5 Ways to Give Back to Haiti, Effectively

Please note that this article was originally published for the ten-year anniversary of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. It has since undergone minor edits.

In January of 2010, an earthquake arrived at Haiti’s door, threatening and executing disaster on the Caribbean nation. The Haitian government estimates that over 300,000 people were killed, a similar number were injured and the amount traumatized is innumerable. Homes fell, national buildings were destroyed and lives were lost en masse. Ten years have passed, but many are still homeless and displaced. Questions and doubts followed regarding if the first Black republic could govern itself. Eleven years ago, billions of dollars were pledged to Haiti and since then very little was done, but it is important to take a closer look.

Many have trepidations about donating to Haiti. Many have given up, many have forgotten and many have simply become jaded. And, with another earthquake of a similar magnitude hitting southwestern Haiti, questions about donating quickly resurface.

The following tips are not exhaustive. Though, they will help the interested donor give with more ease.

1. Do Your Research and Know What Questions to Ask

Though we want to believe that people will do good and be good and create good, that’s, unfortunately, not the world we live in. Post-Earthquake, Red Cross received close to half a billion dollars and are reported to have built just six homes in Haiti. This, being deemed the most egregious of cases, was surely not the only organization that didn’t have the capacity to do what they said they would on the ground. And with a name like Red Cross, one would assume that research isn’t necessary. After all, they have the reputation and the years of experience behind them. But, when donating to organizations that are aimed at helping Haiti, look at the organization’s track record in that country—how many Haitians do they have on staff and what are their plans? Do they make sense given the scenario? How much overhead does the organization have and need to pay for? And, what percentage of your donation goes to operating costs? (Please note: operating costs are necessary for any organization to function. If an organization uses over 25-30% of your donation to this end, be weary). Non-profit organizations are required to make their finances public, so this information will be easily searchable.

2. Donate to Organizations on the Ground

People who live their lives everyday in Haiti know what their specific communities need. They talk to their neighbors, encounter Haiti-specific problems and have a better understanding of how to fix them with the resources that they have on hand. Supporting them, better supports communities and Haiti’s economy. Moreover, critically analyze why one might prefer an American organization versus a Haitian one.

3. Ask your Haitian Friends and Family

If the google search for non-profits on the ground doesn’t get you very far, word of mouth will. Your Haitian family and friends may know someone who is leading efforts to get help to the most vulnerable of the population. They have connections to their homeland that oftentimes yields a greater impact than international organizations and get to the people quicker.

Note: These solutions are often short term and you should still ask questions as to what the effort is. Be as rigorous when questioning your Haitian friends as you would be with larger scale organizations.

4. Donate to Match the Capacity of the Organization 

Many organizations are working with minimal resources and a financial boost is exactly what they need to increase their impact. However, they may also not have the wherewithal to deal with sizable donations and inadvertently squander funds. Donate to organizations that have a history of doing good and donate to them in line with what their capacity is. As their capacity increases, your donation should as well.

5. Donate to Organizations that Invest in Communities

Again, you may not know reputable organizations on the ground in Haiti, might not have any Haitian family or friends and are no longer interested in donating to large scale international organizations. You can still donate to organizations in your home country that have proven to be impactful abroad. Take a look at the organization’s stance on the community, long term goals, supply chain (where they purchase their tools and products in important to sustainability and economic growth) and if they employ people who actually live in Haiti. We can’t all pack up our things and leave—though many of us may want to—but many organizations simply facilitate the growth of communities on the ground. They invest in the people and have solutions that will ultimately put themselves out of business--yes this is the goal. You can find this information on their websites, by engaging with their social media or by contacting them directly with your very informed questions.

Problems with international development seem to be too large to solve, but remember that you are contributing to solutions, you are not the problem solver. Invest in community-led programs and you can sleep just a bit better knowing the people have felt your goodwill and useful solutions are being enacted.