c. 2005 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) The outpouring of donations to the tsunami disaster is reminiscent of the days following Sept. 11. Unfortunately, stories emerged back then of charities and individuals who were dishonest or at least not totally clear in disclosing how funds were being used.

How can donors be sure they are giving in the best way possible?

From my experience of working for many years with humanitarian organizations, here are some guidelines.

_ Don’t equate religious beliefs with charitable standards. Do not assume that just because a charity represents your faith perspective, it is necessarily efficient in its implementation of relief work. A disaster of this scale requires response from organizations that are experienced and efficient in both the work and the region.

_ Read information on the Web sites. Feel free to call the charity and ask questions. Whether you are giving $10 or $10,000, you have the right to know where your money is going.

_ Give to groups already working in the region. Groups already doing work in the affected countries have the personnel and contacts with nationals that make it possible to do work efficiently. If a group hasn’t been working in these countries, it will have to set up costly and time-consuming infrastructures to deliver services.

Even if an organization isn’t primarily a relief group, organizations dealing with longer-term development in the region will all need additional income in order to deal with rebuilding. But remember, if a group is not working in the region and has not solicited funds for the tsunami disaster, you do not have the right to designate your gifts for that purpose.

_ Give to groups that are operational, not ones acting as a pass-through. There are plenty of organizations representing various faiths and areas of expertise that are actually on the ground in this region. When groups say they are raising money for “partners” in the region, that typically means they are raising funds and will pass them on. Know if the money is being passed through to a national relief organization or a church or temple and consider how you want your money used on the ground. Remember that private funds can be used for proselytizing or to further the religious causes of the organization, while government funds cannot.

Ask how much of the money will get passed on to the implementing charity. If it is less than 90-95 percent, consider giving elsewhere, or give to the ultimate recipient agency. It is reasonable to expect such an organization to keep enough funds to use for accounting and administration of the donations, but not their full overhead amount.

_ Designate your donation. If you want to give specifically to the tsunami disaster, you should be careful to designate your gift as such. That means you can write a note on the memo line of your check, send a note with a credit card payment, or check the box on a response card or Internet form.

Do not assume that because the Web site or mailing talks about the tsunami, your gift automatically goes to that fund. Some organizations put “where needed most” or another general category on the response device. Generally that means it will go to the greatest need in the organization, which typically means overhead. If an organization is raising money for the tsunami disaster, you have the right to designate it for that usage.

_ Read the fine print. At the bottom of any response device or as part of the Internet solicitation, there is disclosure information, often in tiny letters. Some organizations include language that says your gift will be used as designated unless the funds raised exceed the needs. The needs are defined by the organization, not the scope of the disaster. This “loophole” was used by some charities after Sept. 11 because they received more funds than they could apply to the needs in New York or Washington. While there is nothing illegal about this practice, if it is not your intention to give to the general fund of the organization, don’t give to one with such a disclosure.

_ Give a portion of your gift now and some later. For many humanitarian organizations, a disaster of this scale means a disaster for their other work. Donors will be generous now and then give less throughout the year or to other needs. Mark your calendar for July 1 and try to remember to give generously then to organizations that may have not received the influx of cash that relief agencies are receiving now.

Remember that as a donor you have every right _ and even a responsibility _ to be sure your donations are being used as you intend them. Asking questions of an organization or making your designation clear is part of the role a donor plays in keeping charities efficient and responsive to both those in need and those who give.

MO/PH RNS END

(Dale Hanson Bourke is a marketing and fund-raising consultant to humanitarian organizations and author of “The Skeptics Guide to the Global AIDS Crisis.”)