Choosing a charity
Common donor misconceptions
Thursday, June 11th, 2009
Everyone has heard of aid agency waste and poorly implemented programs, but few people understand the underlying causes. Unfortunately, poor donor advice, heavy media coverage of “sexy” projects and locations, and aid agency advertisements targeting donor heartstrings, have made it…
It’s time to stop telling pretty stories and start really evaluating the impact of aid
Friday, June 5th, 2009
With GiveWell’s Charity Reviews due in early July, the lack of available evaluations of aid agency work is once again highlighted.
After the tsunami in Thailand over 200 aid agencies of all types and sizes flooded into the area…
Donors must, because nobody else can
Friday, May 29th, 2009
I’m often asked if Thailand has recovered from the tsunami. This is a tricky question to answer because there is no official answer, it just depends on who you ask.
If you ask the aid agencies that built houses they’ll…
Charity Ratings Based on Administration Costs can do More Harm Than Good
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
The recent posting Analyze This on Philanthrocapitalism stated
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The Allure of the Quick Fix
Thursday, May 14th, 2009
“Hit the ground running”
As a Crisis Corps Volunteer (part of the US Peace Corps) I was sent back to Thailand to help with the tsunami recovery efforts. Before my departure Peace Corps sent out a press release which…
Best practices often lose out to quick and cheap programs that please donors
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Donations can be misused and ill-spent despite the best intentions of donors
Deciding whether or not to donate and which agency or project to donate to can be a daunting and frustrating task. Although donors choose aid agencies that they…
Choosing the right aid agency can be a daunting and frustrating task
Thursday, May 7th, 2009
As Director of D-TRAC in Thailand, I was regularly approached by donors wanting to fund aid agencies helping with the tsunami recovery. With over 200 aid agencies to choose from they quickly became overwhelmed and sought advice on choosing aid…
"Sexy" projects are easier to fund
Monday, May 4th, 2009
This posting is from a journal I kept as a Crisis Corps volunteer working on the tsunami recovery in Thailand.
Boats are "sexy"
Boats have become the "sexy" projects of the tsunami recovery. Go onto the web site of most…
Advertising images tell you a lot about an aid agency
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Think about the most memorable photo in a recent advertisement from an aid agency. What emotion did that photo create? Did it inspire you to give money?
Now imagine that it is your child, sister, or parent in that photo.…
