Giving for Haiti

Guidance for Organizations and Individuals Seeking to Assist in the Aftermath of the Tragic Earthquake in Haiti

1. The President has indicated that www.whitehouse.gov is a starting point for those interested in assisting. The White House website sends interested parties to the Red Cross or the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI). The CIDI is an agency with an OFDA-grant that organizes information on disaster response. CIDI is the central location for those interested in assisting. Here is the White House Blog page directing the public to CIDI: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/13/help-haiti

2. CASH IS BEST. Providing cash to an organization they trust is the best, most efficient way to provide aid. It allows for aid to be tailored specifically to the needs on the ground, it does not incur hefty logistical costs (that at times exceed the value of the donation), and helps stimulate the local economy. CIDI Fact Sheet is here: http://www.cidi.org/cib.htm

3. www.cidi.org has a registration database for those interested in offering either commodities or technical assistance. If it is another government agency or corporation, they will be contacted by a CIDI representative. The public will be placed on a database that is accessible to responding NGOs. If an offer is of interest to an NGO, the NGO will contact the offering party separately.

4. Additional information on giving can be found at the USAID website www.usaid.gov.