MEXICO CITY — In September last year, the two devastating earthquakes in Mexico attracted millions of dollars in donations from all over the world, but a significant part of the money went missing or was spent on short-term projects. Now, a U.S.-based organization is working on post-catastrophe projects in Mexico, with the hopes of making donations effective.
GlobalGiving is a crowdfunding community, helping nonprofits in 170 countries. After a disaster happens, it raises money to create grants directed to community-based organizations, rather than larger international groups.
“Currently, less than 2 percent of disaster humanitarian aid goes directly to communities that were affected by the disasters, and we are working to change that,” said Britt Lake, chief program officer at GlobalGiving.
She says the group gave $2.5 million to local nonprofits in Mexico working on reconstructing cities that were damaged in the two quakes last year.
“After a disaster, we’re giving a funding that is flexible that allows them decide what’s best for their communities,” Lake said.
Lake says the organization’s model has helped local nonprofits like Fondo Semillas to act on a longer term, while offering transparency to the donors.