Much has been given, much is still to be done

Some see donor fatigue in the smaller response to the Pakistani earthquake, but others say the tsunami was an unusual case.

"The tsunami was an incredible thing that happened around the holidays, when people were in their homes full of good things, and saw it all on TV - children being orphaned; roads, bridges, and homes being wiped out," says Patrick Rooney, research director at the Center for Philanthropy.

Response to the earthquake has been more a return to normal patterns, he says, in which Americans typically donate $10 million to $25 million for a disaster.

Yet others say the earthquake is on a scale that deserves more support, and that the world situation demands it.

"I would encourage people to hold off on endowment campaigns and things that can wait, and address the human suffering of the 800,000 people without shelter in Pakistan," says Mr. Borochoff. "We are trying to build better relations with the Islamic world." Indonesians, he points out, had a much more favorable disposition toward the US after the help Americans gave for the tsunami.

Only 2 percent of US charitable giving typically goes to international aid. Yet some are encouraged by what has happened in 2005. The tsunami brought new attention to the vulnerability of children and families around the world, Dr. MacCormack says. People are now responding to needs for long-term development, and Save the Children has seen a significant boost in donations for child health, girls' education, and HIV/AIDS orphans.

Major US charities are also encouraged. At a recent meeting of the 30 largest YMCAs, it was noted that annual campaigns in early 2005 averaged a 7 percent increase over 2004, says Carol Schmidt, senior financial development consultant for YMCA of the USA. People have also contributed more than $2 million to a hurricane fund to help YMCAs on the Gulf Coast.

"Staff whose homes were blown away are still living in tents next to the Y, running programs to help those in need," says Ms. Schmidt.

There is no disputing the fact that charities face mounting competition at the same time they are feeling the pinch of rising costs. Small local groups don't have the resources of major charities for ambitious fundraising.

"Though people have given to disaster relief, it's important to remember that the nonprofit sector plays a key role in our local communities," Dr. Rooney says. "Donors need to keep giving; if these disasters show anything, it's the need to have a well-funded infrastructure and be prepared."

If funds are tight, it's important to do the research and find the best charities.

"If you have less money to buy kids presents, you shop around for exactly the right thing," Stamp says. "So be a smart shopper for your charity."

To encourage more giving, the US Congress passed a post-Katrina bill in September that raises the tax deduction for any charitable contribution this year to 100 percent of an individual's adjusted gross income.

Before you write a donation check, nonprofit watchers recommend you take these steps:

Have a plan. Decide which causes are most important to you, and how much to budget.

Identify charities. Develop a list of charities that address your priorities. To allow for a tax deduction, be sure a group is a 501(c)(3) registered by the IRS. A good source for this information: www.guidestar.org.

Research. Check ratings given by watchdog groups such as Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org), the American Institute for Philanthropy (www.charitywatch.org), and the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org) to learn which charities use money most effectively (at least 75 percent devoted to services). Check charity websites for program descriptions and progress reports. Call them with any questions.

Weigh short-term and long-term programs - While emergencies call for immediate aid to relief groups, rebuilding and ongoing support are carried out by other organizations.

Donate via the Internet. Charities can cut fundraising costs, devote more resources to services, and provide you updates on their efforts.

Page: 1 | 2