This page is part of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake Assistance Guide provided by New Jersey 2-1-1.

Verifying the credibility of an organization

To verify the legitimacy of any organization you can check Charitable Registration Section of the NJ Attorney General's Web site, or call 973-504-6215. Because the Web site is only updated monthly, any new charity set up for Haiti Relief and Recovery may not be posted yet. With this in mind, it is probably best to call for the most current listing.

Interested donors can also visit www.interaction.org to obtain a list of credible responding agencies for international emergencies and www.give.org to get valuable information on making informed decisions when supporting charities. In addition, donors can visit www.globalgiving.org.

Suspected Fraud

The FBI and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) have established a telephone hotline to report suspected Haitian earthquake relief fraud. The number is (866) 720-5721. The phone line is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also e-mail information directly to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . More information.

The FBI released recommendations on how consumers can protect themselves against fraudulent earthquake relief appeals. Internet users who receive appeals to donate money are urged to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause. Read the FBI recommended guidelines here.

Collection Drives

Before beginning any sort of collection drive, it is important to first call a charitable agency and confirm that there is a need for the donation and that they are able to accept it. Several organizations active in disaster relief have published guidelines that offer practical advice on steps that should be taken prior to starting a collection drive or purchasing items to donate to disaster relief.

Heart to Heart International Donor Guide to Appropriate Giving
http://www.hearttoheart.org/PDF/AppGiving.pdf

MSNBC Article on disaster do-gooders can actually hinder help
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34958965/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/

Center for International Disaster Frequently Asked Questions Sheet
http://cidi.org/media/faq.htm

This page is part of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake Assistance Guide provided by New Jersey 2-1-1 to provide a resource for New Jersey Residents and the Haitian Community who want to give help and get help in the aftermath of the January 12 Earthquake in Haiti. This guide was published and is maintained by New Jersey 2-1-1 at their web site - http://www.nj211.org.