Blackbaud Supports NetHope in its Efforts to Restore Communications in Haiti

As we announced today, Blackbaud has made a $50,000 donation in support of NetHope to provide 20 humanitarian organizations working in Haiti with critical IT resources.

NetHope is an information technology collaboration of 28 leading international humanitarian organizations, which develops and applies technological solutions on the international stage to improve humanitarian operations.

As a global technology company that works to improve nonprofit infrastructure every day, we feel that NetHope is a natural partner. The organization has a broad reach and the ability – through technology – to quickly improve conditions on the ground.

NetHope’s Chief Executive Officer William Brindley recently shared his view of disaster relief efforts in Haiti on www.huffingtonpost.com in the blogpost “Bringing Technology and Communication to Haiti.”

Here’s an excerpt:

Words cannot begin to describe the shock in the wake of this week's tragic events in Haiti. I know I am far from alone in feeling that way. What I can put into words at this time are my thoughts on how we can accelerate relief to those in need: By establishing a network by which humanitarian agencies in the region can communicate with each other and the outside world.

Communication is the lifeblood of rescue operations in Haiti. In fact, in an interview with FOX News, Haitian Ambassador to the U.S. Raymond Joseph calls out help with communications as a top need in the region. Without Internet connectivity, it's incredibly difficult for NGOs and the Haitian government to coordinate the delivery of aid and to communicate about what's needed in terms of food, water, shelter, medical supplies and more.

Our NetHope member agencies in Port-au-Prince have summed it up for me pretty starkly: Operating in Haiti right now is like responding to a disaster 5-10 years ago. With little or no infrastructure remaining, basic communication systems like phone and email are severely hampered, and the technology gains we in the Western world have benefited from in the past 10 years are virtually nonexistent in poverty-stricken Haiti.

To read more about how NetHope is helping with relief efforts in Haiti, read the entire post or visit www.nethope.org to learn how you can help.