Comments on: Philanthropy in Haiti: Don’t Miss Out on the Opportunity

By: Dien Yuen

Dien Yuen — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:16:24 +0000

Thank you for the informative post, Penny. I have worked on several disaster fundraising campaigns now (very unfortunate to have to) and many of your points make perfect sense. We do have an opportunity here to rebuild in a way that empowers and benefits the stakeholders.

We have highlighted your post here: http://bit.ly/clrF6B

By: Carine

Carine — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:40:56 +0000

Our organization is based in New York and runs a health/educational center in Port-Au-Prince. There have been many challenges for us in the past years as our funds have come from the organization’s budget–we have not accepted funds from the US government or Haiti government. This allowed us more flexibility…..As of Tuesday, January 26th, our site is functioning. Our building is damaged, extent unknown but we have improvised using a nearby undetached building to serve as the medical clinic. We are serving as many patients as we can. With the assistance of Housing Works we have been able to get medical supplies and medical personnel into Haiti to assist our operations and support our current staff at Centre Medico Social.

My concern is the long term. For now there are meds, food, water available–but how long will that last. The efforts have lacked coordination from folks I know working in Haiti. There are many challenges but I think the funding community needs to have a long-term approach to building capacity. While I understand the need to give to more reputable organizations there are smaller organizations such as Diaspora who have been in Haiti, know the community we serve and how to best continue serving them. We need the support to do so.

By: Penny Fujiko Willgerodt

Penny Fujiko Willgerodt — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:56:53 +0000

I agree that cash donations are best at the beginning of any disaster. The Center for International Disaster Information provides excellent explanations for this on their FAQ page (http://cidi.org/media/faq.htm).

In the end, I think that most foundations are not first-responders but best situated to think about long-term recovery and rebuilding in all fields. Arts and culture represent an area that is important in recovery—they create jobs as well as meaning which can aid in the emotional and spiritual healing process. Haiti is in crisis mode, and considering the rainy season around the corner, will be for weeks to come. However, now is the time for us as professional grantmakers to start thinking about the mid- and longer-term response.

By: Roger Smith

Roger Smith — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:42:55 +0000

We are all clearly desirous of practical advice on how to get critically needed supplies–and funds–to effective and well-regarded organizations working on the scene in Haiti. Thus I was struck by the final paragraph which listed a group of US-based organizations, only some of which appear to be directly involved in disaster relief. Surely at this terrible moment, the concerns of the Haitian diaspora in the US must take a back seat. And to be told of NYC-based entities “collecting relief supplies” goes against what I have been told: the need is for MONEY, as nearly all supplies can be obtained more cheaply–and transported far more easily–from the Dominican Republic. As in all such horrific disasters, potential donors who, like myself, are well-meaning non-experts in this kind of aid, do NOT wish to hear at such a time about the need to rebuild “an infrastructure…for arts and culture that works for all people.”