Bangladesh Cyclone — Relief Effort Information

November 21, 2007 — The death toll rose to more than 3,100 yesterday in Bangladesh after a devastating cyclone hit the area last Thursday. This number is expected to further increase between 5,000 and 10,000. A million people have been left homeless, the majority of them in remote areas without sufficient food supplies.¹

Many U.S.-based charities, as well as international intermediaries, are coordinating efforts to get help to individuals and families who have been affected by the Bangladesh cyclone and to provide relief where it is most needed.

If you are making a grant recommendation from the Gift Fund, remember to designate "Bangladesh cyclone" in the "special purpose" section.

International Giving

Gift Fund donors can support charitable organizations worldwide by recommending a grant to a U.S.-based charitable organization that supports a specific international cause or charity, or to an intermediary U.S. charity that specializes in international philanthropy.

Find out more about International Giving with the Gift Fund

To find out if a foreign charity has a U.S.-based organization that raises funds for it, you can research using GuideStar^®, to help you search a database of more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations. Search for keywords, such as "disaster relief," to view a list of charities that may be able to help.

Find organizations with GuideStar

Recommending Grants from the Gift Fund

Although the Gift Fund qualifies all recommended grant recipients as 501(c)(3) public charities or the equivalent before approving grant recommendations, be sure to perform research on any organization you are interested in supporting to ensure that it meets your objectives.

To recommend a grant online, log in to your Giving Account and select the green Recommend a Grant button on the left.

If You Choose to Give Directly

If you are thinking about donating directly, consider taking the following precautions:

• Request and read information about the charity before making a donation. Legitimate charities will gladly send you written information when requested.
• Give to well-recognized charities and those you’ve given to in the past, or know of through a trusted connection.
• Find out whether an organization is qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Call Us

Call the Gift Fund at 1-800-262-6039 with any questions. We’re here to help you give.