Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is saddened by the devastating destruction brought upon the people of Myanmar by the recent cyclone. The situation on the ground in Myanmar has grown dire as the government continues to impede aid from reaching its people, which creates a challenging environment for those wishing to help from abroad. Particular care will need to be given to ensure that charitable donations reach people in need. Our general advice for donors is to hold off until there is more certainty about which channels of aid will effectively reach victims.

Despite the uncertainty, donors who wish to make immediate gifts should support nonprofits that have a) experience delivering disaster relief b) the cultural competence to understand how care should be delivered and c) who have operations in Myanmar. The following are organizations that have some current presence and capacity for delivering care in Myanmar:

CARE
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)
Myanmar Red Cross
Save the Children
U.N. World Food Programme
World Vision

Please note that there is no way to know how the Myanmar government will allow these organizations to proceed with delivering aid. A number of other highly qualified organizations also are attempting to gain access, including the International Rescue Committee.

Give2Asia has set up a fund for short and long term relief efforts with local partners in Southeast Asia. For individuals concerned with human rights violations in Myanmar, the U.S. Campaign for Burma is working to support grassroots advocacy efforts.

We will continue to update this page as we learn more about the changing situation in Myanmar and the organizations that are effectively reaching its citizens to deliver much-needed aid.