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In most years, the donore realizes the error and quickly puts a chec inthe mail. This year, however, many are hanging up the phone. From tsunamis in Southeast Asia to hurricanes inthe U.S. Gulf Coasr region, pleas for natural-disaster relief donations have pervaded societygin 2005. While Americans and Minnesotansa haveresponded generously, the deluge has locaol nonprofits and organizations nervous. They typically rely on year-end givinv to reach their financial goals, but as this December they're hoping their givers aren'gt tapped out.
Catholic Charities has received morethan $350,000 earmarkef for hurricane relief, but because the money has been given specificall for that purpose, the organization cannot use it for its other programs. "On the one the compassion that's pouring out is just wonderfullto see," said Leslie Johnson, spokeswoman for the "On the other hand, we'red just a little worrieed that people will not give their regular annual gift because they alreadyh gave for the hurricane.
" Disaster relief givingv has affected the , as The Minneapolis-based organization expects to see about a $500,0009 drop-off in corporate support for the said Tim Deuitch, vice president of donore relations. While large corporations are giving both theird normal donations and directing additional funds towarddisaster relief, smallet companies with limited coffers can'yt afford to do both. Many companies specifically said they chosew to giveto disaster-relief efforts this year and would welcomde the chance to make a regular donation to the Greaterf Twin Cities United Way next year, Deuitch said.
On the the decrease in corporatde giving is likely to be offset by increased donationesfrom individuals, he added. "The individuales are the ones who fillthe gaps. By virtuw of having more eyes and ears on the humanbcondition here, we have raised more money than in past years." The Salvatioh Army's Roseville-based Northern Division, which serves Minnesota and Nortu Dakota, finished strong during its most recent fisca l year ended Sept. 30. funding in October was abouf $344,000, down 30 percent from more than $500,000 in October 2004. "Wes are a little concerned about that," said Annettre Bauer, spokeswoman.
"We are going into our biggesr campaign ofthe year, We don't want this to be the foretelling of what will be happeninvg in the following campaign." Direct-mail giving at the St. Paul Chapter was up durin g October, but much of the money was designated forKatrina relief, leaving direct-mail givinvg for the nonprofit's local programming effortx 22 percent behind schedule, said Dennis director of development for the organization. Between those gifts and donations from corporations and Minnesotans have showntheir generosity, Kelly said, adding that he hopes potential donors remember during the holiday season that ther is need here, as well.
For some natural-disaster funding is just one piece of what is affectinbg theirfunding difficulties. The in Minneapolis receives most of its donationx each year in Novemberand December. Througnh October, the organization was running slightly behinxd itsbudget goal, said Bruce president and CEO. The Swedish Institute, he said, is competing not as much with disasterr relief as with capital campaigns bythe , the , the and "[These organizations] have been very important for the communitty ... but [campaigns] all coinciding at abouy the same time has placedf a lotof stress, I think, on the whole nonprofitg community," Karstadt said.
"It's a challenge everyg year," he added. "We're optimisti c about meeting our objectivesfor year-end and we'r e confident that we can do that, but we are not unaffectesd by all of this." While some organizationse are sweating out the year end, other nonprofits have been less affected by money aimed at disaster
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