onPhilanthropy - Getting Relief to Tsunami Victims

onPhilanthropy - Getting Relief to Tsunami Victims: "With the inevitable concerns and reports about funds reaching their intended purposed and being spent legitimately, The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has provided resources to help donors give wisely and avoid fraud.

�After this unprecedented tragedy, donations of money and supplies are greatly needed,� said AFP President and CEO Paulette V. Maehara, CFRE, CAE. �Americans are a very generous people and always respond positively to these types of crises, but they should also be vigilant and informed in their giving.�

Maehara stressed that potential donors should know two things before they give to any organization:

Is the organization they�re supporting legitimate; and,
Will the funds they�re giving be used in an appropriate way, consistent with their intent?
Regarding the latter point, some organizations might be concentrating on relief efforts only in certain countries, or emphasizing certain aspects of the relief efforts. In some cases, charities may have already received enough funding for their relief projects and may encourage giving to a general fund, where the money might be used for future disaster relief.

There's nothing wrong with that as long as the charity tells you upfront how your money will be used, said Maehara. If you want your money to go to a certain country or particular effort, make sure you know exactly what the organization is doing and who or how it is helping.
For more information, visit the AFP website at the link below:
http://www.afpnet.org/tier3_cd.cfm?folder_id=887&content_item_id=19208"