“Cash is Best” this Giving Tuesday
There are so many humanitarian causes that deserve our time and attention right now. But this Giving Tuesday, if you are thinking about how best to support international disaster relief efforts, there is only one thing you need to know: Cash is best.
Why cash donations? Shipping material goods to a disaster site in another part of the world is expensive, slow, and often ineffective. But with monetary gifts, aid organizations can provide exactly what people need when they need it.
A cash donation also gives humanitarian organizations the flexibility to adapt as relief efforts progress. For example, immediately after a disaster, medical supplies or emergency shelter might be needed. However, as a response progresses and priorities shift, food and safe drinking water may be required.
Monetary support is also less wasteful and more ecologically sound. Instead of shipping bottled water that will litter the area and clog transportation zones, monetary donations can buy local goods that benefit local economies. Safe, sustainable food and drinking water can almost always be purchased locally, even following a disaster.
Turn that stuff into cash for a cause
For many people, rising living costs and inflation are creating their own financial hardships, which can make it hard to donate monetary gifts. Instead, consider these creative ways to repurpose a material donation into a cash gift:
- Host a garage sale, holiday bazaar, or second-hand fair and then donate the proceeds instead of the items.
- Auction goods online or sell items through a resale site and make a cash donation from your earnings.
- Organize a fashion show where people purchase donated clothing and give the funds, not the items, to charity.
- Sell bottled water at a sports game or community event and donate the profits.
- Host a car wash using donated cloth items and cleaning supplies, then give away the funds you collect.
Giving Tuesday and every day
If you’re choosing to donate to international disaster relief this Giving Tuesday, consider that the funds provided on November 28 bolster charities’ cash flow, improve donor statistics, raise awareness for causes, and can often benefit from a matching gift. But more than that, these responsible donations can help multiply relief efforts around the world.
Of course, there is never a “bad” or “wrong” donation to help others. But taking a moment to consider the best way to donate can ensure that your generosity provides a true benefit.
For more information about how cash donations provide relief after international disasters, visit the Center for International Disaster Information.
