​When disaster relief brings anything but relief - CBS News

​When disaster relief brings anything but relief - CBS News: "Many of the well-meaning articles we Americans donate in times of disaster turn out to be of no use to those in need. Sometimes, they even get in the way. That's a message relief organizations very much want us to heed. Our Cover Story is reported now by Scott Simon of NPR:

When Nature grows savage and angry, Americans get generous and kind. That's admirable. It might also be a problem.

"Generally after a disaster, people with loving intentions donate things that cannot be used in a disaster response, and in fact may actually be harmful," said Juanita Rilling, director of the Center for International Disaster Information in Washington, D.C. "And they have no idea that they're doing it.""



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Audit Faults Nonprofit’s Handling of Millions in Katrina Aid – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Audit Faults Nonprofit’s Handling of Millions in Katrina Aid – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Federal auditors say a nonprofit University of New Orleans research organization failed to account for most of the more than $19-million it received from the U.S. government to repair damage it sustained during Hurricane Katrina, The Times-Picayune writes. The University of New Orleans Research and Technology Foundation is disputing findings that it did not follow federal contracting guidelines on holding an “open and free competition” for repair projects and allotting work to women- and minority-owned small firms, the newspaper also reports."



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IRS Lets Taxpayers Claim Donations Early for Philippines Typhoon Relief

IRS Lets Taxpayers Claim Donations Early for Philippines Typhoon Relief: Taxpayers who make cash contributions on or before April 14, 2014, for Philippines typhoon relief can get an immediate tax benefit by choosing to claim them on their 2013 returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Under special legislation enacted last week, taxpayers can choose to treat cash contributions made on or after March 26, 2014, and before midnight on Monday, April 14, 2014, as if they were made on Dec. 31, 2013.

9-11 charities' missions continue to evolve ten years later - USATODAY.com

9-11 charities' missions continue to evolve ten years later - USATODAY.com: "The charities that have endured in the decade since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have something in common: They look forward as well as back."

Grants Available for Nonprofits Helping in Tornadoes’ Aftermath

We have many additional Disaster Relief articles on our Disaster Relief Blog

massnonprofit.org ::: "Grants Available for Nonprofits Helping in Tornadoes’ Aftermath

July 18, 2011 — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts announced that it is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations assisting Hampden County residents affected by the June 1 tornadoes, as well as from nonprofits directly impacted by the tornadoes."

Area Rotarians gain global kudo for ShelterBox disaster relief efforts -- Port Angeles Port Townsend Sequim Forks Jefferson County Clallam County Olympic Peninsula Daily news

Area Rotarians gain global kudo for ShelterBox disaster relief efforts -- Port Angeles Port Townsend Sequim Forks Jefferson County Clallam County Olympic Peninsula Daily news: "SEQUIM -- A team that includes three Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club volunteers is one of the top five fundraising teams in the world for securing funds for ShelterBoxes for families displaced by disasters.

Jim Pickett of Sequim, Eric Zawilski of Puyallup Rotary South Hill club and Sequim ShelterBox Response Team members Tom Schaafsma and Scott Robinson make up the leading team in North America in 2009-10, having secured shelter and life-saving equipment for more than 361 families, ShelterBox USA said."

Volunteers' goal: 1 million meals for quake-stricken Haiti | KOMO News - Breaking News, Sports, Traffic and Weather - Seattle, Washington | Local & Regional

You can find links to other Disaster Relief Fundraising stories on the AFP Resource Center Disaster Relief Blog

Volunteers' goal: 1 million meals for quake-stricken Haiti | KOMO News - Breaking News, Sports, Traffic and Weather - Seattle, Washington | Local & Regional: "The massive effort involved 2,000 people who worked to pack a million meals for people still going hungry in the poverty-stricken, quake-ravaged country.

The prepackaged meals for six are being created by hand, one at a time."

Haiti relief less than Katrina, 9/11 - USATODAY.com

You can find additional stories on Disasters and Disaster Relief via our AFP Disaster Relief Blog Your comments are welcomed.

Haiti relief less than Katrina, 9/11 - USATODAY.com: "Four months after an earthquake devastated Haiti, Americans have donated $1.3 billion for disaster relief there, almost on a par with theirgiving after the Asian tsunami in 2004, according to a tally by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University."

Philanthropy Front and Center - New York: Haiti: Earthquake Relief and Information

We have posted a variety of links on the Haiti Earthquake on
The AFP Disaster Relief Blog


Philanthropy Front and Center - New York: Haiti: Earthquake Relief and Information: "Haiti: Earthquake Relief and Information

The earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince last night has been devastating. New Yorkers who want to contribute to the relief efforts getting underway can follow the web sites below for ways to help:"

Twitter quakes as San Francisco shakes » VentureBeat

Twitter quakes as San Francisco shakes » VentureBeat: "Earthquake news and Twitter have long gone hand in hand. Because it’s an instant mass communication medium, it is simply one of the best way to find about breaking information quickly. Today, an earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay area (where Twitter’s headquarters is located, along with many of its original users) and Twitter shook with excitement."

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media: Get Involved in Gustav Online Volunteer Efforts

Beth Kanter posts on Online Volunteer Efforts for Gustav. Thanks to Tom Watson for the heads up.

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media: Get Involved in Gustav Online Volunteer Efforts: "As you know by now, Hurricane Gustav looks even more destructive than Katrina (see this round up from Lisa Stone, BlogHer, of the news reports and links). Three years ago, in the wake of the devastating storm, social media and others started organizing online. This time, online organizing efforts using social media are happening before the storm hits."

Acronym: Associations Responding to Hurricane Gustav Threat

You can see additional headlines re Disaster Relief in the right sidebar of this page.
The material is posted on our AFP:Blog Disaster Relief


Acronym: Associations Responding to Hurricane Gustav Threat: "As always, I am proud to report that many associations have already sprung into action in response to the serious threat of Hurricane Gustav, now a Category 4 hurricane heading toward New Orleans, and the potential threat of Tropical Storm Hannah coming toward the Florida coast. Here are some of the actions associations are already taking:"

Market Spotlight: nonprofits suffer gas costs, too - Forbes.com

Market Spotlight: nonprofits suffer gas costs, too - Forbes.com: "NEW YORK -

Rising fuel costs aren't just affecting airlines and individual drivers, they are hampering the ability of nonprofits across the country to provide services to their local communities, and the world.

The cost for nonprofit AmeriCares, for example, to airlift medical supplies into West Darfur has increased 51 percent this year to $130,000."

If you want to give, make sure it countsippi

We also have a Blog which focuses on Disaster Relief. You can see the feed for the Blog in the Right Side Bar of this Blog.

rankinledger.com: Serving Rankin County, Mississippi: "We know a little something about dealing with disaster here in Mississippi. In 2005, we were hit by Hurricane Katrina.

We also know a little something about giving. Mississippi consistently ranks highest in charitable giving in the nation.

But make sure your donation counts. Unfortunately in these types of situations, countless groups pop up collecting money, sometimes fraudulently. We saw dozens of fake charities emerge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."

globeandmail.com: Doing good, on company time

globeandmail.com: Doing good, on company time: "The messages all echoed a similar tone: How are we getting involved? What are we doing? 'They'll start asking for time off to go to Myanmar pretty soon,' said Mr. Thompson. 'We see this all the time with disasters of this scale.'

Mr. Thompson doesn't work for a charity or an NGO. He's the director of community affairs at Microsoft Canada, one of dozens of Canadian firms that have begun offering employees paid leave to volunteer in troubled regions around the world. And that's above and beyond their vacation time."

Press Releases: Myanmar: Tropical Cyclone Nargis - May 2008, Air Serv International rapid response team readies for Myanmar

AFP has found a variety of stories about Myanmar Cylcone which are posted on the AFP Disaster Relief Blog

Press Releases: Myanmar: Tropical Cyclone Nargis - May 2008, Air Serv International rapid response team readies for Myanmar: "Warrenton, VA – May 7, 2008 – Air Serv International is preparing to be a first responder to Myanmar disaster. With helicopters ready to deliver crucial supplies and relief workers to areas hardest hit in this devastated country, Air Serv is conducting a needs-assessment on how to deliver aid to the Myanmar people quickly and efficiently. As time is always an issue in responding to a disaster, Air Serv mobilized its Rapid Response Team the moment news broke about the events in Myanmar."

Amir visits to observe impact of his generosity - Breaking News from New Orleans - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com

Amir visits to observe impact of his generosity - Breaking News from New Orleans - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com: "The amir of Qatar, the ruler of the oil-rich country that has pumped $100 million into hurricane-recovery projects, is visiting New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast today and Wednesday to see how and where the money has been spent."

OPINION: The hurricane of coverage is no more, but New Orleans remains - Opinions

OPINION: The hurricane of coverage is no more, but New Orleans remains - Opinions: "Maybe it's because the average American has an attention span of eight seconds.

Whatever the reason, 'out of sight, out of mind' is probably a fair assessment of the state of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast affected by Hurricane Katrina.

While media coverage and promises to rebuild were rampant in the first months following the storm, nearly three years later, those promises are still unfulfilled and we've all but forgotten - we being America at large."

3 Years After Tsunami, Bay Area Residents Still Helping

3 Years After Tsunami, Bay Area Residents Still Helping: "Dubbed Project Hope, the complex includes an orphanage and school for more than 450 children. There also are homes for more than 200 widowed, poor and abandoned women who learn about computers, sewing and other skills in a vocational training center.

In less than a year, the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding helped raise $400,000, with much of it coming from prominent donors in the Tampa Bay area. But dollars also came from school children at the Academy at the Lakes in Land 'O Lakes, which collected $2,700; and restaurant workers in Tampa who started Waiting for Relief, an effort that raised more than $20,000.

In October, a group of 16 people representing the foundation traveled to Cuddlore. One of them was former University of South Florida president Betty Castor, who now is executive director for the think-tank USF Patel Center For Global Solutions."

Businessman set to walk length of Cape Cod for 9/11 charity fund - BostonHerald.com

Businessman set to walk length of Cape Cod for 9/11 charity fund - BostonHerald.com: "snowstorms and icy blasts won’t keep one big-hearted businessman from completing his “Winter Walk for Charity.” On Dec. 18 and 19, Jeffrey Liskov, 37, of Plymouth, a vice president at Fidelity Investments, will walk 100 miles, from Provincetown to Plymouth Rock, in hopes of raising at least $2,500 for the Feal Good Foundation - a nonprofit charity founded in 2005 to aid sick or injured 9/11 rescue workers. “I’m doing the charity walk to raise awareness of a situation that is happening to 9/11 first-responders,” Liskov said."