to the earthquake in Haiti, Razoo has launched the Match for Haiti Campaign. Twenty U.S. nonprofits with dedicated relief efforts in Haiti are eligible for matching grants.
Beginning at noon today, donations to any of the 20 online fundraising pages specified as “Match for Haiti,” will be matched dollar for dollar on a first-come-first-served basis, subject to matching rules.
One hundred percent of each donation to the Match for Haiti Campaign will go to the designated nonprofit. To contribute, learn more or view full match rules, visit: http://www.razoo.com/p/haiti.
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Posted by MCF Webmaster
