How You Can Help the Earthquake & Tsunami Survivors in Japan

Japan has experienced a horrific earthquake and tsunami, with thousands of deaths reported so far, tremendous property damage, and a developing crisis at the country's nuclear plants.

Japan needs and has asked for help. Aid groups have sprung into action and need your support.

Here is a list of organizations to which you can donate. We will add to the list as events develop.

• Red Cross. The Red Cross has called up several groups of volunteers and has disaster relief stations in affected regions. You can help immediately by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10. You can also donate at the Red Cross site or through Causes.com

• The Salvation Army. You can text the word "Japan" to 80888 to make a $10 donation to support the Salvation Army's relief efforts. A one-time donation will appear on your bill.

• Global Giving. Donate to the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. This project will disburse funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. You can also Text JAPAN to 50555 to give $10.

• Save the Children's Emergency Fund. Save the Children is mobilizing its global resources to respond to the needs of children and families affected by the earthquake and its aftermath, and an international emergency team has been dispatched to assist staff in Japan.

• Network for Good. There are several organizations on the Network for Good list that are mobilizing to help. You can donate right through the Network for Good website.

• Oxfam Emergency 365. This global charity is mobilizing to help with volunteers and on the ground help in Japan.

• CARE. CARE has offices in Asia and is preparing an emergency response to the earthquake and tsunami.

• AmeriCares. AmeriCares emergency team is on full alert, mobilizing resources and dispatching an emergency response manager to the region.

• WorldVision. This charity, focused on the welfare of children, has Global Rapid Response Teams in the Asia-Pacific region, ready to respond.

• MercyCorps. Mercy Corps is accepting donations to help survivors of Japan's earthquake and tsunami through its partner, Peace Winds Japan.

• At FirstGiving, anyone can help raise money for a variety of nonprofits working on disaster relief for Japan.

• The blog for Causes.com has listed several organizations to which you can donate through that application,

• Google has put up the Japan Person Finder which helps victims of the disaster share and access information about loved ones.

Unsure about texting a donation? See How to Text a Donation to Help Japan.

More information about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan:

• The Huffington Post - Japan Earthquake 2011
• New York Times - Huge Quake and Tsunami Hit Japan
• Red Cross - Disaster Alert: Earthquake in Japan, Tsunami Warnings
• Help Animals in Japan - About.com's Guide to Animal Rights
• About.com's Japan Travel Guide - Powerful Earthquake Hits Northeastern Japan
• About.com's Geography Guide - Major Earthquake Strikes Japan, Tsunami Warnings Issued
• About.com's Web Search Guide - Helpful websites for Japan earthquake information

Related:

• A Donor's Guide to Global Emergencies
• Safe Giving Guide for Donors
• Taxes and International Giving
• Disaster Relief, Providing Assistance Through Charitable Organizations - This IRS publication clarifies the tax implications of donating to charities to help with a foreign disaster. The bottom line is that to receive a tax-deduction you should donate to charities that are based in the U.S. and that are qualified as 501(c)(3) charities by the IRS.
• The Dos and Don'ts of Disaster Donations from "Good Intentions are not enough."
• Emergency Response Guide from Connection Cafe. This is an ebook with best practices for nonprofits trying to raise funds during an emergency.

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