Many billions will be needed for victims of Harvey but donors must be wary of where they send funds. The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund sends 100% of donations to victims.

“Brand” charities like the Red Cross and United Way are sitting on “millions” and don’t write checks directly to victims, say critics.

Cantor Fitzgerald Chairman Howard Lutnick set up the fund on Sept. 14, 2001, which was three days after 9/11, an attack that cost the lives of 658 of its 950 employees including brother Gary. CF was on the 101-105 floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Howard LutnickHoward Lutnick

Since then, the Fund has given more than $300 million to victims of terrorism, natural disasters and emergencies, direct service charities and wounded members of the military.

Americares Donates 97%

Americares, founded in Stamford, Conn., in 1979, says only 3% of donations are eaten by administration costs. Its website promises that for “every $10 donated, it can provide $200 in aid.

It has delivered more than $12B in medicines, medical supplies and humanitarian aid to 164 countries following natural disasters, civil conflicts and health crises in poverty-stricken locations.

Founder Robert Macauley, a Connecticut business person who died in 2010, embarked on a career of charitable activities in 1975 when a U.S. jet carrying 243 Vietnamese orphans crashed and the U.S. said it would take 10 days for rescue operations.

Macauley and wife Leila mortgaged their home to charter a Boeing 747 to Vietnam and brought the surviving children to California. Americares works with 3,000+ hospitals, clinics and local health programs that enlist donors. In one recent year, it responded to 24 emergencies in 18 countries.

Supplies for more than 400,000 people in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were delivered in the wake of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy.

Sending Checks May be Easiest

CharityNavigator.org

The charitable orgs, including Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army, etc., provide web links so contributions can be made via credit cards. But extensive info is required and donors may worry about security.

Sending a check may be the easiest and most secure way of giving. Cantor Fitzgerald is at 199 Water st., New York, NY 10038. Americares is at 88 Hamilton ave., Stamford, CT 06902.

Donors are being urged to see that their donations mostly wind up in the hands of the needy. Look for food banks, is one piece of advice. The legitimacy of a group can be checked via CharityNavigator.org. Revenues grew to $9.07M in 2015 from $4.88M in 2011.

Founders Pat and Marion Dugan said in 2001 that because of scandals they concluded an independent source of info on charities was needed. Pat Dugan created a video in which he discusses the founding of the organization.