Tips to help after a disaster

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Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Tips to help after a disaster

Want to help after a disaster? Follow these tips to maximize your impact.

Give cash, not supplies
Most charities prefer monetary donations, especially if you plan to donate internationally. These are more flexible and cause less of a strain on the charity, allowing them to help more, USAID explained.

"Unlike material donations, cash involves no transportation costs, shipping delays, or customs fees. It also enables relief organizations to spend more time providing aid by spending less time managing goods," the organization explained on its website.

Learn more with USAID's "greatest good donation calculator."


Do your research

If you know you want your money to help children, animals or people with medical issues, research organizations sending relief to that specific cause.

Check the charity

Before you donate to a charity, make sure you know where your aid is going. The Center for International Disaster Information recommends checking with a charity monitoring organization like GiveWell, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or the Better Business Bureau before donating.

Donate securely

Make sure your donation is secure by going through an organization's official website or sending a check in the mail. Charity Navigator says you should never donate over the phone, email or unknown social media pages, as these are easier for scammers to target.

Follow-up

Wait a few months to allow the organization to do their work, then contact them to see how your donation helped and if they need more aid.