When disasters happen, Canadians ask Charity Intelligence to recommend charities that can best help. Disaster giving is one of the trickiest areas of intelligent giving: help is needed immediately, donors want to give quickly, the situation in the disaster area is unknown. Charities ask for donations, yet it is too early for even them to know how much money they will need, how they will spend it, and when. Disaster giving can epitomize “spray and pray” giving.
Years afterwards it is critically important to hold charities accountable, to read the progress reports, and critically assess how our giving was used. Did it do the most good possible? Accountability works both ways: Charity Intelligence too needs to be accountable. Did we pick the right charities?
“Having raised the money is not enough: it must reach the projects that truly help people.”
When giving to a disaster appeal, consider the charities that have:
- a good track record;
- an area of expertise relative to the needs of the disaster;
- proximity to the disaster; and
- a local presence.
Charity Intelligence's research covers the following disasters:
- Hurricane Irma Caribbean - September 2017
- BC Wildfires - August 2017
- Hurricane Matthew Haiti - October 2016
- Fort McMurray Wildfire - May 2016
- Nepal Earthquake - April 2015
- Typhoon Haiyan Philippines - November 2013
- Lac Megantic - July 2013
- Haiti Earthquake - January 2011
