Non-Disaster Relief Organizations Hurting

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, Americans have given generously to disaster relief efforts. But with an already troubled economy, a turbulent stock market and people giving all they can to the emergency effort, will other worthy causes see their funding falter? Many organizations are fearing the worst.

"It is very important to remind people that our ongoing needs, the needs of vulnerable populations in New York, have not disappeared and will not be any less. In fact, they will be aggravated by this," said Ana Oliviera, executive director of the Gay Men's Health Crisis, which assists people with HIV/AIDS.

"In this crisis, our mission is the same," said Andrea Kopel, director of program services for Citymeals-on-Wheels, which delivers meals to New York City's homebound elderly. "It's just that much harder" to get meals to places like lower Manhattan, and that has meant additional expenses, Kopel noted. As is the case with many other charitable organizations, Citymeals' biggest fund-raising period is November and December. "We're optimistic so far, but I wouldn't say we're not worried. We're always worried," Kopel said.

According to Lee Cassidy, executive director of the Direct Marketing Association's Non-Profit Federation, which has about 550 members nationwide, donations to non-disaster organizations may already be down. Some organizations -- many of which generate more than half their revenue from private donations -- have cancelled fund-raising events or are making less aggressive appeals to donors. Others are proceeding cautiously, aware that while their work is still very important, Americans are preoccupied by the disaster. Now is not the time to pursue new donors, said Debbie Niederhoffer, director of development at the Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. But while she sees contributions falling for non-disaster organizations in the short-term, she sees a brighter long-term picture.

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