The EFC would like to send a message of support to the people of Haiti and condolences to those that have have been affected by this tragedy.

Members of the Centre are offering support in a variety ways, as illustrated in the list below.

•  Amgen will donate $2 million to aid disaster relief efforts in Haiti. The funds will be split equally between the American Red Cross, International Medical Corps, Direct Relief International and UNICEF. The Amgen Foundation (US) has also deployed its Disaster Relief Program web site for Amgen staff around the globe who wish to contribute their own funds to designated organizations aiding in the relief and rebuilding efforts.  The Amgen Foundation will match staff contributions dollar for dollar via this relief site.

 •  The Atlantic Philanthropies (Ireland) will make two $250,000 grants to provide material assistance to the relief efforts.   

* The first organisation receiving support is Global Links, a nonprofit organisation that recovers surplus medical supplies from U.S. hospitals and redistributes them overseas to meet the needs of low-income people. In co-ordination with the Pan American Health Organization and graduates of Cuba’s ELAM (Latin American School of Medicine) working in Haiti, Global Links will identify the most immediate health-related needs not addressed by first responder agencies, such as losses of medical equipment, furnishings and disposable supplies, and distribute supplies where they are needed most. 

* The second grant will support the relief efforts of Partners in Health, an international organisation with twenty years of experience delivering care in Haiti. Partners in Health is mobilising resources both for immediate aid and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. While the short- and long-term needs of the thousands of people affected by the disaster will be immense, these efforts represent Atlantic’s desire to help provide immediate assistance to the people of Haiti. The foundation is exploring additional opportunities to help.

•  The Bernard van Leer Foundation (The Netherlands) has made a 40,000 euro grant to Partners in Health (see above) to support those affected by the earthquake in Haiti. PIH has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years, and BvLF has previously supported their work to improve maternal and child health in rural areas.

•  The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (US) has awarded two grants to respond to the immediate- and medium-term needs of those affected by the earthquake:

* $1 million grant to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), which will help address the immediate shelter, food, water, sanitation, health and other needs of those affected by the quake. CRS will also continue on-the-ground assessment of the damage

* $500,000 to Partners in Health (PIH) to provide immediate- and medium-term medical care through PIH’s existing 10 health facilities and temporary/ mobile clinics. It will also support the provision of medical supplies, tents, blankets, water, and other essential items.

•  Caterpillar and its dealer network are mobilizing product, personnel and resources to help assist the governmental and NGO agencies responding to this disaster. The Caterpillar Foundation (US) is making an initial contribution of $200,000 to International Red Cross and Red Crescent relief efforts and will also match dollar for dollar Caterpillar employee, retiree and Cat dealer employee financial contributions to the Red Cross of up to $100,000 made through February 13, 2010. Fully leveraged, the combined disaster relief will equal $400,000. In addition to this financial contribution, the Caterpillar Foundation has several proactive disaster relief recovery and rebuilding efforts already in place to help immediately when a disaster occurs (funds with Red Cross, World Food Programme, CHF International and Pan American Development Foundation).

• The Charities Aid Foundation (UK) has launched an appeal for donations that will be re-distributed to 13 humanitarian aid agencies.  Read more here.

•  Fondation de France (France) is collecting public donations (currently amounting to 30 million euros)  for re-distribition to local NGOs.

•  Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino decided to allocate a special contribution of  700,000 euros, consisting of 300,000 euros in support of the Fathers Camillians, 300,000 euros for the Franciscan Friars Minor and 100,000 Rava Foundation Onlus. All three players are present and operating in the territory of Haiti for several years with a hospital, clinics, feeding center, the center for the handicapped and school structures.

•  The Ford Foundation (US) has announced $1 million in grants to support urgent humanitarian relief efforts for victims of last week's earthquake in Haiti. The grants, for $500,000 each, will go to Oxfam International and Partners in Health, two organisations with longstanding operations on the ground in Haiti.

•  Fundação Assistência Médica Internacional (Portugal) has collected some 500,000 euros in donations which AMI staff on the ground are using for the acquisition of water, medicines, disinfectants and other logistical necessities. Nurses and doctors have been sent to Haiti to help the local staff to assess urgent needs and work with several local partners on emergency aid plans in the camp named 'Campo Azul União Portugal Haiti', which contains 65 tents for about 1000 people. AMI is collaborating in the running of the camp with the French Red Cross and the Irish NGO Haven.

•  The Global Fund for Women (US) have informed their grantee partners that they can use their current grants as needed in light of the crisis. They have given an emergency grant of $20,000 to MADRE whose local partner, Zanme Lasante (Partners in Health in Haiti), is ready to receive medicines in their clinic. MADRE is also sending a delegation of midwives and health professionals to Haiti, so the grant will help support this delegation and a collection of blankets and emergency supplies. GFW has also put aside $10,000 to support the work of other GFW grantees such as CAFRA who might organise immediate efforts on the ground.

•  King Baudouin Foundation (Belgium), which is not specialised in the humanitarian aid, is advising visitors to its site to make donations to the Key relief agencies and NGOs.

•  The M.A.C AIDS Foundation (US) gave $500,000 to three of its grantees in Haiti.

•  Mama Cash (The Netherlands) is in discussions with stakeholders and peer funders to better understand the situation and needs on the ground. "We will join in a collective international feminist response to deliver critically needed support now and in the long term to women and girls organisations in Haiti. We will keep you informed as developments unfold."

•  Medtronic announced that it has pledged $1 million through the Medtronic Foundation (US) to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. The $1 million is comprised of $750,000 in Foundation grants directed to the rebuilding of healthcare infrastructure in Haiti, and the Foundation will match employee donations up to $250,000, with matching funds directed to Partners in Health for short-term relief.  The Foundation is currently assessing potential nonprofit partners to lead the longer-term rebuilding efforts.  Employees worldwide also are offered five days of paid leave to assist in recovery efforts. In addition to monetary contributions, the company is actively exploring product donations with several partners already working in Haiti. Contributions could exceed $1.25 million when including product and employee donations. These donations are in addition to an existing five-year, $500,000 grant to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies disaster relief fund, which ensures that immediate financial support is available for responding to emergencies.

•  Working with FOKAL, their foundation in Haiti, the Open Society Institute (US) intends to play a leadership role in the country’s redevelopment. In response to the immediate crisis, OSI is giving an initial four million dollars to support the relief efforts for disaster victims. Médecins Sans Frontières, Save the Children, CARE, and Catholic Relief Services will receive one million dollars each. These are organisations doing lifesaving work in Haiti.

George Soros is a longtime supporter of Haiti. He has given some $50 million dollars through his foundations to support public libraries, community water programs, and other projects including urban revitalisation in Port-au-Prince. The Soros Economic Development Fund, a sister foundation that works to alleviate poverty, has helped thousands of Haitian entrepreneurs secure microcredit loans.

The State Street Foundation  (US) is making a $400,000 grant to Oxfam America in support of its recovery efforts.  In addition, the Foundation will also match up to $100,000 through a special Matching Gift Program for all employees globally to pledge additional support to Oxfam America’s efforts.

•  Stavros Niarchos Foundation has offered $500,000 to Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders - USA, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
The foundation’s Press Release is also available in English at: http://www.snf.org/index.php?ID=news_grants_EN&Rec_ID=4010

•  The United Nations Foundation (US) in partnership with Vodafone Foundation Technology Partnership is supporting the emergency deployment of a team of experts from UN partner organisation Télécoms Sans Frontières to establish emergency telecommunications systems in the wake of the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti last week.

•  United Way Worldwide (US) has set up a disaster fund to support recovery and long-term rebuilding needs of the devastated Haitian communities.

Click here to see the Council on Foundations' Haiti Disaster Response page.