# Ways to help tsunami victims - online donations **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 28, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852 "2004-12-28T01:18:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/1 "2004-12-28T01:18:01Z")
If you want to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunamis in Southeast Asia, here are some options I’ve found for online donations. If anyone knows of other reputable international aid societies, please feel free to add them to the list. This is inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=293713), where some people were asking how they could help. [Oxfam](http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/give_to_oxfam/donate/asiaquake1204.htm). [International Red Cross Red Crescent](http://www.ifrc.org/helpnow/donate/donate_response.asp). [Salvation Army](http://www2.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf). [Unicef](http://www.unicef.org/). As I said, these are the only ones \*\*I \*\* know of, and I am not saying these are the only good aid societies, or that any are better than others. I just want to help, and I know that all of these places are currently accepting donations to help the tsunami victims. If you want to help too, then please get the word out. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/2 "2004-12-28T01:34:46Z")
Agencies Helping Victims The following aid agencies are accepting contributions for assistance that they or their affiliates will provide for those affected by the earthquake and tidal waves in Asia. Action Against Hunger 247 West 37th Street, Suite 1201 New York, NY 10018 212-967-7800 [http://www.aah-usa.org](http://www.aah-usa.org) American Jewish World Service 45 West 36th Street, 10th Floor New York, NY 10018 800-889-7146 > **[American Jewish World Service - AJWS](https://ajws.org/)** > > Join AJWS to help end poverty and promote human dignity around the globe. ADRA International 9-11 Fund 12501 Old Columbus Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 800-424-2372 > **[ADRA](https://adra.org/)** > > Give now COVID is far from over. Learn more about how the world has changed and how you can help. DONATE LEARN MORE COVID has caused families and communities to not have consistent access to food. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC Crisis Fund) 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 215-241-7000 > **[American Friends Service Committee](https://www.afsc.org/)** > > Quaker action for a just world Catholic Relief Services PO Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21203-7090 800-736-3467 > **[Home](https://www.crs.org/)** > > Catholic Relief Services eases suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Direct Relief International 27 South La Patera Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93117 805-964-4767 > **[Direct Relief | Official Site | DirectRelief.org](https://www.directrelief.org)** > > A humanitarian relief charity that works in the US and internationally to improve the health and lives of people affected by disasters and poverty. Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres PO Box 2247 New York, NY 10116-2247 888-392-0392 > **[Home | Doctors Without Borders - USA](https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org)** > > Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) treats people where the need is greatest. We are an international medical humanitarian organisation. We help people threatened by violence, neglect, natural disasters, epidemics and health... International Medical Corps 1919 Santa Monica Boulevard Suite 300 Santa Monica CA 90404 800-481-4462 > **[International Medical Corps: First there, no matter where](https://internationalmedicalcorps.org)** > > International Medical Corps is working to relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease by delivering vital health care services that focus on training, helping devastated populations return to self-reliance. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies PO Box 372 CH-1211 Geneva 19 Switzerland 41-22-730-4222 > **[Homepage | IFRC](https://www.ifrc.org/)** International Orthodox Christian Charities Middle East Crisis Response PO Box 630225 Baltimore, MD 21263-0225 877-803-4622 > **[Home](https://iocc.org/)** > > International Orthodox Christian Charities offers worldwide emergency relief & development programs to those in need worldwide, without discrimination. Lutheran World Relief PO Box 17061 Baltimore MD 21298-9832 800-597-5972 > **[Lutheran World Relief](https://lwr.org/)** MAP International 2200 Glynco Parkway PO Box 215000 Brunswick, GA 3121-5000 800-225-8550 [http://www.map.org](http://www.map.org) Mercy Corps PO Box 2669 Portland, OR 97208 800-852-2100 > **[Homepage | Mercy Corps](https://www.mercycorps.org)** > > Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians, working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. Northwest Medical Teams PO Box 10 Portland, OR 97207-0010 503-624-1000 > **[Medical Teams International | Faith-Based International Medical Relief](https://medicalteams.org/)** > > Medical Teams International is a humanitarian aid agency providing life-saving care for refugees, disaster survivors, mothers and children. Operation USA 8320 Melrose Avenue, Ste. 200 Los Angles, CA 90069 800-678-7255 [http://www.opusa.org](http://www.opusa.org) Relief International 11965 Venice Blvd. #405 Los Angeles, CA 90066 800-572-3332 > **[Homepage - Relief International](https://www.ri.org)** > > Relief International Save the Children Asia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund 54 Wilton Road Westport, CT 06880 800-728-3843 > **[Humanitarian Aid Organization for Children](https://www.savethechildren.org/)** > > Save the Children is a leading humanitarian organization for children. We’ve changed the lives of over 1 billion children in the U.S. and around the world. US Fund for UNICEF 333 East 38th Street New York, NY 10016 800-FOR-KIDS [http://www.unicefusa.or](http://www.unicefusa.or) World Concern 19303 Fremont Ave. N Seattle, WA 98133 800-755-5022 > **[Witness The Transformation - World Concern](https://worldconcern.org/)** > > Your gift today will deliver innovative solutions to provide clean water for children and families in need. World Relief 7 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 443-451-1900 > **[Christian Humanitarian Organization | Join Us | World Relief](https://worldrelief.org/)** > > World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world's greatest problems. Learn more and join us today. World Vision PO Box 70288 Tacoma, Washington 98481-0288 888-56-CHILD > **[Choose JOY](https://www.worldvision.org)** > > Celebrate God's greatest gift and spread joy to kids and families in need, many still struggling from the pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/3 "2004-12-28T15:58:59Z")
I have nothing to add but just wanted to say, Thanks for the information! ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/4 "2004-12-28T17:19:45Z")
Does anyone know off-hand which of the above has the best reputation for getting the highest portion of the donation to where it is needed? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/5 "2004-12-28T17:40:24Z")
> [@MrFantsyPants](#): > > Does anyone know off-hand which of the above has the best reputation for getting the highest portion of the donation to where it is needed? According to [American Institute of Philanthropy](http://www.charitywatch.org/toprated.html), these are the top-rated relief agencies in this kind of situation: > [@](#): > > INTERNATIONAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT > PHONE > AIP GRADE > > Accion International > 617-625-7080 > A– > > Africare > 202-462-3614 > A > > American Friends Service Committee > 215-241-7000 > A– > > American Near East Refugee Aid > 202-347-2558 > A > > American Refugee Committee > 612-872-7060 > A+ > > AmeriCares > 800-486-HELP > A > > CARE > 800-422-7385 > A– > > Catholic Relief Services > 410-625-2220 > A– > > Church World Service > 800-297-1516 > A– > > Doctors of the World – USA > 888-817-HELP > A > > Doctors Without Borders USA > 212-679-6800 > A > > FINCA International > 202-682-1510 > A > > International Rescue Committee > 212-551-3000 > A > > Lutheran World Relief > 410-230-2700 > A+ > > Mennonite Central Committee > 888-563-4676 > A > > Oxfam-America > 800-77-OXFAM > A– > > Save the Children > 800-728-3843 > A– > > U.S. Committee for Refugees > 202-347-3507 > A– ---
**Author:** ![Aitara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aitara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aitara)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/6 "2004-12-28T19:45:09Z")
I use [Charity Navigator](http://www.charitynavigator.org) to research various charities. I went through **ShibbOleth’s** list and added their rating and program expenses percentage (defined as “This measure reflects what percent of its total budget a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver. Dividing a charity’s program expenses by its total functional expenses yields this percentage.”) Not all the charities were included and some were only their US components (Doctors without Borders, for example). International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent was absent, although American Red Cross was. I hope that this helps. Action Against Hunger Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars Program Expenses: 89.0% [http://www.aah-usa.org](http://www.aah-usa.org) American Jewish World Service Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars Program Expenses: 84.9% > **[American Jewish World Service - AJWS](https://ajws.org/)** > > Join AJWS to help end poverty and promote human dignity around the globe. ADRA International Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars Program Expenses: 92.3% > **[ADRA](https://adra.org/)** > > Give now COVID is far from over. Learn more about how the world has changed and how you can help. DONATE LEARN MORE COVID has caused families and communities to not have consistent access to food. Direct Relief International Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars Program Expenses: 99.1% > **[Direct Relief | Official Site | DirectRelief.org](https://www.directrelief.org/)** > > A humanitarian relief charity that works in the US and internationally to improve the health and lives of people affected by disasters and poverty. Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders, USA) Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars Program Expenses: 85.7% > **[Home | Doctors Without Borders - USA](https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org)** > > Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) treats people where the need is greatest. We are an international medical humanitarian organisation. We help people threatened by violence, neglect, natural disasters, epidemics and health... International Orthodox Christian Charities Charity Navigator Rating: 2 Stars Program Expenses: 86.8% > **[Home](https://iocc.org/)** > > International Orthodox Christian Charities offers worldwide emergency relief & development programs to those in need worldwide, without discrimination. Lutheran World Relief Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars Program Expenses: 93.6% > **[Lutheran World Relief](https://lwr.org/)** MAP International Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars Program Expenses: 98.9% [http://www.map.org](http://www.map.org) Mercy Corps Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars Program Expenses: 91.2% > **[Homepage | Mercy Corps](https://www.mercycorps.org)** > > Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians, working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. Northwest Medical Teams Charity Navigator Rating:4 Stars Program Expenses: 96.2% > **[Medical Teams International | Faith-Based International Medical Relief](https://medicalteams.org/)** > > Medical Teams International is a humanitarian aid agency providing life-saving care for refugees, disaster survivors, mothers and children. Operation USA Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars Program Expenses: 98.1% [http://www.opusa.org](http://www.opusa.org) Relief International Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars Program Expenses: 84.8% > **[Homepage - Relief International](https://www.ri.org/)** > > Relief International Save the Children Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars Program Expenses: 90.9% > **[Humanitarian Aid Organization for Children](https://www.savethechildren.org/)** > > Save the Children is a leading humanitarian organization for children. We’ve changed the lives of over 1 billion children in the U.S. and around the world. US Fund for UNICEF Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars Program Expenses: 88.5% [http://www.unicefusa.or](http://www.unicefusa.or) World Relief Charity Navigator Rating: 2 Stars Program Expenses: 82.1% > **[Christian Humanitarian Organization | Join Us | World Relief](https://worldrelief.org/)** > > World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world's greatest problems. Learn more and join us today. World Vision Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars Program Expenses: 85.2% > **[Choose JOY](https://www.worldvision.org)** > > Celebrate God's greatest gift and spread joy to kids and families in need, many still struggling from the pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/7 "2004-12-28T20:09:07Z")
Thanks everyone for sharing this information! It is certainly going to take a massive effort to heal the damage from this unbelievable tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/8 "2004-12-28T21:24:15Z")
Despite the ratings given here, some of these charities are clearly not oriented towards this sort of relief, or is too small to benefit from an economy of scale. I would urge donors to target the larger charities that can do things like fill and charter container ships or planes, things that well-meaning but underresourced charities won’t be able to do. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/9 "2004-12-29T00:35:55Z")
My employer sent out an email today reminding everyone of their corporate donation matching policy (I think it’s 50% up to a certain dollar limit, but I don’t recall for certain) and mentioned some organizations that qualify (some are listed here). If anyone is looking to donate, do check your own employer’s matching policy. I would have forgotten about it if not for the email. I have to hurry up now to get my paperwork in by year end (it’s not a lot, just one form), but it’s worth it! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/10 "2004-12-29T01:25:48Z")
Water purification is something Doctors Without Borders specializes in, I’m told. Drinkable water is going to be the most immediate need. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/11 "2004-12-29T01:36:38Z")
Here’s another blog with news and information about resources, aid, donations and volunteer efforts: [Southeast Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Help Blog](http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/) . Thanks for the links, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/12 "2004-12-30T00:56:23Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Water purification is something Doctors Without Borders specializes in, I’m told. Drinkable water is going to be the most immediate need. This is similar to my line of thought. Right now the thing that can have most impact in terms of lives saved is mitigating the inevitable cholera and typhoid epidemics. So it was Medicins Sans Frontieres that got my donation. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-help-tsunami-victims-online-donations/281852/13 "2004-12-31T14:44:28Z")
If you donate money now, you can possibly deduct the donation from your 2004 income taxes. Please consider giving to one of the charities mentioned in various threads here, and if you can, spread the word around to others outside the SMDB on how they can also help.