Comments on: Emergency assistance for donors http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/ Exploring how to get real change for your dollar. Thu, 17 May 2012 06:38:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: medical advice http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-33652 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:30:48 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-33652 Giving substantive, well-supported, specific recommendations works well on paper but could be a bit tricky. Not all organizations are open to such assistance. Giving substantive, well-supported, specific recommendations works well on paper but could be a bit tricky. Not all organizations are open to such assistance.

]]> by: Holden http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22565 Wed, 14 May 2008 17:09:21 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22565 Hi Eric, Thanks for the clarification. I was under the impression, from the call, that Arabella was pointing donors to Interaction's list, not that it was still sorting the situation out and planning to make a recommendation later. Your explanation makes sense, and I'm looking forward to attending the next conference call. Hi Eric,

Thanks for the clarification. I was under the impression, from the call, that Arabella was pointing donors to Interaction’s list, not that it was still sorting the situation out and planning to make a recommendation later. Your explanation makes sense, and I’m looking forward to attending the next conference call.

]]> by: Eric Kessler http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22511 Wed, 14 May 2008 03:03:53 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22511 Thanks for taking note of the Emergency Donor Briefing we had on Monday, and apologies to those readers who didn't make it onto the call. We didn't expect to be so oversubscribed. As a result, and because new information is coming on every minute, a second call is scheduled for Friday. Details at www.arabellaadvisors.com In answer to your understandable commentary about our reluctance to more decidedly point people to specific organizations, I want to explain that that was deliberate at the time. On Monday it was not at all clear who had the biggest and most effective footprint on the ground and, more importantly, the INGO's had not yet begun to develop robust long-term recovery plans. These can be difficult for even the most seasoned donor advisor, including our two disaster philanthropy experts, to navigate on the fly. With more information and aid now flowing out of Yangoon, the call this Friday will focus more heavily on effective grant-making strategies, and will point to specific places where, in our analysis, donor resources can be best placed. Any donor advisor offering more rushed assistance than the timeframe that we and others are working on, given the limited information flow, would be doing their clients and Myanmar a disservice. Thanks for taking note of the Emergency Donor Briefing we had on Monday, and apologies to those readers who didn’t make it onto the call. We didn’t expect to be so oversubscribed. As a result, and because new information is coming on every minute, a second call is scheduled for Friday. Details at www.arabellaadvisors.com

In answer to your understandable commentary about our reluctance to more decidedly point people to specific organizations, I want to explain that that was deliberate at the time. On Monday it was not at all clear who had the biggest and most effective footprint on the ground and, more importantly, the INGO’s had not yet begun to develop robust long-term recovery plans. These can be difficult for even the most seasoned donor advisor, including our two disaster philanthropy experts, to navigate on the fly.

With more information and aid now flowing out of Yangoon, the call this Friday will focus more heavily on effective grant-making strategies, and will point to specific places where, in our analysis, donor resources can be best placed.

Any donor advisor offering more rushed assistance than the timeframe that we and others are working on, given the limited information flow, would be doing their clients and Myanmar a disservice.

]]> by: Elie http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22457 Tue, 13 May 2008 15:03:57 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22457 We believe that there are likely significant differences in the effectiveness of different organizations on the ground. We see no reason to believe that all big-name organizations who have people on the ground have the same impact. For that reason, our aim is to find the best organizations, meaning organizations that will accomplish the most good with additional funds. (That search doesn't stop us from donating in the meantime to the organization in which we have the most confidence.) We don't believe that this question can be answered objectively and definitively, but given the dearth of information we've seen about different organizations' activities and impacts, we believe that merely starting this conversation and pushing for specific answers would add value to a donor's giving decision. We believe that there are likely significant differences in the effectiveness of different organizations on the ground. We see no reason to believe that all big-name organizations who have people on the ground have the same impact.

For that reason, our aim is to find the best organizations, meaning organizations that will accomplish the most good with additional funds. (That search doesn’t stop us from donating in the meantime to the organization in which we have the most confidence.) We don’t believe that this question can be answered objectively and definitively, but given the dearth of information we’ve seen about different organizations’ activities and impacts, we believe that merely starting this conversation and pushing for specific answers would add value to a donor’s giving decision.

]]> by: John J. http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22455 Tue, 13 May 2008 14:13:47 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22455 It's not as if people who donate, or people in the business of helping people, have no information at all. There are many long-standing organizations with good track records. One does *not* have to start from scratch, unless you want to "raise the bar," as the post above so perceptively suggests, to the point where you are omniscient and have perfect knowledge--a goal the pursuit of which is of course a waste of time and energy. But apparently it'll keep you in business as long as you want to be, and "earning" a great (for most people) salary of $65,000 a year. It’s not as if people who donate, or people in the business of helping people, have no information at all. There are many long-standing organizations with good track records. One does *not* have to start from scratch, unless you want to “raise the bar,” as the post above so perceptively suggests, to the point where you are omniscient and have perfect knowledge–a goal the pursuit of which is of course a waste of time and energy. But apparently it’ll keep you in business as long as you want to be, and “earning” a great (for most people) salary of $65,000 a year.

]]> by: Day R Able http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22437 Tue, 13 May 2008 10:46:27 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/12/emergency-assistance-for-donors/#comment-22437 I already gave you specific recommendations, Holden. Did you not like them or are you now raising the bar? Save the Children and World Vision and MSF (Holland) and CARE. They are able. And I have no conflict of interest in recommending them. Day R Able Rangoon ++++++++++ The news from the press release is welcome and I note that PSI did not ask for funds in it. Save the Children and World Vision both have experienced national staff on the ground ready to work on the emergency response and will be there for longer term rehabilitation as well. I need to point out that I have no personal connection with either of these institutions. R Dey Able Rangoon I already gave you specific recommendations, Holden. Did you not like them or are you now raising the bar? Save the Children and World Vision and MSF (Holland) and CARE. They are able. And I have no conflict of interest in recommending them.

Day R Able
Rangoon

++++++++++

The news from the press release is welcome and I note that PSI did not ask for funds in it. Save the Children and World Vision both have experienced national staff on the ground ready to work on the emergency response and will be there for longer term rehabilitation as well. I need to point out that I have no personal connection with either of these institutions.

R Dey Able
Rangoon

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