Christoph
11-09-06, 14:45
Learning From 9/11
The 2001 attacks inspired an outpouring of volunteerism, money, and lingering cynicism about charities
Source: The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Suzanne Perry
August 31, 2006
Most of the $2.2-billion that poured into charities to help the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has now been spent. But the nonprofit world is still feeling the after-effects of the disaster that galvanized the American public to offer what at the time was an unprecedented amount of money and help.
On the plus side, some evidence suggests that a "9/11 generation" has emerged, one that is more likely to volunteer for charitable causes. In a recent study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, 65.4 million people said they donated time to a charity last year — 5.6 million more than in 2002.
At the same time, charities are slowly recovering from the black eye they suffered as a result of the scandals that plagued early September 11 fund-raising efforts — especially the decision by the American Red Cross (later reversed) to set aside some donations for long-term needs and other disasters rather than spend it on relief for victims.
A year after the terrorist attacks, in September 2002, only 60 percent of Americans said they had a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in charitable organizations, down from 90 percent before the attacks. That figure has moved up to 69 percent, according to a survey scheduled to be released next month by New York University's Organizational Performance Initiative. But the survey, which polled 1,000 Americans in July, also points to underlying doubts about charities' ability to spend money wisely: 71 percent of respondents said such organizations waste a great deal or a fair amount of money, up from 66 percent last year and 60 percent in October 2003, when the question was first asked.
http://beta.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/cpid/492.htm
The 2001 attacks inspired an outpouring of volunteerism, money, and lingering cynicism about charities
Source: The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Suzanne Perry
August 31, 2006
Most of the $2.2-billion that poured into charities to help the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has now been spent. But the nonprofit world is still feeling the after-effects of the disaster that galvanized the American public to offer what at the time was an unprecedented amount of money and help.
On the plus side, some evidence suggests that a "9/11 generation" has emerged, one that is more likely to volunteer for charitable causes. In a recent study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, 65.4 million people said they donated time to a charity last year — 5.6 million more than in 2002.
At the same time, charities are slowly recovering from the black eye they suffered as a result of the scandals that plagued early September 11 fund-raising efforts — especially the decision by the American Red Cross (later reversed) to set aside some donations for long-term needs and other disasters rather than spend it on relief for victims.
A year after the terrorist attacks, in September 2002, only 60 percent of Americans said they had a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in charitable organizations, down from 90 percent before the attacks. That figure has moved up to 69 percent, according to a survey scheduled to be released next month by New York University's Organizational Performance Initiative. But the survey, which polled 1,000 Americans in July, also points to underlying doubts about charities' ability to spend money wisely: 71 percent of respondents said such organizations waste a great deal or a fair amount of money, up from 66 percent last year and 60 percent in October 2003, when the question was first asked.
http://beta.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/cpid/492.htm