"Avoid Poorly Run Charities, Use A Trusted Organization to Support Haitian Victims"
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 January 16, 2010
Haiti Earthquake Shines New Light on the Financial Integrity of Charitable Organizations
The horrific image of the effects of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake tug at the tender hearts of many - rousing a rash of well-intentioned contributions while fattening fraudulent and poorly run charities.
The FBI has recently issued a release warning that "past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause." The Better Business Bureau is also cautioning "well-meaning Americans" to do their due diligence in the wake of the devastating disaster.
"After Hurricane Katrina, it was reported that there were some 4,000 bogus Web sites (for donation), and in that disaster we knew in advance that it was coming, so some of those Web sites even popped up before the hurricane hit, but you're certainly seeing the same effect today," said Sandra Miniutti, director of marketing for Charity Navigator, a non-profit website the evaluates the quality of charitable organizations.
Singer Wyclef Jean's "Yele Haiti" project has encouraged donors to text a keyword to a specific number, generating over $2 million since the earthquake. Questions however have recently surfaced about the charity's financial integrity. "It seems clear that a significant amount of the monies that this charity raises go for costs other than providing benefits to Haitians in need," said Dean Zerbe, national managing director of Alliant Group, a tax services company, and the former tax counsel to the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees charities. Copies of "Yele Haiti" Foundation documents show the charity was founded 12 years ago, but only filed income tax returns for the first time in August of 2009, and then only reported for the years 2005, 2006, and 2007.
"Not only do Americans need to be concerned about avoiding fraud, they also need to make sure their money goes to competent relief organizations that are equipped and experienced to handle the unique challenges of providing assistance," says Art Taylor, president and CEO of the BBB's Wise Giving Alliance.
The World Time News Report is encouraging our readers to send their donations to Doctors Without Borders who have "been working in Haiti for 19 years, most recently operating three emergency hospitals in Port-au-Prince, and is mobilizing a large emergency response to this disaster."
Click here to make a one-time Donation by Credit or Debit Card to the Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) Emergency Relief Fund.
Visit Charity Navigator's "Help Survivors of the Earthquake in Haiti" page to find other charities with a high quality rating: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1004
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