We’re now in Day 6 since the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. All of us have seen the coverage, the images and stories of tragedy in the impoverished nation. We’ve also seen the pleas for help, from former Presidents Bush and Clinton to Wyclef Jean. If you’re having a hard time wading through all the options and want to make sure help gets where it’s most needed, here are some digital tools you can utilize to make your decision for the current crisis in Haiti as well as research on any charitable organization.
First, what are the options for online giving? The traditional methods of giving by phone and mail are still widely available, we’re seeing more charitable organizations experimenting with new ways of making it an easier, faster and smoother process. Giving through websites for charities is now a standard that no charity can go without. But one particular method of giving that has received a lot of attention in recent days has been through text messaging. If you haven’t heard, organizations like the Red Cross have partnered with a text message intermediary called mGive. To donate via text message to the Red Cross, you text the word “HAITI” to the number “90999” and you’ll automatically get a $10 line item added to your next cell phone bill. Other charities get other keywords to text to that same number. For the Red Cross alone, this method of giving has raised over $22 million (as of Monday).
One thing to note about donating via text messages is the delay that occurs because the money has to pass through middlemen before actually getting to the charity. This is less of an issue for big charities like the Red Cross which has an emergency fund and can get the financing they need in times of crises, but may be more of an issue for smaller, less-established charities.
For all those who have given via text message, here’s what the Red Cross has to say: “The processing delay doesn’t mean we’re waiting,” said Jonathan Aiken, spokesman for the Red Cross. “Our policy is always to work in good faith and assume people will make the contributions they pledge.”
Another innovative method of giving that is gaining traction is directly through iTunes – again, the Red Cross has taken the lead here and has become the beneficiary of choice for users of Apple’s Tunes software. Here’s the link to donate via iTunes (this will open up iTunes)
How do you decide who to give to? How do you know an organization is legitimate and will have a positive impact in Haiti? Established charities like The Salvation Army, Oxfam, Red Cross, UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders are safe and effective bets here. But if you have a desire to give to one that isn’t as well known, the key is to do your research; the good news is, there are lots of online resources that make it easy to learn about the legitimacy of the organization you are thinking about supporting. One excellent online resource is Charity Navigator, which is an independent evaluator or non-profits and aid organizations. They’ve put together a page on their site on charities providing relief, their overall rating and descriptions of what the organizations are doing on the ground there. To take it a step further, you can even look up the charity group’s most recent tax filing and non-profit status.
So what has the crisis in Haiti taught us about the age of digital donations? First, text message donations have to be taken seriously. With the huge impact it has had on the Haiti relief effort, it should strongly be considered for any future giving campaigns. Another lesson is to explore even more ways in which organizations can make it as easy as possible for people to give their support: consider platforms like social networking and mobile apps that are increasingly being adopted by a wide audience. And finally, if you are a reputable charitable organization, tout your presence on independent, third-party sites that have deemed you a worthy aid organization. In today’s world, being transparent about your ratings by third-parties can go a long way in establishing trust with the audience you’re trying to impact.
I hope this cleared up some of the questions you may have been asking about giving to help the people of Haiti. Remember, there are lots of different ways to give (some as easy as sending a text message or clicking on a link in iTunes), but do your research and make sure the organization is a legitimate one. And go do some good.
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