In an op-ed in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Megan Schmidt, senior director of government affairs at Philanthropy Roundtable, describes how private philanthropy is more nimble and targeted than the government, as the relief efforts following the Maui fires of 2023 showed.
Below are excerpts from “In Disaster, Communities Rely on Nonprofits, Not Government”:
“The freedom to give is the ability to give when, how and to whom we choose. In the weeks following the Maui fires, the Maui United Way received and fulfilled 8,000 individual requests for aid from people in the community. They also distributed over $1 million in grants to other nonprofits who in turn provided food, transportation and other services to the community.
“Another organization, World Vision, provided support to over 27,000 Hawaiians by partnering with local charities to distribute crisis relief boxes, support mental health coaching and offer other services. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was present in the days following the fires, it was local citizens and organizations that provided community relief. Logistical delays, government largess and bureaucracy hindered a timely government response.”
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“In times of crisis, communities rely on their local charities before, during and after government assistance is present, which is why recently enacted legislation like SB 2693 is so important. This bill discourages charitable fraud and provides communities and donors with additional protections. Hawaii law now states it is a crime to commit charitable fraud during a state of emergency.”
Please continue reading at Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
