If you are looking for general information about World Vision, or to donate to something other than tsunami relief, you will not currently find it at www.worldvision.org, which is usually their main website. Clicking there now sends you automically to the World Vision page at Kintera. My guess is that this is for a very good reason: that World Vision's normal website was so swamped with donations after the tsunami that they had to seek outside help. That's good news, indeed!
However, there are other distressed people and places in the world, and you can still reach out to them (as well as to tsunami victims) through World Vision's Ways to Give gateway. This takes you to a general donation page, from which you can choose further elaboration of the "child sponsorship," "basic needs," "emergency aid," and "gift catalog" categories. In a way, the whole website is a gift catalog. I'll admit, this is somewhat of a gimmick, but I love it! I want my charitable donations to be more personal and have less of the feel of a business transaction, and being able to chose to give a goat, or a well, or Bibles, or medical supplies, etc. does that for me.
Some reasons I like World Vision International, taken from their answer to the question, "Why Donate to World Vision?":
- World Vision has long experience in Asia. The organization has worked in the region for more than 40 years, responding to emergencies as well as conducting long-term, sustainable programs that lift families out of poverty. World Vision works in nearly all of the countries most affected by the tsunami.
- World Vision is effective on the ground. More than 3,700 World Vision staff—many of them nationals—live and work in the Asian countries devastated by the tsunami. They were assisting victims within hours of the disaster. These workers speak the local language and understand customs. Their relationships with leaders and communities are based on mutual trust.
- World Vision is accountable. World Vision carefully monitors and reviews programs and costs, uses donations and grants for their intended purposes, and looks for ways to leverage funds. World Vision strives to keep its overhead rate low. Last year, 87 percent of the total revenue directly benefited children and families in need.
- World Vision is motivated by faith. Motivated by faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision workers serve the poor as a demonstration of God's unconditional love for all people.
- World Vision does not discriminate. World Vision serves the world's poor regardless of a person's religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. Staff understand and respect the cultures in which they work.
