06 Sep PRESS RELEASE: 60% of Unsolicited Goods Donated During Disasters Go To Waste
Good360 Helps Corporations Prepare to Give Thoughtfully During All Phases of a Disaster
Alexandria, VA (Thursday, September 6, 2018) – September is National Preparedness Month and Good360, the global leader in product philanthropy and purposeful giving, offers some key tips for corporations who are thinking about giving either product or cash during times of disaster.
When disaster strikes, the generous outpouring of corporate donations is critical to help the recovery of impacted regions. However, giving is often misaligned with and disconnected from the actual needs of individuals and communities on the ground. Studies* have shown that 60% of unsolicited goods given during times of disaster end up in landfills or otherwise go to waste.
Together, we can tackle this issue. It starts with better preparedness as donors.
Good360 currently works with hundreds of corporate partners to deliver donated goods to those in need, including survivors of disaster. We work with local and regional nonprofits and agencies to assess the ever-evolving needs on the ground, mitigating waste and increasing impact.
These tips will help your organization give better and more effectively in the wake of the next disaster:
- Be proactive and plan now. Develop disaster-giving plans during blue sky times and understand how to respond most effectively.
- Pre-position needed goods. Good360 and our partners form a national network where we can store highly needed goods in advance and deploy quickly when needed.
- Focus on the on-the-ground needs. Work with a partner like Good360 who can efficiently gather information from the field and translate that into actionable and effective donation plans.
- Determine the right mix of goods vs. cash. If your company doesn’t produce what’s currently needed or if there is a glut of a certain donated product, then consider donating cash so that other needed goods can be sourced.
For more information about Good360’s disaster recovery work, visit www.good360.org. If your company would like to learn more about Good360’s effective giving programs, contact Jim Alvey at jalvey@good360.org.
*Studies from the National Science Foundation and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation