Keep the Lawyers and Guns, Send Money to Nepal

If you donate food, clothing, or any other material goods to the victims of the Nepal earthquake, it's anyone's guess as to when those things will actually land in the hands of the people who need them. Cash, on the other hand, is the most mobile, versatile, and effective form of aid, and the best way to get cash to Nepal is through an organization designed to handle it.

"People want to help as soon as possible," said H. Art Taylor, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, in a statement. "But donors need to follow some key rules about supporting disaster relief so that their gifts get to those who need them most."

Avoid vague email campaigns, social media solicitations, and crowd-funded charity drives. Use an evaluator like give.org or charitynavigator.org, which rate charity groups against finance and transparency standards, to vet the organization that will be handling your money. Your best bet is to use someone with an established presence in Nepal, someone with the network, ability, and resources to quickly and effectively implement donations.

Most organizations cannot contribute 100 percent of donated money to relief efforts because of administrative and transaction costs. Unless a charity is privately underwritten, be skeptical of claims that all money goes to the victims.

Give cash. Material donations will suffer from transportation and distribution delays. Cash donations allow aid workers to purchase materials locally, reducing transportation burdens and bolstering the local economies.

"Right now, transportation into Nepal is limited and accessing rural areas is pretty much impossible," says Chris Coxon, chief of staff at ActionAid USA, which has been working in Nepal for more than 30 years. "Many roads have been swept away by landslides, and few airplanes are able to land."

Here are four organizations that will put your money to work in disaster-stricken areas:

The American Himalayan Foundation has assessors in Nepal developing a strategy to get supplies and medical help where it's needed most. Last week, long-time AHF partner The North Face, with the support of VF Corporation, donated $100,000 and $25,000 in matching funds to AHF to assist rural areas between Kathmandu and Mount Everest. One hundred percent of donated money goes to relief efforts; AHF is a privately underwritten organization.

"This is the right thing to do. We help our fellow humans out," says Conrad Anker, mountaineer and longtime TNF Athlete. "In some small manner, we understand that it could be us, and on another level we aim to reduce human suffering. This is our chance."

Operation USA, in partnership with the Children's Hospital in Kathmandu, the Brother's Brother Foundation, and a network of local organizations, is working on a logistical strategy to distribute medical aid to rural areas. The organization provided a "major grant" to Himalayan Healthcare to supply damaged medical facilities with new equipment. Ninety-five percent of donated money goes to relief efforts. Text AID to 50555 to donate $10.

"The devastation has been so total, and so massive that they're going to need a lot of help and the recovery phase will be long," says Mary Dolan, director of communications for Operation USA. "Our primary mission is to make a long-term commitment. We'll go in and stay there as long as we have to, to complete the programs that help people get back on their feet."

ActionAid USA is supplying tools and hardhats for recovery efforts and shelter for victims without homes. The organization has longstanding relationships with several youth and women's rights organizations and is using a team of 70 people in Nepal to assess food, water, and healthcare demands in rural areas. Ninety percent of donated money goes to relief efforts.

"Rain forecasts are complicating things," says Coxon. "Many people are sleeping outside with nothing over their heads, so providing tents to keep them dry will be our first priority."

GlobalGiving has routed donation money to 26 different aid groups in Nepal. Using its network of partner organizations, it's rebuilding houses, providing water, clothing, and medical equipment, and helping with rescue and recovery efforts. Eighty-five percent of donated money goes to relief efforts. PayPal has agreed to reimburse GlobalGiving transaction fees. Text GIVE NEPAL to 80088 to donate $10.

"One of our partners [IsraAid] rescued a woman who was buried under rubble for five days," says Starlyn Matheny, champion for donor engagement.