If I make a donation to a particular emergency or for a particular location, such as Hurricane Harvey or Puerto Rico, does Direct Relief ensure it is spent for that purpose?

Yes. When Direct Relief receives a contribution for a particular purpose or location, the contribution is used only to provide assistance for that purpose or location. Direct Relief (and all nonprofits) are legally obligated to honor the intent of a donor’s gift, and Direct Relief always does so.

Gifts to a charitable organization are either restricted or not.  Donations for a specific emergency (such as Hurricane Harvey) or for a particular location (such as Puerto Rico) are restricted.  Direct Relief has no fine print or other qualification on this.

If Direct Relief were to receive a restricted gift for a purpose or a place and is unable to use the funds productively for the purpose or place (e.g., what is needed is something Direct Relief does not do), the money would be returned to the donor or provided to another nonprofit organization that would honor the donor’s intent.