Tags
american red cross, charity, credit card, doctors without borders, earthquake, Haiti, mercy corp, oxfam, processing fee, visa
Another thing YOU can do to help in Haiti:
Consider sending a check instead of using your credit card.
We know Haiti has been devastated by a massive earthquake and citizens around the world feel helpless. Americans are among those opening their generous hearts and their wallets to help. We are putting our talent up for auction to raise even more funds. But I am appalled (not surprised but truly appalled) that our credit card companies are using this disaster as an opportunity to turn a profit.
Every time Americans use their credit card to make a charitable contribution, credit card companies keep as much as 3% for processing and transaction fees. I find this outrageous especially in the time of a disaster on the scale of what Haiti is experiencing.
Instead of using the convenience of your credit card – take a few moments to look up the correct name and address of the charity you are supporting. Mailing a check is not really difficult, and the entire amount can be fully appreciated by the organization you support. ***When mailing a check, be sure to include your name and address to ensure correct preparation of your receipt for tax purposes.***
(Go to the end of this post for address and contact information -in no particular order- of several deserving popular charities.)
Take another moment and consider who best uses the hard earned money you are willingly parting with:
- Which organizations are on the ground NOW and already setup with personnel in Haiti
- Which organization has the better track record
- Which organizations have high administrative costs, and which operate lean but efficiently
Will you join me? I just signed a petition to the CEOs of all the big credit card companies telling them they need to refund this fee for all the donations to aid organizations working in Haiti and get rid of the fee for all charitable contributions going forward. I have heard that one credit card company is attempting to deflect public concerns by stating they will waive processing fees for up to 6 weeks for some charities. I do not think the credit card companies have gone far enough. A group of 19 of the world’s major lenders has pledged to forgive Haiti’s foreign debt obligations – I think credit card companies can adopt a similar spirit regarding collecting fees for charitable contributions. Will you join me?
http://pol.moveon.org/nofees/?r_by=18607-6690173-QR6Meax&rc=comment_paste
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http://doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/
Call toll-free number at 1-888-392-0392 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
By mail:
Doctors Without Borders USA
PO Box 5030
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http://www.oxfam.org/en/contact
Chair Janet McKinley – Director Raymond Offenheiser
226 Causeway Street 5th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts USA 02114-2206
(Toll-free 1-800-77-OXFAM)
Email: info@oxfamamerica.org
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www.mercycorps.org
45 SW Ankeny Street
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 896-5000
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American Red Cross
PO Box 4002018
Des Moines, IA 50340-2018
When mailing a check, please indicate your designation on the check’s memo line, such as Haiti Relief and Development.
Thanks!
paula said:
this is a good post! smart and needing to be known. thank you! i reposted this/linking to it via my facebook page.