{"id":19891,"date":"2020-03-08T22:11:30","date_gmt":"2020-03-08T22:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=19891"},"modified":"2020-03-10T00:27:26","modified_gmt":"2020-03-10T00:27:26","slug":"next-time-weve-got-to-handle-emergency-donations-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/next-time-weve-got-to-handle-emergency-donations-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Next time, we’ve got to handle emergency donations better"},"content":{"rendered":"

Debbie Wills<\/a>, University of Tasmania<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As Australia burned over summer, many of us gave generously, donating an extraordinary A$500 million<\/a> by mid-January.<\/p>\n

Charities had to scramble, as did organisations directing us to charities. For its new year\u2019s eve fundraiser the ABC chose the Red Cross<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Weeks later, the New South Wales state MP for Bega, Andrew Constance, a local whose electorate was in the heart of the fires, attacked the Red Cross, and also the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul, arguing not all of the money was getting through<\/a>:<\/p>\n

The money is needed now, not sitting in a Red Cross bank account earning interest so they can map out their next three years and do their marketing.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Red Cross responded, conceding it was using 10% of donations for administration but noting that it was handing out A$1 million<\/a> every day.<\/p>\n

The confusion and negativity continued, with comedian Celeste Barber<\/a> seeking legal advice over the fate of A$50 million she raised for the NSW Rural Fire Service.<\/p>\n

\n


\n
\nRead more:
\nCelebrity concern about bushfires could do more harm than good. To help they need to put boots on the ground<\/a>
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

It was too much for the fire service to spend quickly on running expenses and buying and maintaining equipment. And it was prevented by its trust deed from passing it on to other charities.<\/p>\n

The fallout suggests we want to be sure our money is being used to help, but we\u2019re not sure that it is.<\/p>\n

What can charities and donors do?<\/h2>\n

My research into the role played by reputation<\/a> in donations indicates that it is important for charities to define their role clearly.<\/p>\n

This includes stating plainly how they are meeting the reporting and other requirements imposed on them by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission<\/a> and educating the public about those requirements<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We need to do our research, think carefully before donating, and watch out for scammers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is important to be comfortable with each charity\u2019s mission and objectives. They cannot act outside them without running the risk of being deregistered.<\/p>\n

We can search for information on all charities using the commission\u2019s charity search tool www.acnc.gov.au\/charity<\/a>, or for smaller sets of charities using charity ranking sites such as:<\/p>\n