Donor fatigue could hurt Haitian relief

Austin (KXAN) - Donor fatigue is a social phenomenon experts say can come on quickly and while it can curb the charitable donations people make, that was not the case over-the-weekend in Central Texas.

Austinites kept giving what they could to help people devastated by the disaster, including money, food, clothing and almost 8,000 shoes through the Soles4Souls program, even though the earthquake struck Haiti almost a week ago.

"This is new territory for us because the response has been unlike anything we've had before," said Celia Tellez, co-owner of Total Relief Footwear, which is serving as a donation drop-off site for Soles4Souls.

Part of Celia's "new territory" will be guiding the "Soles4Souls" program from now, when contributions are piling up, through the time when donations can start to taper off.

University of Texas sociologist Wenhong Chen said givers can feel flooded by the outcry and tune out the message.

"There's a lot of trust and transparency issues," said Chen.  "Many people don't know how their money is going to be spent by the charities."

Some very visible non-profits have come under fire during earthquake relief efforts.

Haitian singer Wyclef Jean inspired thousands to donate via text message, then reports started questioning the accounting at his organization.

Austin fundraisers told KXAN they understand trust is the key to keep people giving.

Eugene Sepulveda, who manages a fund built up by donations from Austin High Tech Employees, said he's very specific when he outlines how the hundreds of thousands they've already sent, will be spent.

"We are looking at investing the money in three ways," explained Sepulveda, Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas CEO.  "One right now is save the living, and bury the dead."

Back at Soles4Souls, the pictures from Haiti still provide all the motivation donors need.

"No, not at all, I feel like any fatigue we would have would just pale in comparison to what they're going through," responded Hannah Diller, a donor, when asked if she experienced fatigue after donating money and shoes to Haiti relief.

"We've had people who've gone out to local stores like Target, buy a dozen pair of shoes and come and drop them off. Everybody is giving at a different level, but everyone feels the need to help," Celia added, while looking at all the boxes of shoes stacked up in her Northwest Austin store.

Chen said it is hard to determine when donor fatigue will hit because it is not an exact science.

Instead, sociologist judge donor fatigue on a case-by-case basis and that's why she said there is no way to know whether that will happen with all the aid going to Haiti.