When disasters hit, people want to help, and one of the best ways to do so is by donating money directly to disaster response organizations that are serving on the front lines. But as online fundraising becomes easier, scam artists are also getting more savvy, and people who want to support response efforts are increasingly suspicious, asking important questions like, "How can I be sure the money is being used the right way?" and "How do I even know whether this organization is really helping?"

In this episode, we interview Michael Thatcher, CEO of Charity Navigator, a US-based non-profit organization whose mission is to make philanthropic giving more transparent by providing the tools and resources to help donors at any economic level give more effectively. Michael discusses the current state of philanthropic giving for disaster response, with real-life examples from recent disasters, as well as some tips and tools to help you decide which organizations to support when disaster strikes.

Learn more about Charity Navigator by visiting their website.

Follow Charity Navigator: LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

Follow Michael: LinkedIn | 

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• Background on Charity Navigator (00:20)
• Example of How Charity Navigator Works (01:30)
• Trends in the Way People are Giving (04:10)
• Effects of Overfunding New Organizations (07:45)
• How the Rating System Works (10:50)
• Assessing Impact an Organization Has (16:35)
• Ways to Assess When They are not on Charity Navigator (20:25)
• Indirect vs Direct Expenses (25:10)
• Changes Michael has Seen and Trends for the Future (30:35)

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HOST

Jason Friesen is the Founder and Executive Director of Trek Medics International, a 501c3-registered nongovernmental organization (NGO) dedicated to improving access to emergency response networks in communities across the globe through innovative mobile phone technologies.

Learn more about Trek Medics International by visiting their website, and for more info on the Beacon Crisis Response Platform visit here.

Follow Trek Medics on: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Theme song: "Happy Feliz" by ¡Big Grande! (used with permission).