Donor DIRECT

The American Red Cross has implemented a series of bold changes in its fundraising practices for the National Disaster Relief Fund that are designed to strengthen the bond between the organization and its donors who make its mission possible. The Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund is the nation’s main fund for supporting disaster relief operations anywhere in the nation and U.S. Territories. Aside from the large, well-publicized disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, the Fund also supports hundreds of smaller disasters in local communities nationwide each year, including the Susquehanna Valley. Changes include:

• The Red Cross will use specific language consistently across all fundraising channels. All soliciations will now read, "You can help the victims of [this disaster] and thousands of other disasters across the country each year."
  
• All donors who make undesignated contributions to the National Disaster Relief Fund will be asked that they understand the purpose for which their donations will be used before their donations are accepted.
  
• Donors will receive an acknowledgement after their contributions have been received that will re-confirm their intent and the purposes for which their contributions will be used.
  
• The Red Cross will trigger a fundraising policy in any disaster where it appears that contributions made around the time of the disaster may exceed the cost of the anticipated disaster assistance. The transition policy will explicitly inform potential donors that enough money has been received for the current disaster and encourage them to give to the chapter or National Disaster Relief Fund to help victims of other disasters.

The reforms, which are part of a nationwide Red Cross initiative, will give contributors to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund a better understanding of how their donations will be used and allow them to confirm their intent in order to improve stewardship of their charitable gifts.

When planning
your will,
please remember
the "American
Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley
Endowment Fund."
For more
information,
e-mail Ed Winters
or speak with Ed
by calling
(717) 257-1822 x202.