As we approach the seventh anniversary of 9/11, we'll be seeing more and more media coverage commemorating that horrible day - honoring those whose lives were lost and the heroes who responded to tragedy by extending a helping hand.

Helping Families Recover

For those who were directly affected by the tragedy, though, it doesn't take an anniversary to remind them of that day. Experiencing the attacks or losing loved ones is something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

In 9/11 aid groups close or adapt as money wanes, the Associated Press reports that charities serving September 11th families have been supported by funding from an American Red Cross long-term relief fund that is now running out of cash. It hadn't really occurred to me that there would still be any money left after seven years, so I was actually surprised to hear that it had lasted this long.

More specifically, it seems to be mental health programs that are losing funding and having a hard time finding replacement funding. (Programs for workers at the site who were exposed to toxic dust can still seek government funding.) The executive director of a group called Tuesday's Children was quoted saying that it was only this year that some of the children who lost parents in the attack started being able to open up about their feelings. A psychologist who has worked with first responders said that many of them avoided seeking help for years because our culture expects them to be tough.

I'm a big proponent of mental health services being available to people who need them. I think mental health services for first responders should be available just like they should be available for veterans. These are people who put their lives on the line in terrible situations to help and protect the rest of us.

I do see, though, how some of these charities are having trouble convincing donors to continue supporting their programs after so many years. Big donors who would be making gifts of the size necessary to sustain programs like the ones in the article probably haven't stopped making charitable donations. They have charities competing for their dollars. Without a clear mental picture of an urgent need for help, it's probably hard to feel a sense of urgency about making a donation. It seems hard to get a clear mental picture of the lives of widows, widowers, and children who lost parents on 9/11 without imagining that they have somehow gotten on with their day to day lives, even if they're still in pain.

I wish all of these groups luck in finding ways to effectively communicate their mission and value so that families can get the support they need.

Doing Good By Opening The Books

Another group of nonprofits that has been affected by 9/11 is charities serving Muslim communities. Since the attacks, the federal government has scrutinized these charities much more closely and even brought charges against a small number for being linked to terrorist organizations.

This has created problems for the law-abiding organizations, as donors are spooked about giving in case their money falls into the wrong hands. A couple of recent articles describe one response to this situation: Accreditation program offered for Muslim charities and Watchdog Group Devises New Accreditation Plan for Muslim Charities both describe a new plan to help these charities.

A civic group called Muslim Advocates has now teamed up with the Better Business Bureau to outreach to charities about gaining accreditation through the BBB's Wise Giving Alliance program. Basically, attorneys and accountants from Muslim Advocates will review an organization's records for free and help them figure out what they need to improve. Then, the BBB will do an accreditation review. Seven organizations have already volunteered to participate, and Muslim Advocates is holding meetings across the country this fall to educate and recruit others.

The BBB's President and CEO, Art Taylor, had this to say:

This is an important distinction from our normal practice. [...] Very few organizations actually come to us voluntarily to be evaluated. In this case, we have a group of organizations that are committed to transparency that have come to us indicating their desire to be vetted and posted on our Web site.

I love this initiative, because it's a great example of people coming together to do something positive about a difficult situation. The steps these nonprofits are taking will make them better organizations in general, serving their communities and responding to donors from a place of strength and openness.

[Image by Robert Linder.]