Posted on January 5, 2009

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Donations Fall for International Aid Groups

With the global economic downturn contributing to growing needs overseas, international aid organizations face additional fundraising challenges as cash-strapped donors re-focus their giving closer to home, the Oregonian reports.

Private donations, which total almost $6 billion a year to aid organizations, could drop by as much as 15 percent a year over the next few years. Indeed, charities providing aid overseas stand to lose as much as $1 billion in donations annually, said Samuel Worthington, president of Washington, D.C.-based InterAction, a coalition of relief organizations.

Two years ago, Portland-based Mercy Corps launched a five-year, $37.5 million capital campaign to build a global headquarters and beef up its worldwide emergency response. To date, the organization has raised $8.85 million of the $25 million it was seeking from private donors, and the fundraising environment has only gotten tougher. The campaign aside, Mercy Corps officials also worry about a falloff in donations supporting the organization's regular operations. Donations from individuals fell from $2.4 million in September to less than $2 million in both October and November.

Meanwhile, at Oregon-based Medical Teams International contributions since July 1 have slipped about 3 percent, to roughly $3.9 million, compared with the same period last year. "The sizes of the gifts are down, but we're getting the same number of gifts as we have in the past," said the organization's president, Bas Vanderzalm. "[Major donors] say if things don't improve, they may need to reconsider what they're able to give. I do think there will be increasing pressure on organizations like ours."

Read, Richard. “Donations Fall for International Aid Groups.” Oregonian 12/30/08.

Primary Subject: International Affairs/Development
Secondary Subject(s): Economic Crisis
Location(s): International, Oregon, United States

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