NAWJ SUPPORTS MONETARY CONTRIBUTION TO HAITI'S EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS

Relief organizations say a monetary contribution is the best, most efficient way to help emergency response efforts in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti last week. The American Red Cross received more than $3 million through its cell phone text donation option as of Thursday morning. Donations may be made to the American Red Cross, and a List of Relief Organizations described at Charity Navigator.

According to Association Trends, if your association has not created its own relief efforts, Diana Aviv, CEO of Independent Sector, offers four tips for organizations that wish to assist in Haiti relief:

1. Make monetary donations. The challenge with nonmonetary donations is that many relief groups do not have the facilities or staff to handle such donations, or a way to get them to Haiti easily. Relief organizations will announce which supplies are needed and when.

2. Donate money directly to relief organizations, such as Red Cross or United Way International, or to other organizations, such as religious groups, that bundle the donations and give them to relief organizations.

3. Do not limit the use of donations to rescue efforts only. Noting that the recovery phase in Haiti will be long term, "now is the time to raise the money for rebuilding as well as rescue efforts, while people have their attention on this tragedy," Aviv urged.

4. Donate only to existing organizations. "Possibly bad people will use this opportunity to prey on the generosity of Americans and others, and set up fake organizations," she said.

For more information, contact associationtrends.com.