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For intelligent giving, Charity Intelligence recommends donors support Doctors Without Borders and Canada’s Farm Radio International. These are charities working specifically on the covid-19 response through prevention and work on the front lines. We are closely tracking the response in Canada and will update this list. 
 
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/654-doctors-without-borders-coronavirus-response MSF – Medecines Sans Frontier/Doctors Without Borders: The world’s leading medical response charity in emergencies. It has high impact and the best track record in responding quickly in epidemics be it ebola, the plague, and now coronavirus. 
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/655-farm-radio Farm Radio International – coronavirus and public health shows on more than 1,000 radio stations in Africa helping 250 million people be informed with facts rather than rumours. Having the right information saves lives. Farm Radio needs donations to support these radio stations stay on the air. 
 
Additional https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/649-coronavirus-intelligent-giving Charity Intelligence articles on the coronavirus response
 
 

We are all bracing for the full brunt of the coronavirus pandemic to hit Canada. These are anxious times. We hear the devastating news from around the world and pray that our preventative measures create https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-solidarity-german-swiss-hospitals-help-french-hotspot-cope-with/ a German scenario rather than a nightmare like Italy.
Many Canadians are asking how they can give to help the COVID-19 pandemic. Charity Intelligence is closely monitoring the spread of coronavirus in Canada to make high impact recommendations for donors. Like many Canadians, our inboxes are filled with charities asking for donations for their COVID-19 response. Canadians need to carefully sort through these requests. Today, with the stakes so high, Canadians need to give intelligently. 
You want your giving to go where the need is greatest for a COVID-19 response. Coronavirus appears to hit particular regions intensely. It has ravaged Lombardy in Italy, Mulhouse in France, and is currently hitting hard in New York City and Seattle in the US. #_edn1″ name=”_ednref1 [i] Which Canadian region will COVID-19 hit hardest? Will it be a rural community with limited health care resources, or will it be cities with high caseloads overwhelming large hospitals? 
Events are changing rapidly. We will immediately update when we see critical needs.
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/649-coronavirus-intelligent-giving See Charity Intelligence’s home page for Coronavirus recommendations and resources.
For now, plan your giving. Just as data is critical in fighting a pandemic, donors too need data to give effectively. Just as you prepared for the shut down, plan your giving.
For now, plan your giving. Just as data is critical in fighting a pandemic, donors too need data to give effectively. Just as you prepared for the shut down, plan your giving.

Donor’s To-Do List for COVID-19 Response

1. Plan your giving. Assess how much you can afford to contribute over the next year. Get ready to give.
2. Prioritize basic needs. Review your list of charities that you have previously supported. The shutdown to prevent the coronavirus spread has caused massive layoffs and economic contraction.
Review if recent changes warrant adjustments to the charities you support.
Consider adjusting your donations by lightening up on donations to:

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In these anxious times, donors and philanthropists will be called upon to fill gaps not covered by governments for those in need. Billionaires have come under criticism in recent years. Their fast response to Covid-19 could be their finest hour.
One of the most active advocates for epidemic preparedness is Bill Gates, see his 2015 TED Talk. While there was little apparent take-up on the concerns, Bill Gates personally funded epidemic research including the Seattle Flu Study.
The Seattle Flu Study pivoted to Covid-19 in January. https://www.google.com/search?q=seattle+flu+study+cdc&oq=seattle+flu+study+cdc+&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.8271j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Battling red tape, it expects to have home-test kits soon. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if these could be delivered and picked up by Amazon? 
Now Gates, joined by Bezos, the UK Wellcome Foundation, Mastercard Foundation and many others likely to join are https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/10/gates-wellcome-and-mastercard-launch-125-million-fund-to-finance-covid-19-treatments/?guccounter=1 committing US$125m to fund Covid research and a vaccine. In Gates’ article in https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2003762 New England Journal of Medicine, a vaccine may be ready for larger-scale trials by June – far earlier than other experts expect.
Philanthropy can respond faster than other organizations. Effective, smart giving could reduce strain on health care services, reduce exposure, slow transmission, and save lives.
Today with Covid 19, this is a bright light of hope. Give thanks for Bill’s brain.
 
Learn more: 
Bill Gates, 45 minute conversation with TED’s Chris Anderson ” https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_how_we_must_respond_to_the_covid_19_pandemic How we must respond to the COVID-19 pandemic”, TED Connects, March 2020
Bill Gates, https://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/A-coronavirus-AMA A Coronavirus Ask Me Anything with Bill Gates, 31 questions and answers about COVID-19, March 19, 2020
GatesNotes ” https://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/We-Are-Not-Ready-for-the-Next-Epidemic?fbclid=IwAR2To0OdNvbCWtmAWS_RaObDter_cAOFnIqikYxEPa5LE-WF2cOU1NWSToY We’re not ready for the next epidemic. But we can get there”, March 18, 2015

Hoarding by the richest charities leaves less money for charities that need it. Stop it.

 
Like hoarders of toilet paper, some rich charities have years of reserves to weather the coronavirus pandemic. Yet these charities are launching fundraising appeals for a coronavirus response. “Never let a good crisis go to waste” when one can raise money may be their thinking. But donations are not like toilet paper. It isn’t as simple as more will be on the shelves tomorrow and there will be enough for all. The pool of donation money is finite. Hoarding by the richest charities leaves less money for charities that need it.
On the other hand, many frontline charities need donations to provide critical frontline services.
Canadians are rightly motivated to give in this time of need. Yet before giving, Canadians must check a charity’s current reserves. Does it have years already stockpiled?
Every Charity Intelligence report shows you this information. On each charity report there is a line item in the Financial Ratios section called Program cost coverage. This shows a charity’s need for donations. It shows how much money a charity has as a percent of the costs to run its programs for a year. For example, 50% means half a year – enough money to run its programs for half a year. 500% means a charity has enough money to run its programs for 5 years.

In this current example, this charity has 684.4%. That is 6.8 years of cash and investments – think 6.8 years of toilet paper – and yet it just launched a coronavirus fundraising campaign.
Charities with large reserves should think about using them. Excess donations over the years are stocked up for a rainy day. Maybe this year and next are those rainy days?
 
In 2012, the CRA Charities Directorate updated its guidance against unnecessary fundraising. Yet this practice has been going on for years without penalty. As such, to make sure donations go where they are needed, donors need to do their own homework.
Please before giving, on Charity Intelligence’s website https://www.charityintelligence.ca/component/charities/?k=&Itemid=101 search the charity’s name and check its program cost coverage ratio to make sure your donation goes where it is needed.
 
For more  https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/649-coronavirus-intelligent-giving Charity Intelligence articles on intelligent giving for Coronavirus:
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/653-charity-intelligence-s-top-pick-coronavirus-response Charity Intelligence’s top pick charities for the covid-19 response: recommendations for donors
 
Additional articles:

For charities: https://www.canadiancharitylaw.ca/blog/if-your-canadian-charity-has-assets-reserve-and-you-dont-have-a-reserve-fund-policy-you-should-stop-fundraising/ If your charity doesn’t need funding, stop fundraising.
Mark Blumberg’s Canadian Charity Law has a terrific overview for charity directors to review their compliance with Charities Directorate regulations regarding excessive reserves:
 
 
 
 
Legal disclaimer:
The information in this report was prepared by Charity Intelligence Canada and its independent analysts from publicly available information. Charity Intelligence and its analysts have made endeavours to ensure that the data in this report is accurate and complete but accepts no liability.
The views and opinions expressed are to inform donors on matters of public interest. Views and opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, organization, individual, or anyone or anything. Any dispute arising from your use of this website or viewing the material hereon shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, without regard to any conflict of law provisions.

Charity Intelligence’s recommendations and articles on the coronavirus pandemic. 

Last updated: May 4, 2020 
Charity Intelligence’s top picks for covid-19 response:
padding-left: 30px; https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/657-covid-19-picks Top-rated Canadian frontline charities
padding-left: 30px; https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/654-doctors-without-borders-coronavirus-response MSF – Medecines Sans Frontiers/Doctors Without Borders
padding-left: 30px; https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/655-farm-radio Farm Radio International 
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/652-giving-for-covid-19-prepare-a-plan Giving for Covid-19 Response: Prepare a plan. Many charities are fundraising for COVID-19 responses. For intelligent giving, make a plan so your giving can do the most good. The international choices are clearer. Charity Intelligence recommends Doctors Without Borders and Farm Radio International. 
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/650-like-toilet-paper-hoarders-some-charities-unnecessarily-filling-reserves Like toilet paper hoarders, some charities are fundraising despite having years of reserves to weather the coronavirus pandemic, March 24, 2020 
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/651-finest-hour Finest hour: Bill Gates and other philanthropists first responders to coronavirus