On this 23^rd anniversary of the September 11^th terrorist attacks, BBB Wise Giving Alliance revisits some of the lessons learned from fundraising that took place in the wake of that tragedy.

The Importance of Appeal Clarity

The volume of fundraising that took place within days of 9/11 was unprecedented. Many organizations, corporations, and others sought to raise money to help 9/11 victims and their families, but few had a clear description of how these funds were to be used. Donors were seeking ways to provide immediate help, but it took some time to verify the actual needs of victims and the community itself. This can be avoided with a little patience and research by the soliciting charity.

Avoiding Duplication of Effort

In the aftermath of 9/11, some fundraising campaigns appeared to be duplicative in terms of their announced objectives. A more collaborative fundraising environment might have been more efficient and avoided some of the confusion for both donors and those seeking help. It also might be helpful for charities to make sure their activities don’t duplicate disaster relief plans of government agencies.   

Newly Created Groups Can Be Accountable

While it is understandable that some were motivated to begin new organizations in response to this attack, even a new charity should have some basic facts available. For example: a roster of the board of directors along with their professional affiliations identified, a clear description of their planned activities, and an identified financial plan or budget that shows how funds will be spent.

Advance Planning

A lack of disaster communications plans impeded early efforts to assess needs and coordinate recovery efforts. To help address this problem, the Human Services Council of New York has since developed a disaster preparedness alert system, an emergency plan template, a disaster resilience working group, and disaster resilience trainings for nonprofits as a framework for assisting New Yorkers after a major disaster. 

Accountability Standards Can Help

BBB Standards for Charity Accountability can be helpful in reminding charities of potential problems to avoid and how to ensure their emergency activities are carried out with full transparency and integrity.