Disaster Relief

Dells Launch $100M Rebuild Texas Campaign in Response to Harvey
September 1, 2017 at 11:26 am

Michael and Susan Dell announced Friday that their foundation is launching a Rebuild Texas Fund with a goal of raising $100 million for the long-term recovery of communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. Appearing on “Good Morning America” along with Gov. Greg Abbott, the Dells announced an immediate gift of $18 million, with a goal of…

What Nonprofits Can Learn From Houston
August 30, 2017 at 12:10 pm

Recently, people throughout the U.S. watched the saga of people using their own small boats to rescue complete strangers. They did so, disregarding their own well being, performing repeated acts of heroism…

Companies Pledge Millions in Harvey Donations
August 29, 2017 at 10:40 am

A long list of American companies have already pledged millions of dollars to help Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The American Red Cross Opens a New Window.and other organizations are asking for donations to support their response to the storm, which caused massive amounts of flooding and left thousands stranded in Houston and nearby cities. CoreLogic…

How to Fix Poverty: Why Not Just Give People Money?
August 8, 2017 at 10:56 pm

Young guys in dusty polo shirts. New moms holding their babies. Grandmas in bright head wraps. They've all gathered in a clearing for one of the village meetings when something remarkable happens. Practically every person's cellphone starts tinkling. It's a text alert from an American charity called GiveDirectly. Last fall, GiveDirectly announced that it will…

It’s Prime Hurricane Month: Monthly Donors to the Rescue!
August 7, 2017 at 10:06 am

My first experience with a hurricane came in August of 1991, when “Bob” hit Cape Cod. I was actually still in the Netherlands, but I watched video of my then future in-laws wade through chest-high water near their beach house. Power was out for many days. Life came to a screeching halt...

Oxfam's "Straightforward" Direct Mail Control
July 21, 2017 at 8:49 am

A direct mail acquisition effort from a relief agency is notable for what it does not include. Mailer Name: Oxfam America Date Mailed: April 2014 to April 2017 Oxfam America, based in Boston is an affiliate of the larger worldwide Oxfam organization. This specific acquisition effort has been in the mail in this form for […]

How 'Catalytic Philanthropy' Could Solve Global Waste
July 18, 2017 at 11:54 am

The world faces a looming challenge of handling our waste, an increasing percentage of which is made of plastic, which simply does not go away. Plastic usually accounts for up to 20 percent of a municipality’s waste generation by weight, but by volume, the proportion is significantly higher. Most small communities do not have access…

How China's Social Media Giant Tencent Is Shaking Up Traditional Philanthropy
May 23, 2017 at 10:50 am

The Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan that killed 69,000 people in 2008 shook up China’s social media and online giant Tencent Holdings, located 1,000 kilometers away in Shenzhen. Social media was buzzing with users who wanted to lend a hand during one of China’s worst disasters in modern history. The company previously made scattered efforts involving philanthropy,…