When crisis strikes, Americans are among the first to offer assistance to those in need.

The best way to help those affected by a disaster overseas is to make a monetary donation to a reputable humanitarian organization working in the disaster zone.

As a U.S. government agency, USAID does not accept donations for its crisis response efforts, but non-governmental organizations may issue appeals for donations depending on the crisis.

There are several ways to identify reputable, established organizations that make the most of monetary or material donations:

Organizations that would like to become USAID disaster response partners may learn more about submitting an unsolicited proposal here. Organizations interested in providing emergency food assistance can learn more here.

Vendors who are interested in providing commodities or transportation services to USAID can learn more here.