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 On
May 3, 2008, Cyclone Nargis ravaged the southeast Asia
nation of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma).
The death toll has risen sharply to 77,738, with
more than 55,000 missing.The Red Cross estimates that
the death toll could grow to 128,000. An estimated 2.5
million people have been left destitute, without housing
and adequate food, water, and medical supplies.
Donors Forum has gathered the resources
below to to aid donors in making the most effective
use of donations to the relief effort.
News
and Resources
UPDATE
- Philanthropic
Response to Cyclone Nargis - Summaries and Recordings
of Conference Calls
Hosted by Arabella Advisors, teleconferences were held
on May 12 and May 16 to brief donors on the latest relief
and recovery needs, and effective philanthropic strategies
in reponse to this crisis. Speakers on the May 16 call
were Marcus Prior from the Cyclone Nargin Response Team
in Bangkok, Jonathan Mitchell from CARE International
in Geneva, Wyndham James from Save the Children in China,
and Ronna D. Brown from the New York Regional Association
of Grantmakers. Summaries and recordings of both calls
are now available.
Briefing
on U.S. Preparations for Relief Efforts in Burma
Text of the May 8 statement from the U.S. State Department.
- USAID
Responds to Cyclone Nargis
Includes information on key
developments and funding provided to date, details
on the current situation, and humanitarian assistance
fact sheets, .
Network
For Good: Myanmar Relief
Make an online donation to organizations
collecting contributions for the relief efforts.
- InterAction
Members Respond to Cyclone Nargis in Burma
Find out how InterAction's
member organizations are responding to the crisis.
Red
Cross and Red Crescent Response to Myanmar Cyclone
How to support these organizations' relief efforts.
CARE
CARE's 14-year history of working in Myanmar has allowed
its 500 staff members to immediately respond to Cyclone
Nargis with food and water.
FAQs
About Charitable Organizations Providing Disaster Relief
Fact sheet from the Internal Revenue Service
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Giving Guides for Grantmakers
Disaster
Grantmaking, A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations
(pdf)
Advice from the
Council on Foundations for grantmakers who want to aid
disaster relief efforts.
- Interaction:
Guide to Appropriate Giving
Interaction, an alliance
of international development and humanitarian organizations,
explains what types of gifts will best help those
in need.
- Family
Matters: In Times of War and Disaster
(pdf)
Family Matters,
the Council on Foundation's journal for family
foundations, explores how foundations respond to war,
terrorism and natural disasters, as well as IRS rules
regarding assisting victims of disasters.
Power
Amidst Chaos: Foundation Support for Advocacy Related
to Diasters
This publication from Alliance for Justice recounts
the challenges to funding advocacy work after the devastating
hurricane season of 2005, including how grantmakers
successfully helped empower those affected, as well
as tips for funding and preparing for advocacy in response
to future disasters.
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Giving Tips
for Individual Donors
- IRS:
Disaster Relief - Providing Assistance Through Charitable
Organizations (pdf)
Helpful tips about charities and tax deductions for
people who want to make contributions to disaster
relief efforts.
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Grantmaking
Members' Responses to the Crisis
Arabella Philanthropic
Investment Advisors
Arabella Advisors has a Disaster Recovery Fund. Information
can be found at ArabellaAdvisors.com.
The Baxter
International Foundation
UPDATE - Baxter expresses
concern for the people of Myanmar and sympathy to those
suffering. In Baxter's tradition of unwavering support
for geographies and people in crisis, the company stands
ready to provide product and financial support. The
desire to provide assistance must be measured with the
confidence that support will reach those in need.
Baxter has been monitoring the situation and engaged
in dialogue with multiple non-governmental organizations
and disaster-relief agencies.
Baxter will decide on its course of action only after
confirmation that disaster relief, supplies, and financial
support will make it to those who are in a position
to provide direct aid to the Myanmar people.
Baxter's vision to be a socially
responsible member of the community requires us to recognize
and respond to crises worldwide. The company looks forward
to providing assistance once the Myanmar government
has demonstrated their openness and acceptance of international
aid.
The Baxter International Foundation
also approved a $150,000 contribution to CARE to help
victims of the Myanmar cyclone. Baxter India is working
with AmeriCares to supply hundreds of thousands of IV
solutions to the hardest hit regions.Employees can make
cash donations to help CARE’s relief efforts in
Myanmar through The Baxter International Foundation
Employee Disaster Relief Fund. The Fund also will match
these donations one-for-one.
The Chicago
Tribune Foundation
The Chicago Tribune Company posts a list of disaster
relief nonprofits on its website for employees to select
and contribute to on their own. Within the daily articles
about the cyclone in Myanmar, The Chicago Tribune
prints a list of national and international nonprofits
that help with disaster relief.
CNA Foundation
With regard to the disasters in both China and Myanmar,
the CNA Foundation typically does not match contributions
to organizations that provide 25% or more of their services
outside the U.S. However, given the magnitude of these
events, the CNA Foundation has made an exception in
order to help the victims affected by these tragedies.The
CNA Foundation will match gifts made to qualified organizations
through June 30, 2008. Employees who want to provide
monetary support to the relief efforts can have their
contributions matched dollar for dollar for amounts
from $25 up to $5,000. Matching gift forms must be received
by June 30, 2008. All organizations receiving CNA Foundation
Matching Gift funds must be non-profit and certified
as tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Service Code
Section 501(c )(3) or its equivalent.
Exelon Corporation
Excelon contributed $50,000 ($25,000 to CARE and UNICEF)
in assistance, and provided information to all employees
on how to make personal donations to CARE and UNICEF.
Kraft
Kraft is making a US $25,000 cash donation to Myanmar.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
North America, Inc.
Takeda contributed $50,000 to the American Red Cross
International Response Fund for support of their efforts
in Myanmar and China. Takeda encourages employees to
make personal donations as well, and will match those
donations dollar for dollar per its usual matching gifts
program.
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Myanmar
Cyclone Relief Resource Center