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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

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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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
 
 

Charity Intelligence is recommending donors support MSF for the coronavirus pandemic.

 
MSF (also known as Medecins Sans Frontiers and as Doctors Without Borders) is the fastest, most effective charity in global health emergencies. It has the best track record in fighting epidemics, including ebola in 2014 and the plague in 2017. Since the first days of coronavirus’s spread beyond China, MSF has been deployed. It is on the front lines supporting hospitals and public health systems in 22 countries. These countries include MSF’s international work in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East as well as  European countries including Italy, Spain, Switzerland, France, Norway, Greece and Belgium supporting hospitals and providing relief to medical staff.
To donate to https://secure3.convio.net/msfcan/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app363b?df_id=2260&mfc_pref=T&2260.donation=form1&s_locale=en_CA&_gl=1*1chort4*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE1ODUzMjAyNjYuRUFJYUlRb2JDaE1JMmZ6bmt2SzY2QUlWV3pwUENoM3FYUUN0RUFFWUFTQUFFZ0t0cXZEX0J3RQ..&_ga=2.24255539.88955396.1585604068-2057358312.1584725520&_gac=1.195772952.1585320268.EAIaIQobChMI2fznkvK66AIVWzpPCh3qXQCtEAEYASAAEgKtqvD_BwE&NONCE_TOKEN=3D28BC7472F3D1D2E6145C3A30F86B10″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer MSF Canada
Countries with robust health systems, like Italy, have seen their hospitals and healthcare centres overwhelmed. Rapid response and support for those overwhelmed healthcare systems are crucial against a fast-moving viral outbreak like covid-19. We have also yet to see the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on fragile healthcare systems and populations living in developing countries. 
MSF Canada is a large international health charity. It is one of the 23 members of the international MSF Association. MSF organizes one of the world’s largest vaccine programs. Hopefully, this can be used shortly in getting covid-19 vaccines to the most vulnerable people in the world. 
MSF Canada is a Charity Intelligence Top Impact Charity for 2019, 2018 and 2017. We have consistently found high demonstrated impact on its programs. 
 
Learn more:
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/research-and-news/ci-views/31-disaster-response/649-coronavirus-intelligent-giving Charity Intelligence articles on coronavirus
https://www.msf.org/covid-19-depth MSF”s response to covid-19
Charity Intelligence’s report on https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/81-doctors-without-borders MSF Canada, August 19, 2019 
The Economist, ” https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/03/26/the-coronavirus-could-devastate-poor-countries The next calamity: Covid-19 threatens to devastate poor countries”, March 26, 2020
https://www.msf.org/no-profiteering-covid-19-drugs-and-vaccines-says-msf MSF calls for no patents or profiteering on covid-19 drugs and vaccines, March 27, 2020
One quick note, MSF’s policy is that it does not collect donations for one specific fund. It does not have a specific covid-19 fund. Donations will be unrestricted and available for all MSF’s work. This is not popular with some donors but gives MSF the best capabilities to respond.
Charity Intelligence recommends one-time donations rather than monthly donations for disaster responses.
 
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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.
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