4. Think beyond the immediate crisis to the long-term.
5. Bear in mind the expertise of local organizations.
6. Find out how prospective grantees operate.
7. Be accountable to those you are trying to help.
8. Communicate your work widely, and use it as an educational tool.
Responding to Hurricanes Stan & Wilma
Last Updated November 1, 2005
Landslides and floods in the wake of Hurricane Stan have affected southern Mexico and Central America. The countries affected include
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. Hurricane Wilma wreaked its destruction later in October, hitting Mexico's Caribbean beach resorts and flooding areas of Cuba.
The following resources for foundations and corporate grantmakers interested in responding to these natural disasters are provided for educational purposes only. Please consult our Disclaimer for a full explanation of the purposes and limitations of this information.
InterAction: The largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations lists member organizations that are currently responding to Hurricane Stan. InterAction members have agreed to abide by a set of standards to ensure accountability to donors.
Grantmakers Without Borders: A funders network committed to increasing strategic and compassionate funding for international societal change, Gw/oB gives advice to donors and recommends organizations working in affected areas.
Intermediary Organizations/Funding Partners: Intermediaries are generally public charities that offer fee-based services designed to meet the needs of grantmakers and individuals who wish to give outside the country in which they are based but prefer not to take on the responsibilities of doing so directly. Consult the Links section for a list of intermediaries organized by issue area and geographic focus. The following U.S.-based intermediary organizations are actively responding to this natural disaster:
SHARE Foundation supports the empowerment of historically impoverished and marginalized communities in El Salvador. SHARE is working with various partner organizations in their respective communities to assist in the emergency relief effort in El Salvador, where an estimated 62,000 people have been displaced and evacuated as a result of Hurricane Stan. Donations may be made through SHARE’s Legacy Fund.
Global Fund for Women is accepting funds to support women's groups in the affected area. To donate, visit the Global Fund's website, click on the donate now button, and specify that the contribution is for the flooding in Central America.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID): The U.S. Government's foreign assistance agency site provides updates on the situation in Central America and Mexico, information on U.S. government assistance, as well as general information on how to help those affected by a disaster overseas.
United Nations: UN Wire provides news updates on UN emergency response to mudslides and flooding and provides an estimate on needs in the region. Read the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) Flash Appeal for Guatemala containing relief requirements by sector. The World Food Programme provides detailed information on its emergency operations in the region.
ReliefWeb: ReliefWeb is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. ReliefWeb provides an online clearing house for Hurricane Stan and Wilma, including country profiles, sector updates, and lists of appeals and funding.
For the latest funding requirements, contributions, list of projects, and to report all humanitarian funding and in-kind contributions for this emergency visit the UN's Financial Tracking Service (FTS).
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF): Read UNICEF's donor update based on a preliminary assessment of needs to provide humanitarian assistance to women and children affected by Hurricane Stan.
In-Country Giving
Centro Mexicano para la Filantropia (CEMEFI): The
Mexican Center for Philanthropy, a member of WINGS (Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support) provides updates (in Spanish) on efforts to raise funds for victims of Hurricanes Stan and Wilma.
Country Information: Information on the charitable and nonprofit laws in Mexico prepared by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law. The relevant legislative provisions may assist grantmakers in undertaking equivalency determinations for foreign grantees.
Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations: A joint product of the Council on Foundations and the European Foundation Centre, this free publication suggests eight principles (listed to the left) plus practical tips for grantmakers to consider when responding to emergency situations. (You may download it here - in PDF)
Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance Through Charitable Organizations: Prepared by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Exempt and Government Entities division. Although this publication does not focus on international grantmaking it extends advice on how to give through existing U.S. charitable organizations, how to set up a new charitable organization and the requirements for documentation. Download it here (in PDF).
Reuters AlertNet: Reuters AlertNet, a humanitarian news network and project of the Reuters Foundation, aims to keep relief professionals and the wider public up-to-date on humanitarian crises around the globe. View updates on Hurricanes Stan and Wilma.
