Sep 13, 2023
Giving in Response to the Earthquake in Morocco
Last Friday, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco, leaving a death toll currently nearing 3,000 people, as well as devastating physical damage. With search and rescue operations still underway and ongoing efforts to reach remote areas, your contributions can make a real difference. To help you find charities you can support with confidence, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following giving tips and list of BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., those that meet all 20 of the BBB Charity Standards) that announced on their respective websites that they are collecting funds for earthquake relief.
Appeal clarity is key. Seek appeals that are upfront and clear about what disaster relief services you are supporting. A previous Give.org Donor Trust Report issued by BBB Wise Giving Alliance showed that only 24% of donors believe disaster relief appeals are “clear.”
Contribute to experienced groups. Support experienced organizations that stand ready to provide quick and effective assistance. Be cautious of newly formed organizations in the wake of a disaster. While well intended, they may not be able to follow through on their announced activities.
Look for charities with on-the-ground presence. If the charity already has skilled operations in affected areas, they will be in a better position to provide help quickly and reach those in need. Also, some charities may be raising money to pass along to other relief organizations. If so, you may want to consider “avoiding the middleman” and give directly to charities that have a presence in the region.
Understanding crowdfunding. If considering donating to a crowdfunding site, it is safest to give to someone you personally know and trust. Also, review the platform’s policies and procedures, keeping in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take measures to vet posts, others don’t.
Give money rather than goods. Donating money is the quickest way to help and provides charities the flexibility to channel resources to impacted areas.
Verify charity trustworthiness. You can verify a charity’s trustworthiness by viewing an evaluative report completed by BBB Wise Giving Alliance. See the list provided below of charities that that are soliciting for relief assistance for Morocco and that also meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.
The following organizations are BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability) and currently announced on their respective websites that they are collecting funds to assist earthquake relief efforts. Additional BBB Accredited Charities will be added as we learn about their earthquake-related activities.
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
Charities Aid Foundation America
Helping Hand for Relief and Development
This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features an interview with Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator, and Ben Horwitz, Vice President of Business Development & New Ventures at Charity Navigator. They spoke about their latest venture and their acquisition of Causeway.
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance provides charity reports, which help donors review charities and find a trustworthy charity to support. We also conduct charity assessments to help charities improve their practices and demonstrate trust.
BBB Wise Giving Alliance provides charity reports, which help donors review charities and find a trustworthy charity to support. We also conduct charity assessments to help charities improve their practices and demonstrate trust.
