Donations in the face of disaster: what can good people do when bad things happen?

Donors take care in planning their charitable giving over a number of years. As those plans unfold, however, natural disasters or tragic events can become an unexpected priority for giving.

Ensuring that contributions provide the support intended by donors is not as straightforward as it may seem. Knowing the pitfalls that dot the landscape of so-called “disaster philanthropy” can help donors avoid the frustration of seeing donations fall short of the intended goal.

Donors have choices on how to respond to a massive need. A well thought out policy in anticipation of the desire to participate can provide guidelines for when a sudden disaster compels a response.