Haiti Donations

Out of curiosity, how is this money being distributed? What is it going towards, specifically? There are myriad well-entrenched and well-audited aid organizations out there who have boots on the ground ATTM -- what makes the Dennis Sherrod Haiti fund unique or more desirable?

Ryan,
I am not sure if this was your mis-stating or mis-reading, or what, but this is not the "Dennis Sherrod Haiti Fund" Please read the information and you will see that this is through a well-audited oraganization with the name of: Alert 1 Weather, Inc.

Thanks
 
Hi Dennis,

I appreciate the additional info; one of the reasons that I asked was that I found the information on the website to be a bit vague, i.e., what the organization size was, how donated funds make their way to tangible relief in Haiti (i.e., how many boots you have on the ground there or whether you are funneling the money to other organizations that are already there or whether you are providing logistical support only or whether you are just purchasing pallets of supplies and having them flown over, etc etc). I'm still a little in the dark about exactly what your ops are; obviously things are happening from looking at your Facebook feed, I just couldn't tell whether you have staff over there or not or whether you were using the money to fly doctors and rescuers and equipment over or whether you were mostly operating as a communications hub between the U.S. and Haiti. Perhaps a "What We Do" and "How We Do It" page on your website would be helpful; I don't in any way intend to imply that you are not a legitimate organization or that you aren't doing good work, I simply think that charities are much like businesses in that they all directly compete with each other for limited funds and that those who donate like to know as much as possible about what their donations are likely to go towards.
 
Ryan,
I am not sure if this was your mis-stating or mis-reading, or what, but this is not the "Dennis Sherrod Haiti Fund" Please read the information and you will see that this is through a well-audited oraganization with the name of: Alert 1 Weather, Inc.

Thanks

BTW, from post #1 in this thread:

Lanny Dean said:
Stormtrack member Dennis Sherrod from alert1weather: http://www.alert1weather.org/ is taking donations for the MAJOR DISASTER caused by the Earthquake that happened in Haiti.

I see now that Lanny's post was inaccurate and that you are not personally taking donations, but rather all donations are taken and handled by the organization "alert1weather".
 
Ryan, I think our website design is meeting the needs we need and require as we have had several thousand people and requests coming into us from all over the world, as well as meeting the needs of the various military divisions of at least 4 countries that we are working with. Between here on my post, Facebook and numerous posts, and our website, it is explained clearly.
John, as to your request, the funds will be donated as needed to the legitimate charity as stated. As far as we know and have heard, we do not know that FedEx is currently flying into Haiti. If you have the information that is contrary to this, please let us know. That may also be an avenue for us to use.
 
Hi Dennis,

Not to belabor a point, but using only the website you've provided (which, candidly, is somewhat difficult to navigate), I have a good deal of difficulty understanding what it is that "alert1weather" actually does as a charity, let alone what specifically they are doing in Haiti. Again, it is your prerogative to not disclose any specifics about what you are doing (i.e., how many people you have there, if any, what they are doing, etc.) or how donated funds will be translated into tangible relief in Haiti, but I must say that that's a highly unusual position for a charity to take. Most charities fall all over themselves to explain what they are doing with the money, not only to make donors feel more comfortable with giving, but to advertise the great work that they are doing. I can see no possible benefit for a charity to refuse to disclose what kind of work they're doing.
 
Hi Dennis,

Not to belabor a point, but using only the website you've provided (which, candidly, is somewhat difficult to navigate), I have a good deal of difficulty understanding what it is that "alert1weather" actually does as a charity, let alone what specifically they are doing in Haiti. Again, it is your prerogative to not disclose any specifics about what you are doing (i.e., how many people you have there, if any, what they are doing, etc.) or how donated funds will be translated into tangible relief in Haiti, but I must say that that's a highly unusual position for a charity to take. Most charities fall all over themselves to explain what they are doing with the money, not only to make donors feel more comfortable with giving, but to advertise the great work that they are doing. I can see no possible benefit for a charity to refuse to disclose what kind of work they're doing.

Well, as I stated, we feel we are doing what is needed. Please feel free to choose another charity that you are comfortable with. The are literally thousands around the world for you to choose from that maybe you can find one that will fit your needs and design requirements.
If we had known that you were so well versed in Charity Website design, we may have sought your expert opinion beforehand, but I did not see that on your credentials.
We will continue to operate as is so that we can continue our mission to help people. We feel our time is better spent that way than explaining a website design and content you do not care for.
 
Dennis,
I'm not trying to attack you but you may want to call the IRS. On your website it is posted
This corporation is organized exclusively for the purposes of: Educational, Scientific Research, Public Awareness and Safety Planning in Advance of Severe Weather Events, and Charitable and Humanitarian Disaster Relief to areas affected by a Natural and Man-Made Disasters within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now enacted or hereafter amended.
http://www.alert1weather.org/Certificate.JPG
The IRS doesn't acknowledge you in their database.
There were no exempt organizations found matching the search values you entered. Please refine your search and try again.
http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/searc...searched.isDescending=false&submitName=Search
 
Well, as I stated, we feel we are doing what is needed. Please feel free to choose another charity that you are comfortable with. The are literally thousands around the world for you to choose from that maybe you can find one that will fit your needs and design requirements.
If we had known that you were so well versed in Charity Website design, we may have sought your expert opinion beforehand, but I did not see that on your credentials.
We will continue to operate as is so that we can continue our mission to help people. We feel our time is better spent that way than explaining a website design and content you do not care for.

I am not concerned with your web layout so much as what your organization actually does; I only mentioned your web layout since you insist that all information that I requested can be found there and I cannot find it. As I've asked several times and have been given the brush-off repeatedly, I will accept that for whatever reason you don't want to explain to me or anyone reading this what in the world your charity actually does or is doing in Haiti and that you would, indeed, just like for people to give your charity money without you having to explain what that money is actually being used for. I do not think you are attempting to defraud anyone, so I am really at a complete loss for why you don't want to provide any kind of details. But again, it's your prerogative.
 
Unless the tax laws have changed considerably since I shepherded through a 501(c)3 application some years ago, I think Dennis is quite correct that the designation process does take some time and the organization may operate according to the terms of its charter as-if. In the event the designation is subsequently denied then donors' contributions retroactively become taxable.

I for one appreciate Dennis' efforts greatly and hope others find the charity in their own hearts to do likewise.
 
I went to the website and see it's a donation via paypal. Does paypal get a cut or do they waive their customary fee for incoming money?
 
BTW, here's a good example of a charity reaching out to explain what they do:

http://blog.reddit.com/2010/01/you-asked-directrelief-answered-learn.html

Not only do they have a very detailed website ( http://directrelief.org/ ) complete with financial statements and annual reports, but when some contributors on some of the online aggregators (reddit, digg) asked them questions (questions that the charity invited) about what they do with the money, how they work with others, etc, they actually sat down in front of a camera, explained things, and put it on Youtube.
 
I think I am going to donate through the church I go to. I will probably donate 100$ and the important thing the money will be sent where it is needed. I trust Dennis with my donations but I want to donate at church and can't afford to send multiple donations at this time.

God Bless everyone who has donated money already.
 
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