In the wake of a disaster like Hurricane Katrina, many of us want to do our part to help those who are suffering but aren’t sure which organizations to donate to. Below are some resources to help you make your donation decision.

InterAction, “Guide to Appropriate Giving”
InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations.” There are both secular organizations and religious organizations from different faiths. To join, members must go through a tough review process and follow a strict set of standards. Members work in every developing country. Members have a lot of experience dealing with natural and/or human-made disasters and donation issues. Many InterAction members also respond to US emergencies and are responding to Katrina.

Other organizations who evaluate and profile charitable organizations:

• Charity Navigator
• Better Business Bureau’s Giving Alliance: Give.org
• Network for Good
• Guidestar.org
• United Way

For a List of Local Organizations in the Louisiana, Mississippi area who are responding to the tragedy and could use your help…

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) has compiled a list of local and regional organizations who are responding to the crisis. The list represents organizations that Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors knows well or has a history of working with: these groups have been working regionally for many years, and have the community ties to create effective relief in both the immediate future and in the long term. In the event that you are looking for a more “neighbor to neighbor” response to disaster relief, you might want to consider supporting one of the organizations listed on their site.

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