Would it be useful to have a list of legit charities & aid organizations that wil be helping Haiti?

[Stinky The Clown]

Times like these bring out the best and worst. If people wish to give to help Haiti, what is the best way to do that? There is no doubt in my little mind that scammers will be out in force. And yes, they can be that low ... and lower. Does anyone know of such a list?

[XemaSab]

1. Doctors Without Borders

is a terrific organization.

[iamjoy]

2. Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator is kind of like a consumer reports for charities - they rate them from 1 - 4 stars and provide information such as how much of their revenue (a percentage) goes to program expenses vs. overhead, etc.

There are posts on DU with links to a list Rachel Maddow was talking about on msnbc.com.

[tabatha]

3. Direct Relief International is one of the best.

About Direct Relief International
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief is a Santa Barbara, California-based nonprofit organization focused on improving quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide. Direct Relief has provided more than $1 billion in privately funded humanitarian aid since 2000, including more than $150 million in assistance in the United States. It is one of two charities ranked by Forbes that received a perfect fundraising efficiency score for seven consecutive years and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California's largest international nonprofit organization based on private support. For more information, please visit www.DirectRelief.org.

[Hekate]

8. Absolutely, they are. I've been to their headquarters, a huge warehouse with bare bones offices...

... and lots of volunteers. It is one of my favorite charities.

The Haitians will need everything that DRI can send them, and then some.

Hekate

[polly7]

11. Thanks for that.

It's hard to know which Orgs. use their donations most efficiently ... so, much appreciated.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. LAMBI

at lambifund.org

They specialize in sustainable development on the village level in Haiti.

Also Oxfam.

[orion007]

5. Wyclef Jean gave out a text number for donations

when he was on CNN with Anderson Cooper.
I don't have the number,
I'm going to google, and make my donation through him.
He's also flying out to Haiti

[tabatha]

6. Wyclef Jean's grassroots org

Text Yele to 501 501 to donate $5 via your cellphone

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34834553/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show

[orion007]

9. Thanks so much tabatha, the $5.00 donation Wyclef is

asking for makes it possible for thousands of people to donate who wouldn't/couldn't have otherwise.
Especially our kids.

[BunkerHill24]

7. US Department of State: "To help, text "HAITI" to 90999

http://www.state.gov/

[ChicagoSuz219]

10. Here's one...

For those interested in helping immediately, simply text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. Please copy & paste to your facebook page. Thank you.

Rachel has others posted on her webpage: rachel.msnbc.com

[Shanti Mama]

12. repost: A friend who has done aid work there recommends

http://www.pih.org/home.html -- Partners in Health. Apparently a great, LOW OVERHEAD organization. UNICEF has very high overhead.

And here's a great place with updated info on how to help. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/livecoverage/2010/01/h... . For example, one comment at this site says

The State Department also just announced this:

"For those interested in helping immediately, simply text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/livecoverage/2010/01/haiti_earthquake_how_to_help.html