Working with out-of-country charities on a fundraising project...?

Question

Hello everybody.

In about a month I am running a benefit concert to raise money for charity. Our members seem to favor a foreign cause in Asia, of which we have limited information (mainly in Chinese). How would this work? Is there any way to check that the money gets where we want it to?

I'm sure there are more questions I should be asking, but I'm not sure what. If anybody has any information on donating to foreign charities, please let me know.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Go with an organization that is registered in your home country  (the USA?) but is focused on efforts in the developing world. CARE International and MADRE.org are two such organizations, and they can assure your donation goes to where it is you want it to go.

You could also check with UNICEF to see if they would accept a "restricted donation" specifically for work in a specific country.

Vetting organizations in the developing world is extremely difficult. That's why it's best to go through international organizations, who have already engaged in this vetting and know who is for real.

Answer 2

Do they not have an english speaking liason? Or any affiliation with charitywatch?? I would be very skeptical of any org. that didn't have specifics that I could verify as to how my money was being spent......see if they have a giving report for 2007/06.....or some other verifyer......otherwise, I would seek a different charity in the same region with the same basic cause. good luck!