GIVE TO DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS WISELY!

Dear Readers

Please be careful with your charitable donations for disasters.

Which Charities? This link above will take you to the Charity Navigator website for the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, with the ratings of charities that are collecting for the relief efforts.

Brother's Brother is a great organization with 99.9% of donations making it into the programs and services of the organization, rather than to administrative and fundraising overhead. For more information on the work of Brother's Brother, please visit http://www.brothersbrother.org/

Donate Wisely: Please resist "urgent" pleas for donations. Before your text a donation or put one on your credit card, please take the time to visit the organization's website. Take a look at how your donation will be put to use, and how much of your donation will be used for actual relief.

Food/Clothing Drives: Food and clothing drives are seldom a good idea in these types of disasters. Always check with an organization before conducting a food/clothing drive or donating "stuff."

Volunteering: You're probably not going to find an organization that will send you overseas to volunteer. International disaster relief requires special knowledge, skills and abilities, often beyond what a spontaneous volunteer can provide without training or prior experience specific to such activities. You may be able to find a local organization that can use assistance with activities in support of this disaster, or you may be able to help with local disasters.  There are many fine voluntary organizations active in disaster (VOAD's) with which you can volunteer. For more information, visit the National VOAD website at http://www.nvoad.org/.

Bad Choices: There are unscrupulous people out there who can prey on your goodwill and take advantage of the incredible needs of the disaster victims. Look into the organization before giving. Check these websites for more information:

Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance - http://www.bbb.org/us/charity/

Charity Navigator - http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Guide Star - http://www2.guidestar.org/

InterAction - http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list

Also, check the state agency responsible for regulating charities and charitable solicitation in your state. In Pennsylvania, check the PA Dept. of State website for Charities with Cease and Desist Orders (cannot legally solicit in PA)
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/charities/12444/cease_and_desist_orders/571846