The Center for International Disaster Information
Readies for Next Hurricane Season

Last year, after several major hurricanes devastated the Caribbean, the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) aggressively tackled the problem of inappropriate donations. CIDI provides guidance and information in support of appropriate international disaster relief before groups and individuals start to collect it. In a proactive attempt to get the word out to the U.S. public and immigrant communities from affected countries living in the U.S., the Center produced media messages to spread the “Cash is Best” message.

The Center has worked diligently to persuade potential donors to either give cash from the onset or turn material offers into cash donations. The cash contributions help to address unmet needs, allow for the purchase of vital relief commodities, and ultimately to pay for the transportation of priority commodities that are urgently needed.

A new partnership between CIDI and GlobalGiving addresses many concerns the public and corporations face when giving cash donations. Donors can direct cash donations to specific projects on the front lines of disaster relief and reconstruction, and in most cases, 90 percent of cash donations go directly to the social entrepreneur running the project in the affected country. Another common concern is the ability to know exactly how cash donations are spent. By making cash donations through the CIDI/Global Giving program, donors can direct donations to relief and reconstruction projects with specific beneficiaries and tangible outcomes. Each CIDI/ GlobalGiving project is vetted by a leading international non-profit and is in line with the strictest government standards for international philanthropy.

Learn more about CIDI’s activities at www.cidi.org or contact the Center at cidi@cidi.org.

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