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| Philanthropy |
In the Wake of the Tsunami
Marilen Cawad
07/01/2005
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The Direct
Approach
In line with the growing popularity of hands-on
philanthropy, the tsunami prompted donors such as Rockefeller to seek
ways to
take an active role in the relief and recovery efforts. Rather
than donate funds
to large charities, many elected to fund projects,
from inception to completion,
directly in the affected areas. These
individuals have been most successful when
they have sought out local
groups and nongovernmental organizations that have
close contact with
those in need.
Some philanthropists have sought out this
expertise by hiring for-profit firms such as Global Giving, CreateHope
(both of
Bethesda, Md.), or Geneva Global, a philanthropy consulting
service based near
Philadelphia, which funnels funds from donors
directly to overseas projects.
“This enables them to track their money,
almost as if it were an investment,”
says Eric Thurman, Geneva Global’s
CEO. The agency performs what it calls
“performance philanthropy,”
researching and identifying grassroots charitable
projects in
developing countries, then linking these projects to individual
American grantors.
Geneva Global claims to have some 500
contacts in
developing countries who seek out and investigate the most
effective local
charitable groups. It compiles their research and
recommends projects to its
philanthropist clients.
Warren Beach,
an independent commodities investor,
contacted Geneva Global after the
tsunami to discuss effective ways to funnel
his donations. “Even though
they were not necessarily a relief organization, we
talked about what
indigenous partners they were aware of in the disaster areas
that were
worthy of effectively engaging in the work at hand,” says Beach, who
also has funded AIDS projects in Zambia and South Africa through Geneva
Global.
The company introduced Beach to Jaringan Kerja Lembaga
Pelayanan Kristen di
Indonesia (JKLPK), an association of 268
indigenous service organizations.
Geneva Global reported that the group
had an extensive track record in 10
regions of the country.
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