This page provides information for donors interested in helping with the Haiti relief effort.
We have not yet thoroughly researched the cause of disaster relief. Here we present the limited information and views we do have, with links to other donor resources that we have high general opinions of.
Our recommendation for where to give
We recommend Partners in Health.
- It is a GiveWell Notable charity in the area of international aid (see our review). This rating is not based on disaster relief efforts, but on its everyday work.
A strong rating for everyday work is relevant because (a) it reflects the organization's general tendency to use donations responsibly and effectively; (b) your donation may ultimately end up effectively funding everyday operations rather than the immediate relief effort (more below).
- Haiti was the first region it worked in, beginning over 20 years ago, and still accounts for over 35% of the organization's overall expenses. (Details.) We therefore feel that it has a strong claim to having significant local experience and capacity in Haiti (more below on why this is important).
- Below we list four sources that we have high opinions of, providing advice for potential donors to the relief effort. Of the four, two (Alanna Shaikh and Center for High-Impact Philanthropy) give Partners in Health their top recommendation. (The other two sources give no specific recommendations or many recommendations.)
General information on giving for disaster relief
Below are discussions of disaster relief from GiveWell and from a set of sources we have high general opinions of (based on reading their work on other topics over time).
- GiveWell shares our own thoughts on Haiti earthquake donations.
- The Center for High-Impact Philanthropy gives its thoughts on Haiti: how can I help?
- Saundra Schimmelpfennig gives her "DOs and DON'Ts of Disaster Donations" and rounds up advice and recommendations from others.
- Alanna Shaikh posts general advice to Aid Watch and her personal blog.
- Philanthropy Action (co-maintained by GiveWell Board member Tim Ogden) posts general advice for donors to Haiti.
Some major themes that recur across these sources:
- Donors should give proactively, not reactively. I.e., they should seek out as strong an organization as possible, and should not give simply based on phone calls, email appeals, advertisements, etc.
- Donors should not donate goods or go to Haiti to volunteer. Giving cash is preferred.
- Donations from overseas may not be able to end up helping with the immediate response to the disaster. Donors should not restrict their donations to the relief effort, and donors should seek out charities that they are comfortable with in general in case their funds end up effectively supporting more everyday activities.
- Disaster preparedness and long-term rebuilding may be underfunded relative to the immediate relief effort. Disaster relief may not be the best use of donations.
- The immediate relief effort is likely to hinge heavily on the local response as opposed to organizations coming in from outside. Thus, organizations that already have a strong presence on the ground in Haiti are recommended.