Foundation Center Tracks Philanthropy's
Response to Tsunami Disaster
New York City. January 24, 2005—Charitable organizations worldwide have responded to the crisis that continues to unfold in the wake of the tsunami that battered countries across southern Asia and eastern Africa. In line with its effort following the September 11, 2001, attacks, the New York-based Foundation Center is creating resources at its Web site to assist those interested in donating or in tracking the philanthropic response to the disaster. As a first step, it has posted lists of known foundation and corporate donors, the amount of their contributions or pledges, and recipient of each grant. The Center is tagging tsunami relief grants in its database to facilitate focused research on the philanthropic response later on. The Center already has an archive of news about the philanthropic response in its online journal, Philanthropy News Digest, where visitors can also find a list of selected organizations working to assist victims.
Two recent Foundation Center publications broaden the context for evaluating tsunami relief grantmaking. International Grantmaking III, published in November 2004, examines trends in foundation funding for cross-border and U.S.-based international programs. September 11: The Philanthropic Response, released at the end of December 2004, is the capstone publication stemming from the Center's multi-year project to create the record and tell the story of the philanthropic response to 9/11. It offers a framework for comparing the philanthropic responses to the two events, including lessons learned from 9/11 relief and recovery that might be applied to the tsunami relief effort.
About the Foundation Center
The Foundation Center's mission is to strengthen the nonprofit sector by advancing knowledge about U.S. philanthropy. To achieve its mission, it collects, organizes, and communicates information on U.S. philanthropy; conducts and facilitates research on trends in the field; provides education and training on the grantseeking process; and ensures public access to information and services through its Web site, print and electronic publications, five library/learning centers, and a national network of Cooperating Collections. Founded in 1956, the Center is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy and is dedicated to serving grantseekers, grantmakers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public.
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