Dear members,

As we sit transfixed, eyes locked on to the TV, grieving the terrible calamity that has befallen our homeland, the feeling of helplessness can get overwhelming. But we are not helpless. As professionals and executives employed by some of the leading companies of the world we have more power than we think. OPEN has established the EARTHQUAKE RELIEF RESOURCE CENTER to coordinate and focus fund raising activities to support relief operations in Pakistan.

A key source of "force multiplication" when generating relief funds is Corporate Donation Matching programs. We are putting together a list of companies that have already announced donations and donation matching programs. You will also find a list of reputable relief organizations that have presence at ground zero in Pakistan. Below is a list of key tasks towards establishing and propagating a Donation Matching program at your company:

1. If your company is among those that have already setup donation matching, skip to step 3.
2. Request your company's HR department to establish donation matching. On the OPEN website you will find two sample letters that you can use for reference.
3. Once matching is established you must start a grass roots effort to collect funds from your friends, cube neighbors and other co-workers. This is absolutely essential because donation matching means NOTHING if no employee donates. This will be the time to call in old favors, incur new ones and look past any interpersonal issues because you must get as many people to donate as you can.
4. You must also make sure that your company adds prominent Muslim & Pakistani charities to the list of organizations that they will work with. Key organizations in this regard are: Islamic Relief, Hidaya and Edhi Foundation. These are all registered non-profit organizations that have been operating for many years. Their contact details are available on the OPEN website as well.
5. When your organization sets up a donation matching program please notify us ASAP so that we can update our list. We will update our letter samples to include the new organizations and use this list in other ways to build momentum.

Please bear in mind that time is of the absolute essence. Already CNN has moved this story off their main page. We must coordinate and act quickly. OPEN will provide all logistical support necessary. With our combined efforts we can help our country cope with this tragedy, and along the way perhaps we will be able to soothe our own aching hearts.

Sample letters that you can send to your company's HR departments to setup donation matching.

Company Letter:   MS Word Version   ::   PDF Version