Philanthropy Front and Center - New York

Haiti in the Aftermath: "The largest urban disaster in modern history"

This is how United Nations and Haitian government officials have described the living conditions of 1.5 million displaced people in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas six months after the earthquake that devastated this country. In its recent report, In Haiti, the Displaced Are Left Clinging to the Edge, from which the title quote is taken, the New York Times describes the untenable situation in tent cities and street-side shelters and the bureaucratic, governmental, and societal factors that are impeding more immediate and efficient solutions.

Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive of Haiti and former U.S. President Bill Clinton co-authored an op-ed piece for the Times last week — Finishing Haiti’s Unfinished Work — in which they discuss reconstruction efforts and the recovery plan developed by the Haitian government in conjunction with the international commission they co-chair. In the article, Bellerive and Clinton ask the international community to provide "reliable schedules for disbursement" of funds pledged and the cooperation of the World Bank in ensuring that these funds are delivered more efficiently to Haiti.

In looking to the immediate needs of reconstruction and recovery, the authors summarize:

For the overall effort to succeed, however, we need the participation of everyone involved: nongovernmental organizations must submit their projects to the commission for approval, as most have agreed to do; businesses and government ministries should notify the commission of their programs, as most have agreed to do; and donors should honor their pledges.

In looking down the road at the future development of Haiti's economy and infrastructure, they urge:

For those governments, donors and businesses that have not yet committed to investing in Haiti’s economy or aiding relief and reconstruction efforts, we urge them to do so quickly. In addition to short-term needs like rubble removal, there are ample opportunities for investments with longer-term dividends — in agriculture, construction, tourism, manufacturing, service industries and clean energy, especially solar. No matter how people choose to help, the most important thing is that we work in alignment with the priorities of Haiti’s development plan, with a sense of urgency, and in partnership with one another in the service of the people of Haiti.

Finally, for all of who have an interest in the progress of these efforts, the authors point to a new web site developed to provide information on the ongoing reconstruction process, including a map of pledges and funds awarded by country.

News
Red Cross Announces New, Expanded Haiti Relief Programs
Philanthropy News Digest

Haiti, Six Months Since The Earthquake
NPR

Haiti: six months on
BBC Caribbean

Crisis in Haiti: Six Months On
International Rescue Committee

Report Faults Haiti Aid Groups on Openness
The New York Times

NYC Haitian Community Hope and Healing Fund

The Brooklyn Community Foundation and the United Way of New York City have announced a new grant initiative to help Haitian social service organizations and Haitians living in New York City. Funding would support nonprofits offering services in immigration assistance, literacy and other educational programs, employment training, and grief counseling. The NYC Haitian Community Hope & Healing Fund hopes to strengthen these organizations over the long term so they are better able to meet the increased needs of the community.

The initiative is receiving support from other funders, including the Altman Foundation, Capital One Bank, and St. Francis College, and is looking to garner additional funds from institutional and individual donors in order to operate over the next three to five years.

Organizations interested in this new program should visit the fund’s web site (www.hopeandhealingfund.org).

For information and discussion on foundations and the response to Haiti, please see the Foundation Center's Focus on Haiti: Earthquake Relief and Recovery.

Source: Brooklyn Community Foundation press release, also published in the New York Times on 2/10.

Earthquake in Haiti: Leading U.S. Foundations Respond to the Crisis

In the immediate aftermath of the January 12 earthquake that brought widespread death and destruction to the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti, the Foundation Center surveyed members of its Grantmaker Leadership Panel to gauge the reaction of top funders to the unfolding crisis. More than half (53 percent) of current panel members responded.

Findings from the survey suggest that a number of leading funders are considering a direct response to the crisis, with a primary focus on providing emergency assistance. Most of these funders expect to provide this support to intermediary organizations headquartered outside of Haiti. Not surprisingly, leading grantmakers that have provided funding related to Haiti and/or responded to other disasters in recent years were more likely to consider responding to this crisis.

KEY FINDINGS

• Among the 120 foundations that responded to the survey, 42 percent are considering providing assistance for relief and/or recovery efforts in response to the earthquake in Haiti. Another 22 percent are "uncertain," while roughly 36 percent do not anticipate providing a direct response at this time.

• Among community foundations, 44 percent expect to provide assistance in response to the crisis, and nearly half have already established funds to collect contributions. Overall, nine of the twenty community foundations that expect to provide assistance have created funds, while another four are considering establishing such a fund.

• Foundations that have provided funding related to Haiti and/or direct support in response to other recent disasters are more likely to consider funding in response to the earthquake in Haiti. Among the nineteen respondents that have provided funding benefiting Haiti over the past decade (either in-country or through intermediaries), 74 percent are considering a response to the current crisis. Of the seventy-nine respondents that have provided funding in response to other recent disasters (e.g., the Indian Ocean tsunami, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Pakistani earthquake, the September 11th terrorist attacks), 56 percent are considering offering support for relief and/or recovery efforts.

• Most of the fifty foundations that anticipate responding (60 percent) intend to direct assistance exclusively to intermediary organizations headquartered outside of Haiti. Among the remaining grantmakers, 14 percent expect to fund organizations based in Haiti, 12 percent anticipate funding both intermediaries and Haitian organizations and the remaining 14 percent are uncertain.

• The vast majority of leading foundations responding to the crisis (90 percent) expect to focus on providing "emergency relief." Among other priorities, half of responders (50 percent) expect to offer support for health and medical care.

• Among the fifty foundations considering a response to the crisis, 24 percent indicated that they would be interested in collaborating with other grantmakers, either directly or through regional associations or grantmaker networks.

• Close to one in five of the 120 foundations that responded to the survey (18 percent) have a formal plan in place to respond to these kinds of disasters. Twenty foundations (16 percent) noted that they had in-house expertise regarding disaster relief generally. Moreover, 37 percent of respondents indicated that they had in-house expertise regarding nonprofit organizations that may be particularly well-positioned to respond to this disaster.

To read/download the complete advisory (3 pages, PDF), click here.

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The Foundation Center's Grantmaker Leadership Panel draws upon the expertise of chief executives at leading U.S. private and public foundations on critical issues of interest to the sector. Currently, 225 foundation leaders participate. The panel does not currently include leaders of corporate foundations, which had donated more than $103 million in cash and in-kind goods in response to the disaster as of January 22.

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Posted originally in PhilanTopic, which continues to provide updates on the philanthropic response to the earthquake in Haiti.

In the immediate aftermath of the January 12 earthquake that brought widespread death and destruction to the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti, the Foundation Center surveyed members of its Grantmaker Leadership Panel to gauge the reaction of top funders to the unfolding crisis. More than half (53 percent) of current panel members responded.

Findings from the survey suggest that a number of leading funders are considering a direct response to the crisis, with a primary focus on providing emergency assistance. Most of these funders expect to provide this support to intermediary organizations headquartered outside of Haiti. Not surprisingly, leading grantmakers that have provided funding related to Haiti and/or responded to other disasters in recent years were more likely to consider responding to this crisis.

KEY FINDINGS

• Among the 120 foundations that responded to the survey, 42 percent are considering providing assistance for relief and/or recovery efforts in response to the earthquake in Haiti. Another 22 percent are "uncertain," while roughly 36 percent do not anticipate providing a direct response at this time.

• Among community foundations, 44 percent expect to provide assistance in response to the crisis, and nearly half have already established funds to collect contributions. Overall, nine of the twenty community foundations that expect to provide assistance have created funds, while another four are considering establishing such a fund.

• Foundations that have provided funding related to Haiti and/or direct support in response to other recent disasters are more likely to consider funding in response to the earthquake in Haiti. Among the nineteen respondents that have provided funding benefiting Haiti over the past decade (either in-country or through intermediaries), 74 percent are considering a response to the current crisis. Of the seventy-nine respondents that have provided funding in response to other recent disasters (e.g., the Indian Ocean tsunami, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Pakistani earthquake, the September 11th terrorist attacks), 56 percent are considering offering support for relief and/or recovery efforts.

• Most of the fifty foundations that anticipate responding (60 percent) intend to direct assistance exclusively to intermediary organizations headquartered outside of Haiti. Among the remaining grantmakers, 14 percent expect to fund organizations based in Haiti, 12 percent anticipate funding both intermediaries and Haitian organizations and the remaining 14 percent are uncertain.

• The vast majority of leading foundations responding to the crisis (90 percent) expect to focus on providing "emergency relief." Among other priorities, half of responders (50 percent) expect to offer support for health and medical care.

• Among the fifty foundations considering a response to the crisis, 24 percent indicated that they would be interested in collaborating with other grantmakers, either directly or through regional associations or grantmaker networks.

• Close to one in five of the 120 foundations that responded to the survey (18 percent) have a formal plan in place to respond to these kinds of disasters. Twenty foundations (16 percent) noted that they had in-house expertise regarding disaster relief generally. Moreover, 37 percent of respondents indicated that they had in-house expertise regarding nonprofit organizations that may be particularly well-positioned to respond to this disaster.

To read/download the complete advisory (3 pages, PDF), click here.

______

The Foundation Center's Grantmaker Leadership Panel draws upon the expertise of chief executives at leading U.S. private and public foundations on critical issues of interest to the sector. Currently, 225 foundation leaders participate. The panel does not currently include leaders of corporate foundations, which had donated more than $103 million in cash and in-kind goods in response to the disaster as of January 22.

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Posted originally in PhilanTopic, which continues to provide updates on the philanthropic response to the earthquake in Haiti.

New Portal Focuses on Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts

This new Foundation Center online information hub brings you updated news about earthquake relief efforts and a list of new grants awarded by foundations. It offers an interactive tool for identifying earthquake relief grantmakers and recipients. The portal also aggregatges headlines and points to guides on best practices and lessons learned for disaster grantmaking.

Focus on Haiti is free and available to all and will be updated on a continuous basis. Take a look.

Haiti: Earthquake Relief and Information

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

For continued coverage of the relief efforts and the philanthropic sector, see these articles in Philanthropy News Digest:

Aid Agencies, Individuals Mobilize to Help Victims of Haiti Earthquake

Governments, Corporations, Individuals Provide Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for Haiti Relief and Recovery Efforts

• Press Release: Statement of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on this Evening’s Earthquake in Haiti
  Points those wishing to donate to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.
• NPR News Blog: The Two-Way
  Lists web sites, including that of MercyCorps, a well-known international relief agency. Provides updates and reports as well.
• The Lede: Haiti Disaster Relief: How to Contribute
  The New York Times news blog provides an alphabetical listing of relief agencies for donors to learn about and assist.
• UNICEF urgently appeals for aid for Haiti
  The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is making an urgent appeal for donations; you will find contact and other information in this press release.
• Oxfam America
  Long-standing poverty fighting agency has posted donation portal to support its relief efforts.
• Charity Navigator: 7.0 Earthquake Hits Haiti
  Lists relief agencies responding to the disaster and points to guides on wise donating during times of crisis.
• Global Giving: Haiti Earthquake Relief
  Describes projects providing assistance in Haiti to which people can make tax-deductible donations.
• Sources of Information: How to Decide Where to Give to Aid Haiti
  The Chronicle of Philanthropy provides a listing of information sources and relief agencies.
• ActionAid Haiti
  A member of ActionAid International, this organization was already providing support in Haiti when the earthquake hit. ActionAid was able to respond immediately to the disaster, and is currently providing both immediate and long-term relief.
• CNN Report: Haiti Faces Devastation: How you can help
  Includes breaking news and resources.
• U.S. Department of State: Earthquake in Haiti
  Lists telephone number to call to get help locating family members: 1-888-407-4747. Also lists relief agencies and has posted a donation option via texting.
• Foundation Center: Map of International Grants
  This grants mapping tool identifies U.S. Foundations currently supporting Haiti.
• Consulate General of Haiti in New York
  Provides a list of Haitian organizations and community centers in the metropolitan area.
• Embassy of Haiti
  Provides press releases and contact information.
• Global Voices: Haiti Earthquake 2010
  "Global Voices aggregates, curates, and amplifies the global conversation online": Currently posting tweets and photos from Port-au-Prince.

Advice to Donors

• Victoria Fine: Haiti Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help (Huffington Post)
• Laura Starita: Advice for Donors to Haiti (Philanthropy Action News)
• Tips for Giving in Times of Crisis (Charity Navigator)
• Giving in Times of Disasters (Charities Review Council)
• Guidelines on the Most Appropriate Ways to Help (InterAction)
• Haiti (Tales from the Hood)
• Choosing organizations to donate to after the Haiti earthquake (Good Intentions Are Not Good Enough)
• Haiti Earthquake: Help Navigating Complex Terrain of Disaster Relief (AID WATCH)