With the spotlight on Haiti for the past several weeks, your nonprofit's fundraising might be standing in the corner with an empty dance card. Should you try to be gracious and await your turn? Or should you try to piggy-back somehow on the Haiti appeal?
Eric Foley, of Transformational Giving, tackles this conundrum in his post, Are donors diverting their money from your nonprofit/cause to Haiti?
Foley offers some do's and don'ts if you find your organization in this situation. They include:
- Don't write your donors and draw a comparison between Haiti and your own needs.
- Do commit to the idea that your donors can and should be giving to a range of causes, not just yours.
- Do show your genuine interest in Haiti by being knowledgeable and sharing your own response to that great tragedy.
- Do think about how we all have, to some extent, trained donors to respond to desperate messages, and plan how to adopt a more sustainable approach for the future.
Foley is a powerful voice for generosity but also for getting beyond "urgent" appeals to something that is more long-lasting.
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Comments
Thanks for the shout out, Joanne. I really appreciate your ongoing attention to the Haiti issue.
My nonprofit, iPump.org, sent more than $40,000 in critical medical supplies to Haiti.
We have seen a recent decline in donations, but as someone who seeks to improve the lives of people in need, as long as funds and supplies are getting to where they are needed the most – no matter how they get there or through what organization, I consider our own mission a success.
The aftermath of the quake and human suffering are devastating! Millions have lost everything – homes, food, jobs! For the next 12 months, the World Food Programme says 2 million people will need critical food assistance! If you want to help and learn more about the crisis response, go to: http://wfp.org/crisis/haiti> or you can text FRIENDS to 90999 to make a $5 donation