The International Red Cross  is a White House recommended organization. Donations are made here and fund medical aid and efforts to reunite families separated by this tragedy.  Donations of $10 can also be made and charged to your cell phone bill by texting “HAITI” to 90999.

UNICEF has issued a call for $120 million to support relief efforts through its post in Port-Au-Prince.  Donations support the children affected by this disaster and are made here.

CARE, mentioned in the Worldly Nonprofit here, is looking for donations to address the immediate needs of people affected by the earthquake, especially women and children.  Donations are made here.

The sustainable development nonprofit in Cap Haitien, Konbit Sante, mentioned in an earlier post has set up an earthquake response fund to address the immediate needs of the country.  Already contributing $25,000 from its reserves,  monies contributed will go to the now air-lifted  patients of Justinian hospital. Donations are made here.

Mercy Corps, a Portland, OR-based nonprofit mentioned here and here in the Worldly Nonprofit, is aggressively seeking donations to offer immediate humanitarian aid as well as offer psychological support and job infrastructure long-term.  Donations are made here and by starting a fundraising page.

Doctors Without Borders is currently hoping to expand their surgical capacity and seek donations for their Emergency Relief Fund.  Donations are made here.

Informationally,  The American Red Cross has a good update-style blog.  The White House blog contains timely informations about US efforts in Haiti.  Included in the blog is a link for the Center for International Disaster Information.  Mark Turner, former Financial Times journalist, writes from within Haiti in his Blog, Dispatches From a Fragile Island.  The Charity Water website has a great blog with information photos and links to their partner organizations, Partners in Health and Concern Worldwide.  Finally, the Facebook page, Global Disaster Relief is a tool for donation, connection and news updates.

Please add your input of other good nonprofit organizations and sites for information and donation.

Here is Obama’s statement yesterday after his call with President Preval of Haiti:

 Yesterday evening, I was watching Hancock, a mediocre Will Smith movie  about a down-and-out super hero who befriends a PR specialist.  The specialist’s one goal, besides restoring Hancock’s tarnished star, is to change the world through cause marketing.  He was making a hard sell to a few corporate big wigs, who likened his ideas to serving jail time.

Despite the gentle ribbing on both sides, it does look as though Cause Marketing may have its day (or year…or decade) in the sun.  For instance, Pepsi recently announced that it would not be buying Superbowl ad time this year, instead spending $20 million on marketing its green “Refresh Projects.”  Consumers will have the opportunity to vote to determine how much of the money is spent.

Perhaps Pepsi is taking a cue from Trip Advisor, whose More Than Footprints campaign won the Best Use of Social Media award from the Cause Marketing Forum.  Trip Advisor invited consumers to vote on how they would best like to see $1 million dollars spent between five nonprofit organizations.  Using a completely viral campaign, and 1,000,000 votes later, Trip advisor donated to five major international nonprofits including Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children.

What does this all mean?  According to Cone, a Boston-based communications agency renowned for its work in cause- related marketing, cause marketing is on the rise.  Specifically, cause marketing that is globally focused is on the rise.  Consumers, they note, are vastly more interactive and receptive to marketing, especially if they believe in what the company is selling/stands for.

Conclusion:  Nonprofits and corporations can benefit from cause marketing, delivered through interactive campaigns.  A simple google search for Pepsi generates hundreds of links to articles and posts about the Superbowl decision.  Free, positive publicity, and not a dime yet spent.  Despite a  still-rocky economy, could 2010 be the year to turn around donation numbers?   If Hancock can benefit, perhaps nonprofits have a standing chance.

What are your thoughts on cause marketing?   What nonprofits, especially development nonprofits have benefited?