Recommended Nonprofits for 2011 Holiday Giving
Below are some highlights from our annual list of recommended nonprofits that are working on lead issues to consider for the 2011 holiday giving season. Please let us know if you have any questions. Happy Holidays from the ATC staff!
SPOTLIGHT: Call To Action Music Videos
Current research shows that the numbers of Americans who are watching and sharing videos online via sites like YouTube and Vimeo has more than doubled over the last 5 years to a whopping 71 percent. Watching videos online now outranks social networking, online banking and other activities as the most frequent online activity.
As new features and capabilities are being added to video sharing sites including the ability to sell music, merch, tickets and more, it is clear the potential impact call to action music videos can have in raising awareness, generating funds or promoting action for a cause or issue an artist cares about–while at the same time promoting an artist’s music and brand.
Vote for Our SXSW 2012 Panels
It’s that time of year again. Please vote for ATC’s proposed panels on the official SXSW 2012 Panel Picker website or by clicking on the direct links below. Voting begins 8/15 and runs though 9/2. See below for panel descriptions and links. We have some really great content and speakers on board again this time around. 
It’s an Election Year!: http://bit.ly/mUK3nA
Go Green: Strategies For A More Sustainable Tour: http://bit.ly/pMNpFq
Responding to Natural Disasters: http://bit.ly/n1NRVH
East Africa Food Crisis-How You Can Help
The severe drought throughout East Africa has triggered a famine in Somalia, claiming thousands of innocent lives each day. Political instability, conflict and dysfunction in the area has only complicated relief efforts, but organizations are working to get humanitarian access to some of the hardest-hit areas.
With up to 11 million people in danger of starving to death, relief organizations are calling on the international community to donate the funds needed to get essential aid to those that are suffering.
Ways that you can provide immediate help:
1. Donate to Oxfam America, which has launched a major campaign to help the people affected by drought and famine in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia: http://bit.ly/nAx2f1.
U.S. Tornado Relief + Update on Japan Recommendations
Suggested text for sharing on Twitter/Facebook/Band sites – How to help: US tornado relief and Japan aid update http://bit.ly/kDYuSl #disasterrelief
TORNADO RELIEF
ATC has been monitoring response to the recent tornadoes that have ravaged parts of the Midwestern and Southern U.S. After researching what our philanthropy and aid experts advise (including advisers in disaster philanthropy and relief work) we recommend the following organizations. These groups are doing immediate relief and long-term rebuilding in the areas impacted by the flooding and tornadoes.
UPDATE: JAPAN AID & DONATIONS
Since the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, ATC has been monitoring the situation and consulting with our philanthropy and aid experts (these include advisors in disaster philanthropy and relief work).
What you should know:
- There are 3 phases to a disaster: 1. Rescue, 2. Relief, and 3. Recovery + Rebuilding. Governments are usually best able to respond to the rescue and relief phases as we have seen in Japan. The phase where experts agree that the international community has the most important role to play is in the recovery and long-term rebuilding work. This is also the phase where musicians and fans can have the biggest impact — helping to keep the spotlight on the path to recovery as the international community turns to other news and disasters — and as ATC has seen happen in New Orleans and Haiti.
URGENT ACTION: JAPAN RELIEF – HOW TO HELP
On March 11, 2011, a 8.9/9.0 earthquake – one of the largest in recorded history- and subsequent tsunami hit Japan, causing extensive damage across a large part of the country. The death toll is high and the number of displaced and homeless is even higher.
Immediate relief and search and rescue efforts are being led by the Japanese government, one of the most prepared in the world for this type of disaster. This makes aid and relief response very different from other recent disasters that took place in developing countries. Numerous countries and relief agencies have pledged support and aid to Japan when they are ready. Suggested organizations and text are noted below for immediate donations. They are mobilized and have presence on the ground in the affected areas.
ATC AND TOPSPIN HELP MUSICIANS SUPPORT CHARITIES & NONPROFITS
A recent Topspin blog post highlights how ATC and Topspin having been working in partnership with several musicians to create successful and engaging social change campaigns. The post also notes some of the ways in which ATC can help to support artists in their efforts – helping to identify a beneficiary, collecting & delivering funds, managing compliance paperwork, evaluating the donation’s impact and more. Below is the original post showcasing some of the most successful case studies from the past year.
(Original post by Topspin can be found here: http://www.topspinmedia.com/case-studies-2/musicians-for-charity/)
REBUILDING HAITI – How To Help
Now, more then ever, Haiti needs our help. Since last year’s earthquake, Haitians and countless organizations and individuals have worked tirelessly on the recovery and rebuilding effort. In honor of the one year anniversary, ATC has listed a few quick actions for artists and their fans and highlighted four nonprofits doing critical work in Haiti.
OUT TODAY! DEAR NEW ORLEANS DIGITAL BENEFIT COMPILATION
It feels really good to say it and sell it! The response to Dear New Orleans has been overwhelming and wonderful. The album has garnered much press and coverage. On Monday, Amazon offered the 31 track album as its daily deal and the compilation quickly reached #1 of Amazon’s most purchased Mp3′s and remained in that position until just yesterday evening.
Dear New Orleans is available for purchase from all of the major on-line music outlets: iTunes, Amazon, emusic and Rhapsody. But of course, we prefer it if everyone purchased it from our own TopSpin store on www.dearno.la so ATC can raise more funds for New Orleans and you get 3 bonus tracks and stream the full album before purchasing.
URGENT ACTION: DEVASTATING FLOODS IN PAKISTAN
The worst floods in Pakistan’s history have hit the north-west region of the country. Estimates have the death toll over 1,600 and over 20 million people affected. The United Nations has warned the international community that, due to a massive shortage of international aid, an estimated six million people, mostly children and children, are at a high risk of deadly diseases from dirty water.
ATC asked our contact at Oxfam America for an update and how our network can best help the situation. Here is what he said:
COMING AUG 24: DEAR NEW ORLEANS – ALBUM MARKS 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE STORM & FLOODS
Album cover artwork for Dear New Orleans
ABOUT DEAR NEW ORLEANS: Air Traffic Control has been hosting artist activism retreats in New Orleans for the last four years. To mark the 5 year anniversary of the storm and floods we thought it appropriate to produce a benefit album. We started by asking the 60 alumni artists who participated in the retreats if they’d be interested in donating a track for a benefit album — we had no idea over half of them would send us music.
We are grateful they did.
ATC PROFILE: ARCADE FIRE & HAITI
The members of Arcade Fire continued their support of Haiti by vowing to match pledges to the newly formed charity KANPE, up to 1 million (Canadian) dollars. According to Arcade Fire’s website, KANPE was “born of a desire to play an integral part in the fight to help Haiti break free from a vicious cycle of poverty.” The band’s latest pledge is a continuation of the members’ remarkable efforts to support Haiti since the devastating earthquake in January 2010. Even before the earthquake, the band raised awareness and money for Partners In Health via ticket surcharges and by distributing informational leaflets at shows. Arcade Fire’s constant support since the earthquake is a great example of what a band’s authentic passion and desire for an issue can produce.
TIBET EARTHQUAKE RELIEF – RECOMMENDED ORGS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO
At approximately 7:40am, Wednesday, April 14th a 6.9 magnitude earthquake followed by several powerful aftershocks struck in eastern Tibet.
Media are reporting nearly 600 people killed and more than 10,000 injured. Tibetans with contacts in the area have heard the death toll may be as high as 4,000.
The following is a list of organizations that our colleagues at Students for a Free Tibet recommend. ATC staff knows many of these organizations well and have worked with a few of them in the past when producing the Tibetan Freedom Concerts. We will continue to monitor the situation and update accordingly.
HAITI UPDATE: TWO MONTHS LATER & HOW YOU CAN HELP
An informative editorial in today’s New York Times outlines the current status of the relief efforts and the major players.
It highlights the very small dent that has been made in the on-going relief efforts and what is still required.
The NY Times Editorial states:
”There are four main strands to the campaign to make sure 1.2 million homeless people are sheltered and safe as the weather turns fierce. All are inadequate…
CHILE 8.8 EARTHQUAKE
Six weeks after the devastation in Haiti, another deadly earthquake has struck Chile. Here is the update from our colleagues at Music for Relief:
Very early on Saturday the 27th of February 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chile, approx. 56 miles Northeast of the city of Concepcion (population 670,000), followed by hundreds of aftershocks and a tsunami which claimed over 800 lives. The government of Chile has reported that over 2 million people have been affected. Hundreds of thousands of homes have been destroyed as well as highways, bridges and other infrastructure. The extent of damage is still difficult to determine. As with most earthquakes, we expect to see immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. Although this was a larger earthquake, since Chile is a developed country with a very capable government it is unlikely that this situation will be as severe as the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake last month.
“HOPE FOR HAITI NOW” IS FIRST DIGITAL ONLY RELEASE TO HIT #1 ON U.S. CHARTS
Hypebot.com reports: The benefit recording of the recent “Hope For Haiti Now” telethon will enter the U.S. album charts at #1 this week with about 175,000 units sold.
You can read the full article here:
“Hope For Haiti Now” Becomes First Digital Only Release To Reach U.S. #1
By Hypebot.com, January 27, 2010.
HAITI AID: RECOMMENDED ORGS FOR MUSICIANS + FANS AND HOW WE SELECT THEM
ATC’s suggestions are the result of talking with disaster philanthropy experts and reviewing what worked and didn’t in previous disaster efforts by musicians.
We focused on those organizations that have a long-standing presence in Haiti, and were focused on poverty and health infrastructure (important for both relief and rebuilding). An added bonus were several have worked with our musicians in the past (Oxfam + Yele). Also, Yele can receive gift via mobile for musicians in a concert setting when people aren’t in front of their computers but motivated to give on-the-spot.
HAITI EARTHQUAKE DISASTER RELIEF>> WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Immediate Support: Established disaster recovery organizations and national governments have been mobilized. These organizations are also raising funds for relief efforts:
Oxfam: www.oxfam.org
Click here to donate.
Doctors Without Borders: www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Click here to donate.
Wyclef Jean’s Yele Foundation: www.yele.org
Click here to donate.
Long-term Support: Crucial recovery and rebuilding efforts are always under funded in comparison to immediate relief efforts. ATC will continue to research and resource the music community with organizations and projects working on long-term recovery efforts that have a long-standing, grassroots presence in Haiti. Here are three that have distributed staff in the country now and are well positioned to aid in the long-term recovery effort.
ATC’S RECOMMENDED NON-PROFITS FOR 2009 HOLIDAY GIVING
ATC’s recommended non-profits for giving include: Sweet Home New Orleans, The Roots of Music, Jail Guitar Doors, Energy Action Coalition, Students for a Free Tibet, Innocence Project, DonorsChoose, Future of Music, Heifer International and more…
Below is a list of ATC’s recommended non-profits for the 2009 holiday giving season. Please let us know if you have any questions. Happy Holidays from the ATC staff!
Arts Corps
Arts Corps is Seattle’s largest nonprofit arts organization working to inspire creative habits in young people through a passionate corps of teaching artists. They hire professional teaching artists who work with a variety of art disciplines and place them in school and after-school sites in the area. They have also been picked to lead the MusicianCorps Seattle pilot.
LIVE EARTH + THE TIBETAN FREEDOM CONCERTS: MUSIC’S ABILITY TO INFLUENCE
A recent study on the impact of the 2007 Live Earth concerts may lead some to deduce that large-scale concerts have little influence in social change. ATC’s research and experience shows the opposite: when done right, concerts can be an extremely effective way to build movements.
A recent report on the public opinion impact of Live Earth, the environmental concerts from 2007, drew the conclusion that the event and campaign seemed to have “no immediate impact on American public opinion” on climate change, but that it “did reinforce and amplify attitudes about global warming amongst those watchers who were already concerned”. Cynics are likely to throw the baby out with the bathwater and say that mega-concerts or musicians cannot change how people think or act.
MUSICIANS JOIN THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO CLOSE GUANTANAMO
Musicians including Pearl Jam, REM and Tom Morello have joined a coalition calling for the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the release of records that detail the use of music as an interrogation device.
A multitude of sources including the Associated Press and BBC News are reporting on the diverse group of musicians who have joined the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo this Tuesday. The musicians’ announcement was coordinated with the recent call by veterans and retired Army generals to shut Guantanamo and is part of a renewed effort to pressure President Obama to keep his promise to close the prison in Cuba in his first year in office.
TODAY: OBAMA VISITS NEW ORLEANS FOR FIRST TIME AS PRESIDENT
On his first visit to New Orleans since taking office nine months ago, President Obama faced tough criticisms from the community frustrated with the federal government’s role (or lack there of) in the rebuild efforts since the floods.
Harry Shearer posted a good recap of what’s been done and what has yet to be done in New Orleans on The Huffington Post:
New Orleans: What’s Been Done, What’s on the To-Do List
By Harry Shearer
The Huffington Post, Posted: October 15, 2009 06:31 AM
