HOLIDAYS TIME FOR GIVING.

FAMILY, FRIENDS, COWORKERS AND SO MANY GOOD CAUSES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN NEED, GIVING CAN SEEM OVERWHELMING THIS NEEDS ARE GREATER AT HOME FOLLOWING WILDFIRES ON MAUI IN AUGUST.

KNOWING WHO DO HELP AND HOW BEST TO HELP THEM IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO FIGURE OUT.

JOIN OUR CONVERSATION ON THE CHALLENGES OF GIVING NEXT ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M LAUREN DAY.

IN HAWAII HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS IS A WAY OF LIFE.

WE SAW THE AMAZING RESPONSE BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ALL ISLANDS AFTER THE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES ON MAUI.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, THE NEEDS ARE GREAT AND WITH THE ESCALATING COST OF LIVING, THE CHALLENGE TO GIVE IS ALSO GREAT.

WE ALL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE GIVE MAKES A POSITIVE IMPACT AND HELPS THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED.

WHAT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS ARE TRUSTWORTHY AND WHAT KINDS OF SOLICITATIONS SHOULD YOU AVOID?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVESTREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

SUZANNE SKJOLD IS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF ALOHA UNITED WAY.

SHE JOINED AUW IN 2020 AND OVERSEES COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

SHE HAS SPENT HER CAREER IN SOCIAL SERVICES AND NON‑PROFIT MANAGEMENT.

PRIOR TO AUW, SHE WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HAWAII LITERACY.

ANNE LOPEZ WAS APPOINTED HAWAII ATTORNEY GENERAL BY GOVERNOR JOSH GREEN IN 2022.

SHE EARNED HER LAW DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA AND SERVED AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO FORMER HAWAII AG DAVID LOUIE.

MOST RECENTLY, SHE SERVED AS GENERAL COUNSEL FOR HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION.

MICAH KANE IS THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE STATE’S LARGEST AND OLDEST FOUNDATION THAT WORKS TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY AND CREATE A BETTER HAWAII.

PRIOR TO HIS CURRENT ROLE, HE WAS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT HCF LEADING THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AND DAY‑TO‑DAY OPERATIONS.

MICHELLE MORIHARA IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALOHA CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS.

SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FRIENDS OF IOLANI PALACE AND SHE HAS OVER 36 YEARS OF FUNDRAISING EXPERIENCE.

THANK ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING US IN STUDIO.

AS MENTIONED, WANT TO START WITH YOU.

TALKING TO MAUI TOP OF MIND FOR MANY A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AFTER TRAGIC EVENTS IN LAHAINA WANT TO GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

HOW DO THEY KNOW WHERE TO DONATE, WHAT CHARITIES ARE TRUSTWORTHY.

>> I THINK RIGHT NOW, HEIGHTENED ISSUE.

AG OFFICE DONE A GREAT JOB OF GETTING INFORMATION OUT TO COMMUNITY.

I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST, JUST YOUR INSTINCTS, SNIFF TEST.

SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

BUNCH OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE TRADITIONAL YOU WANT TO ASK.

HAVE THEY RECEIVED FUNDING FROM FOUNDATION IN HAWAII.

IF THEY DID, WHAT FOUNDATION DID THEY GET IT FROM?

RECEIVED FUNDING FROM ORGANIZATION LIKE OURS OR WEINBERG FOUNDATION OR CASTLE FOUNDATION, IT'S PRETTY SURE THAT THEY'RE A PRETTY LEGITIMATE ORGANIZATION.

ASK THEM FOR THE NAMES OF BOARDMEMBERS.

ON THEIR GOVERNANCE.

WHO IS ON THERE THAT IS CREDIBLE AND HAS A GOOD REPUTATION.

STANDARD QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT TO ASK THAT ARE COMMON SENSE.

>>Lauren: IF VIEWERS WANT TO DONATE TO THOSE IMPACTED BY LAHAINA FIRES.

TELL US ABOUT COMMUNICATION.

>> ESTABLISHED MAUI STRONG FUND THROUGH RECEIVER MEMORANDUMS AGREEMENTS WITH EACH OF THE FOUR COUNTIES.

EACH COUNTY HAS A STRONG FUND.

WITH THERE'S A DISASTER IN PLACE THAT, FUND GETS ACTIVATED.

MAUI STRONG FUND WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 2019.

ON AUGUST 8, I GAVE THE MAYOR A CALL IN THAT EVENING.

TOLD THEM THAT FUND WOULD BE ACTIVATED.

TOOLKIT ASSIGNED COMMUNICATION TOOLKIT ASSIGNED TO THAT.

AND SO IT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THAT FUND.

IT'S A NO FEE FUND.

SO WE ACCEPT ALL OF THE EXPENSES OF THAT FEE.

A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS TAKE A FEE TO DO THAT.

MADE IT ATTRACTED TO PEOPLE AND CORPORATE PARTNERS TO COME IN.

WEBSITE IS IN PLACE.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.ORG WEBSITE.

CLICK ON MAUI STRONG TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE FUND.

SEEN AMAZING GENEROSITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD MORE THAN 300,000 INDIVIDUALS FROM MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES HAVE MADE CONTRIBUTION.

JUST SEE IMPACT THAT LAHAINA HAS HAD ON PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

>>Lauren: DEFINITELY SEEN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS THE WORD, UNFORTUNATELY, ACROSS THE WORLD.

TRAGIC EVENTS THERE'S ALWAYS BAD PEOPLE COME OUT FROM THE WOODWORK.

DID YOUR OFFICE SEE A LOT OF SCAMMERS AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN LAHAINA?

>> PROBABLY WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF THE FIRE, WE DID PUT OUT A NEWS RELEASE TRYING TO INFORM PEOPLE ON WHAT TO THINK ABOUT AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR PRIOR TO DONATING MONEY TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEMED TO BE POPPING UP EVERY DAY.

AND THROUGH THE NEWS RELEASE, WE TRIED TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT MICAH WAS TALKING ABOUT.

ONE, IS THIS CHARITY REGISTERED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL TAX AND CHARITIES SITE?

REQUIRED BY LAW IF YOU'RE GOING TO SOLICIT DONATIONS.

SOLICIT DONATIONS WE PROVIDED OUR LINK TO FILING A COMPLAINT.

IF AS MICAH SAID, A CHARITY DOESN'T SEEM TO PASS THE SNIFF TEST, YOU THEY MIGHT BE KIND OF SHADY, INVITE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO FILE COMPLAINTS ONLINE.

SEND IT IN SO WE CAN START LOOKING IMMEDIATELY.

RECEIVED A LITTLE OVER 2 DOZEN COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO LOOK INTO.

AND HAVE ACTIVELY LOOKED INTO ALL OF THOSE AND CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>>Lauren: ARE THESE COMPLAINTS ARE YOU FINDING THAT THEY ARE LOCAL PEOPLE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE?

OR ARE THEY SCAMMERS OR BAD PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE FAR AWAY?

>> I WON'T GO INTO ANY DETAILS.

SORT OF VARIETY.

NOT EVERYBODY IS A SCAMMER.

WE HAVE HAD, I THINK, THE WILDFIRES HAVE HEIGHTENED ALL OF OUR HUMANITY, DESIRE TO GIVE TO ONE ANOTHER.

AND HELP.

>> AND SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE STARTED SOLICITING DONATIONS, MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN, WELL, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO REGISTER AN ORGANIZATION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT LAWFULLY.

SO FOR THOSE WE REACH OUT.

WE LET THEM KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS.

AND THEY EITHER THEY EITHER WILL REGISTER IMMEDIATELY OR STOP AND DISSOLVE WHATEVER BUSINESS THAT THEY'RE DOING.

FOR SOME HONEST MISTAKE.

>> YES.

>>Lauren: TELL US ABOUT ALOHA UNITED WAY AND INVOLVEMENT IN HELPING THOSE IMPACTED BY THE LAHAINA FIRES.

>> BEEN AROUND 100 YEARS.

ONE OF FOUR UNITED WAYS IN HAWAII.

WORK WITH UNITED WAY AND MAUI UNITED WAY.

ROLE AS AUW HELP FUNDRAISE.

>> SET UP MAUI RELIEF FUND DAY AFTER THE FIRES.

AND LIKE HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, 100% DONATED GOES DIRECTLY TO MAUI UNITED WAY.

FIRST ABOUT 7 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS WENT DIRECTLY TO FOLKS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY IN MAUI.

GIVEN FAMILIES EACH A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

FELT VERY IMPORTANT GET MONEY TO PEOPLE'S POCKETS IMMEDIATELY.

PHASE 2 GOING TO HELP SOME OF THOSE TRUSTED NONPROFITS THAT HAVE A RECORD IN MAUI THAT WORK LOCALLY.

SO THE FUNDS FROM AUW ALONG WITH ALOHA UNITED WAY AND GIFTS FROM OTHER FOUNDATIONS ARE SUPPORTING THAT RIGHT NOW AND CONTINUING GOOD WORK.

>>Lauren: TELL US LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT VETTING PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY WAS GOING TO THOSE ACTUALLY IMPACTED?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, ALOHA UNITED WAY AND SEVERAL OVER CHARITY GOT EXPERIENCE OVER COVID PROGRAMS STAND UP A A NONPROFIT.

MAUI RESIDENTS.

CHECK BANKING INFORMATION MAKING SURE WE'RE   SENDING MONEY TO A LEGITIMATE PLACE.

>> REALLY KIND OF I GUESS, AS NOTED, SAW WIDE VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS.

SOME VERY CLEARLY EASY TO SAY YES TO.

SEE THIS PERSON LIVES IN LAHAINA AND NEEDS HELP.

OTHERS WERE HONEST MISTAKES AND THEN AS IT'S TIME WENT ON, NOT HONEST MISTAKES.

WE HAD A TEAM OF FOLKS VERY CAREFULLY CALLING PROCESS AND CREATING NEW ONE AS WE WENT ALONG TO CATCH SOME OF THOSE MISTAKES.

DOCTORED ID, FAKE UTILITY BILLS, NOT IF ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AWARE OF IT.

PUT A LIST OF CAPTURED ONES THAT ARE NOT JUST HONEST MISTAKES.

WE HOPE THAT WE'LL ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT TAKING MONEY OUT OF POCKETS OF FAMILIES IN LAHAINA.

HEARTBREAKING FOR US.

ENCOURAGE YOU SEND US THAT LIST.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT FOR THE MOST PART, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURSELVES, WE'RE GIVING TO PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR YEARS.

THESE ARE NOT NEW PLAYERS IN THE SYSTEM.

THESE ARE TRUSTED PLAYERS THAT WE UNDERSTAND GOVERNANCE.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THEIR LEADERSHIP, FINANCIAL CAPACITY.

WE UNDERSTAND THEIR FILINGS.

ALL FILED 990s.

SOMETHING WE LOOK AT EVERY YEAR.

THESE ARE ORGANIZATIONS WE KNOW WE CARE ABOUT THEM, INVESTED IN THEM PRIOR TO THE DISASTER.

AND THOSE ARE ORGANIZATIONS ACTUALLY SOLICITING TO COME IN MANY TIMES.

SO I THINK ALOHA UNITED WAY EXTREMELY TRUSTED, LONG HISTORY OF PRESENCE IN HAWAII.

WE HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE NONPROFIT PARTNER IS NOT VERY OFTEN ARE YOU SEEING NEW PLAYER COME IN THE MARKET.

WHEN YOU DO, YOU DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.

>> FROM SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, SOMEONE NOT IN YOUR FIELD, EVEN HEARING ALOHA UNITED WAY HAS THAT VETTING PROCESS.

LOOKING FOR THE FAKE BILL OR THE FAKE ID.

THAT IS FOR INDIVIDUALS WE DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY OFFER GRANTS.

SO THOSE ARE FAMILIES WHO HIT UNEXPECTED TRAGEDY.

PIVOTED TO HELP INDIVIDUAL FAMILY.

SOLID PROCESSES AND RELATIONSHIPS.

IN THE OPENING QUESTION, HOW YOU PREVENT SCAMMERS, THAT RELATIONSHIP PART FEELS CRITICAL TO ME.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEBODY ON THEIR BOARD, DOES FOUNDATION LIKE HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GIVE THEM FUNDS IN THE PAST.

VETTED AND TRUSTED.

THAT PART WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

RELATIONSHIP AND WHO KNOWS THEM IN THE COMMUNITY, WHO HAVE THEY ALREADY HELPED.

IS REALLY VITAL.

>>Lauren: TELL US ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOLKS WANTING TO GIVE TO THOSE IN NEED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> ASSOCIATE FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS IS GLOBAL ORGANIZATION.

YOU'RE LOOK AT 27,000 MEMBERS AROUND THE WORLD.

AT ABOUT 2700 CHAPTERS.

SO ALOHA CHAPTER COVERS ALL OF HAWAII.

AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISERS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

STAFF MEMBERS CONSULTANTS, AND IT'S EDUCATION ADVOCACY.

TRAINING.

AND WE'RE HERE.

>> I WAS TALKING BEFORE WE STARTED, TEAM MEMBERS FROM HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION REACHED OUT TO US TO ASK ABOUT WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHARITABLE TAX IMPLICATIONS FROM, SAY, INDIVIDUAL DONATING THAT'S A CANADIN RESIDENT.

>> WE REACHED FOUND THE ANSWER.

PIVOT AND ADJUSTED.

THERE TO SUPPORT A RESOURCE.

TALKING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISERS WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN LAHAINA, BECAME A, WELL, WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE FOR MAUI RELIEF, HOW DO WE DO OUR JOB IF WE'RE NOT AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS IN MAUI?

THAT WORKS WITH LAHAINA?

HOW DO WE KEEP GOING AND ADVOCATING FOR OUR MISSION?

SO WE'VE HAD VERY MANY CONVERSATIONS.

WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A CONFERENCE ANNUAL NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY CONFERENCE AND HAD A WHOLE TRACK ON MAUI, MAUI RELIEF, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON, HOW DO WE NAVIGATE.

I MEAN, SAME THING WITH THE PANDEMIC.

SO THAT ABOUT SUMS IT UP WHAT AFP IS.

AND HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII.

>>Lauren: LET ANYONE CHIME IN ON THIS.

DO YOU THINK SOCIAL MEDIA HAS HAD NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE IMPACT WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING?

I WANT TO SAY BOTH.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT PROBABLY ONLY EXACERBATES PEOPLE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

>> I'LL START.

I THINK CUTS BOTH WAYS.

AS YOU'RE STATING.

CAN BE A VERY VALUABLE TOOL TO GET THE WORD OUT TO SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHICS AND TRYING TO EXERCISE AND UNDERSTAND AS MUCH OF THAT AS WE POSSIBLY K I THINK THE AUTHENTICITY OF PERSON‑TO‑PERSON CONVERSATION IS ULTIMATELY THE BEST WAY THAT PHILANTHROPY WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK WITH ALL OF THE, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AROUND AI AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE THIS CYCLE WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOING TO COME BACK TO, DO I TRUST PERSON?

DO I TRUST THIS ORGANIZATION?

I WANT TO SEE, FEEL AND TOUCH THAT THEY EXIST.

AND WE GOT WEATHER THAT STORM.

WE GOT WEATHER THAT JOURNEY.

AND THERE'S SOME CHALLENGES TO THAT.

A LOT OF MISREPRESENTATION OUT THERE.

THAT IS HARD TO BATTLE.

NO DIFFERENT THAN IN THE NEWS ARENA.

WE BATTLE THAT OURSELVES.

THERE'S CELEBRITY TYPE WORK OUT THERE.

THAT CAN BE VERY, VERY POSITIVE AND CAN BE CHALLENGING AT THE SAME TIME.

WHAT SOME OF YOU FOLKS THINK.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU.

THERE'S THE GOOD AND BAD.

FROM ENFORCEMENT SIDE, WE CERTAINLY GET GREAT EVIDENCE JUST RIGHT OFF THE BAT WHEN SOMEBODY VIDEOTAPING SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY FRAUDULENT.

SO WE DO HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIND PEOPLE AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.

SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, SOCIAL MEDIA IS HELPFUL FROM THE REGULATOR PERSPECTIVE.

AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK PEOPLE, WATCH A VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.

WE KEEP GOING TO LAHAINA.

BUT THAT IS THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW.

AND SO THEY WANT TO GIVE.

WATCHING THE VIDEO.

THEY WANT TO GIVE.

AND IT ALL LOOKS VERY REAL AND ALL LOOKS ABOVE BOARD.

AND SO THAT SORT OF DARKER SIDE OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S ALSO WAY TO DRAW UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE IN.

AND I THINK WHAT'S BEEN SAID SEVERAL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ALREADY ARE WATTS REALLY IMPORTANT.

DO YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATION?

IF IT'S AN ORGANIZATION WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW THE PEOPLE, ARE YOU ABLE TO FIND THEIR NAME ON OUR WEBSITE.

IF THEY TELL YOU THAT YOUR CHARITABLE DONATION GOING TO BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

GO TO THE IRS WEBSITE AND FROM THERE, LOOK AT WHAT THEIR ACTUAL FINANCIALS LOOK LIKE.

OTHER WEBSITES CHARITY NAVIGATOR FIND OUT HOW MUCH OF YOUR DONATION GOES TO THE OVERHEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION VERSUS GOES DIRECTLY TO THE PURPOSE THAT YOU'RE DONATING FOR AND AUW AND HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAVE BOTH SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO FEE DONATIONS OR THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT WAY, BUT THE NO FEE MEANS THEIR ORGANIZATION ISN'T TAKING A CUT OF WHAT YOUR DONATION IS TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR ORGANIZATION.

SO 100% OF YOUR MONEY IS GOING WHERE YOU WANT IT TO GO.

I THINK THAT'S A REAL IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.

>> I THINK ALSO AS IT RELATES TO SOCIAL MEDIA, BECAUSE THE FOOTPRINT OF THIS DISASTER IS CONTAINED, WHAT YOU SAW WAS A BIG SPIKE IN SOCIAL MEDIA TRACTION BY PEOPLE MAYBE WHO DIDN'T HAVE, WEREN'T WELL INTEND.

MODERATED A LOT BECAUSE ALL OF US HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

OVER HUNDRED ORGANIZATIONS FUNDED GIVING US INTEL THAT WE CAN RELAY AND MITIGATE.

STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THAT TEMPERED A LITTLE BIT.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ADVANTAGE WE HAVE IN THIS CASE.

SEEN A LITTLE LESS OF IT.

BAD STUFF AT LEAST.

IT'S GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET WORD OUT GOOD STUFF.

SO MUCH AMAZING WORK THAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

AND WITHOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, WE WOULDN'T ABLE TO TELL A LARGE PART OF OUR POPULATION THAT.

>>Lauren: COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE ENFORCEMENT?

EARLIER YOU MENTIONED YOUR OFFICE LOOKS INTO THESE COMPLAINTS.

THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PERSON TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE IS NOT HERE IN THE STATE OR MAYBE NOT EVEN IN THE COUNTRY?

>> WITH THE ENFORCEMENT, ONCE WE START INVESTIGATION, WE HAVE INVESTIGATORS WHO WILL LOOK INTO THE ORGANIZATION, AND IT MAY START AS SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS WRITING A LETTER, SAYING WE SEE YOUR SOLICITING DONATION.

YOU'RE NOT A REGISTERED CHARITY.

YOU NEED TO DO THESE THREE THINGS.

SOMETIME IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS.

AND THEN GRADUALLY WE CAN BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE WHAT ACTIONS ARE TAKEN.

DEMAND THEY PROVIDE CERTAIN DOCUMENTS.

AUDIT THEIR FINANCIALS.

WE CAN SUBPOENA DOCUMENTS AND BANK RECORDS IF WE NEED TO.

AS WE PROCEED, IF THERE'S EITHER, IF THERE'S NO THERE, THERE, THEN WE STOP, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING, WE HAVE TWO ROUTES.

COULD TAKE ADMINISTRATIVE ROUTE.

OR A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION ROUTE.

IF IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE, TYPICALLY, AS AN ORGANIZATION, THAT ISN'T PURPOSELY TRYING TO BREAK THE LAW, IT'S JUST SOMETIMES TAX LAWS AND LAWS CAN BE DIFFICULT.

SO FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE, WE CAN LEVY FINES AND OTHER FINANCIAL PENALTIES TO TRY AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET IN LINE.

AND IF IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT FUNDS ARE BEING TAKEN FROM THE CHARITY, TO SOME OTHER UNKNOWN PLACE, THEN WE WOULD REFER THAT TO OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

>>Lauren: GOT IT.

SEEN A COUPLE OF REPORTS THAT SAY CHARITABLE GIVING.

IS THAT ALL TIME LOW OR 30 YEAR LOW PAST YEAR.

IS THAT THE CASE HERE IN HAWAII?

MAYBE WHY DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE FOR AMERICANS?

>> I THINK THAT HAWAII LIKE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, HAS GONE THROUGH A FOUR VERY DIFFICULT YEARLY FINANCIALLY.

FACED INFLATION.

FAMILIES NOT IN A POSITION TO GIVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SEEN THE SAME, PEOPLE DO HAVE THE MEANS ARE STEPPING UP AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING ARE STILL FINDING WAY TO CONTRIBUTE.

SO I DON'T HAVE THE STATISTICS WHETHER WE ARE HIGHER OR LOWER.

PERHAPS SOMEONE ELSE DOES.

WHAT I'VE SEEN IS WE'VE GOTTEN GIFTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL.

GOTTEN FIVE DOLLARS AND HANDWRITTEN NOTE ABOUT SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN IN LAHAINA, ALL CAN I GIVE RIGHT NOW.

>> I WANT IT TO GO SOMEONE NEEDS IT MORE THAN I DO.

UP TO SIX FIGURES.

MEANS TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT.

FLOORED GENEROSITY CARDS COME IN.

SEEING THAT PEOPLE DO FEEL CALLED TO HELP.

AND WEIGHING THAT AGAINST WHAT WE CAN SEE HUGE NEEDS FOR LAHAINA, NOT JUST THIS YEAR, THROUGH MANY YEARS.

FOR ENTIRE STATE BECAUSE ALL OF THE OTHER NEEDS WE'RE FACING ARE STILL THERE AND I THINK EVERYONE FACING THAT CHALLENGE OF EXACTLY WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE THAT MONEY CAN GO AND WHO CAN BE TRUSTED TO DO GREAT WORK WITH IT.

HOW DO YOU VET AGENCIES THAT WILL TAKE YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS.

>>Lauren: YOU WORK WITH SO MANY PEOPLE.

>> YES.

>>Lauren: PEOPLE STILL GIVING THIS YEAR?

>> EVERYONE.

HAWAII, I HAVE PLACE IN MY HEART STILL GO THROUGH THIS OVER THE NUMEROUS DECADES, WE ARE THE MOST GENEROUS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BIG GIFTS OR, IT'S TIME, TALENT.

>> BONDING TOGETHER, IT'S GATHERING TOGETHER AND AROUND THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IRREGARDLESS OF PANDEMIC, A FIRE, YOU SEE IT EVERY DAY HERE.

AND YES, GIVING STUDY TRENDS, GIVING IS DOWN AND WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES.

MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF COST OF LIVING.

ACROSS THE NATION.

MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS HAVEN'T BEEN DOING AS WELL.

OR OTHER NEEDS HAVE COME TO PLAY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT I MEAN, WE'VE GOT QUITE THE AGING SOCIETY THOSE THAT ARE GIVING, THEY'RE GIVING WHAT THEY CAN.

DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES.

I MEAN, WE LOOK AT HAWAII TOO.

LARGEST PRIVATE SCHOOL, EDUCATION, A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MONEY GOES TO THAT.

MORTGAGES.

ET CETERA.

SO YOU KNOW, I WOULD TAKE THAT WITH IN TERMS OF GIVING STUDY, THAT NUMBERS, PROBABLY ACCURATE.

WON'T DENY THAT.

BUT IT'S THE SPIRIT.

IT'S THE SPIRIT HERE THAT PEOPLE WILL COME TOGETHER.

YOU ASK AND IT GOES BACK TO WHAT MICAH SAID.

ABOUT TRUST.

WE'VE GOT TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPS.

THAT'S THE SWEET SPOT OR SECRET SAUCE HERE IN HAWAII.

IT IS THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL GET US FROM ONE NEED TO THE NEXT.

>>Lauren: WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY CHALLENGE WHEN IT COMES TO DONATIONS.

>> EVERYTHING THAT YOU MENTIONED, COST OF LIVING HERE, MORTGAGES, GROCERIES EVERYTHING EXPENSIVE AND PEOPLE HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY CAN MAKE THE DONATION OR NOT.

I DO WANT TO GET TO SOME OF OUR VIEWER QUESTIONS HERE.

>> I BELIEVE THIS ONE MICAH MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO, CHELSEA IN MAKAKILO ASKING, COMMENT FIRST, SHE SAYS I'VE SEEN SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENT BUSINESS PEOPLE WOULD SAY THEY ARE VICTIMS OF MAUI FIRES.

BUT HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THE DONATIONS FROM THE CHARITIES ON THE PANEL.

HOW CAN YOU GUYS SHOW WHERE THE DONATIONS ARE GOING AND IS THERE A WAY TO SHOW THE DIRECT IMPACT?

>> ALL OF OUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE UP ON ON THE WEBSITE.

AWARDED OVER 166 GRANTS TOTALING $35 MILLION.

TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE FUNDING IS GOING TOWARDS AND WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE ON WEBSITE.

ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SERVICES CAN GO ON OUR SITE AND LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE RECEIVING FUNDING.

AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

>>Lauren: PAUL FROM HONOLULU, HAS A COMMENT.

SAYING THE RECENT FIRES ON MAUI AFFECTED HOW WE GIVE TO OTHERS AND WHAT WE SEE AS SCAMS.

MICHELLE, YOU'RE IN THE INDUSTRY.

YOU HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CHARITY BUSINESS.

AND FUND RAISING WORLD.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN LAHAINA IS IMPACTING HOW PEOPLE GIVE AND WHAT PEOPLE SEE AS FAR AS SCAMS GO.

>> DEFINITELY.

IN TERMS OF SCAMS, I'M NOT SURE I WOULD DEFER TO ANN HERE.

BUT IT'S DEFINITELY.

WE SAW SUCH A COLLECTIVE UPSURGE.

I KEPT WHOLE SLEW OF EMAILS AN TEXTS AND I WAS GOING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE OF CHECKING MY SOCIAL MEDIA AND I HAD TO FOR MYSELF, REMIND MYSELF TO STEP BACK AND AS ONE OF THE LEADERS FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS, OKAY, AGAIN, BACK TO WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE OF ALOHA CHAPTER.

HOW CAN WE SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND IF ANYONE COMES TO US ABOUT WHERE TO GIVE, HOW TO DIRECT THEM MOST APPROPRIATELY.

PERSONALLY, MICAH, YOUR MAUI STRONG.

SEAMLESS.

I MADE A DONATION.

GOT A RESPONSE.

AUTOMATICALLY.

EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS, MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME, BUT WAS WITHIN 24 HOURS ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

AND JUST VERY CLEAR ON TO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE, HERE'S WHERE YOU GO.

GET UPDATES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> SO FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISERS, IT'S BEEN AGAIN, MORE OF THE CONFIRMATIONS AROUND HOW DO WE NAVIGATE WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONS AT THIS TIME WITHOUT SOMETIMES SLIGHTING WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON ON MAUI.

STILL SERVING THESE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE VERY MUCH NEEDED.

>>Lauren: I THINK THAT'S A PERFECT SEGUE TO THIS CALLER'S QUESTION.

ASKING, EXACT SAME THING.

PERSON SAYING HOLIDAYS ARE IMPORTANT FUNDRAISING TIME FOR MANY NONPROFITS.

>> HAS THE SITUATION IN LAHAINA AND FOCUS OF FUNDS THERE AFFECTED THE ABILITY FOR NONPROFITS ADDRESSING OTHER NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY TO DRAW THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO DO THEIR WORK?

SUZANNE, DO YOU WANT TO START WITH THIS ONE?

>> SURE.

EACH YEAR, ALOHA UNITED WAY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MOST KNOWN FOR WORKPLACE GIVING CAMPAIGNS.

>> WE WORK WITH HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE.

PARTICULARLY ON OAHU.

WE OUR CAMPAIGN DOESN'T END TILL THE END OF THE YEAR.

CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE PIECE.

TRACKING WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, THERE'S BEEN A DRAMATIC SHIFT FROM DONATIONS THAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE GOING AGGREGATE AMOUNTS TO NONPROFITS THAT WEREN'T GOING TO OAHU, TO PROGRAMS SUPPORTING MAUI.

AND CLEARLY, NEED THERE DEMANDS THAT.

LOOK AT THE DEVASTATION AND REALIZE THESE FAMILIES WILL NEED YEARS OF HELP AND SUPPORT.

ESPECIALLY IMMEDIATE PIECE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE BEEN AFFECTED BY EVEN OUR OWN STAFF DONATE IN THAT SAME PATH.

AND YET, AS WE LOOK AROUND MONTHS OVER MONTHS NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, TIME THAT MOST NONPROFITS ARE ABLE TO RAISE FUNDS THEY NEED TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK.

SO WE DO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND CONCERNS, WILL OUR FOOD BANK ON THIS ISLAND, HUMANE SOCIETY ON THIS ISLAND HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO OFFER SERVICES.

SO IT'S A CONVERSATION DISCUSSION.

EARLY INDICATIONS ARE THAT FOLKS HAVE BASED ON THIS HUGE NEED, THEY'VE SEEN SHIFTED DOLLARS.

NONPROFIT SECTOR WILL HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION IMPACT AGENCIES NOT ON MAUI, HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO HELP.

OWN PERSONAL SELF AND HOLIDAY GIVE, I'M GOING TO DO A SPLIT BECAUSE I CAN'T, WHAT'S HAPPENED ON MAUI, NOT GIVE DURING HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> WORK WITH AMAZING NONPROFITS ON OAHU WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE STILL HERE FOR US.

>>Lauren: DID YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT?

>> SEEN SOME FALLOFF PRIMARY ARTS ARENA.

AREAS PEOPLE THINK OF IT MORE OF DISCRETIONARY SPEND OR NEED VERSUS ESSENTIAL NEED.

THAT CONCERNS US A LOT.

GETTING SOME MOMENTUM LEADING OUT OF COVID.

GETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO RHYTHM OF SUPPORTING THE ARTS.

AREA THAT HAS BEEN FAIRLY DEPRESSED FROM A GIVING STANDPOINT.

SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU STARTED TO SEE HAWAII SYMPHONY COME BACK.

OPERATING IN A GREAT LEADERSHIP THERE.

HAWAI'I THEATRE DOING SOME GREAT WORK OF BISHOP MUSEUM.

ALL OF THESE TEND TO GET LESS ATTENTION DURING TIMES LIKE THIS.

SAW IT WITH THE KAUAI FLOODS.

WITH THE ERUPTION ON THE HAWAII ISLAND.

SAW IT DURING COVID.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT AGAIN NOW.

SO FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE, WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT ARTS, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE.

TRYING TO DIRECT SOME OF THOSE NONPROFITS TOWARDS DOING WORK INTO MAUI.

RIGHT NOW.

TO KEEP THEM UP.

WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.

IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>>Lauren: SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT NEEDS AS WELL.

NEED TO BE MET.

IN ADDITION TO FOLKS IMPACTED IN LAHAINA.

QUESTION FROM ONE OF OUR VIEWERS.

>> FOR OUR HAWAII ATTORNEY GENERAL.

GIVEN SCENARIO, WHAT THE PERSON IS SAYING, I DO FUNDRAISING WITHIN OUR COMPANY AND EMPLOYEES ARE ASKING IF THEY CAN GET A DEDUCTION FOR DONATING AN ITEM.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU'RE DIRECTING FUNDS TO A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION?

>> BEING ABLE TO TAX DEDUCTION FOR DONATION REQUIRES THAT THE ORGANIZATION BE A 501C3 WITH THE IRS.

IF THEY ARE NOT, 501C3, LIKELY THAT YOUR DONATION WILL NOT BEING TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

YOU HAVE A GRAPHIC TO GIVE PEOPLE ADDRESS TO GO FIND OUT IF THE CHARITY IS 501C3.

>>Lauren: WE HAVE THAT UP ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

FOR ANY OF OUR VIEWERS WOULD WANT TO SEARCH, IRS TAX EXEMPT SEARCH.

AND THEN TYPE IN THAT FULL URL YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

I KNOW NO ONE ON OUR PANEL IS GOFUNDME REPRESENTATIVE.

BUT GAIL FROM MAKIKI DOES HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IT.

SHE'S ASKING HOW TRUSTWORTHY WITH THE GOFUNDME PAGES THAT I SEE?

HOW MUCH DOES THE PLATFORM CHARGE IN FEES THEY TAKE?

HOW MUCH GOES TO THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY NEEDS THE MONEY?

ANYONE HERE FIRST ON GOFUNDME WHO COULD SPEAK TO THAT.

>> CAN'T ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

I CAN TELL YOU WE WORKED WITH GOFUNDME EARLY ON BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF SITES THAT HAD SPRUNG UP OVERNIGHT.

AND WE FOUND THEM TO BE VERY RESPONSIVE TO US AND THE QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE ASKING AND EDUCATING US ABOUT WHAT THEIR PROCESS IS.

SO I WAS IMPRESSED WITH WAY THEY ORGANIZED THE PLATFORM.

BUT I'M AFRAID I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW THE DETAILS.

I DON'T KNOW IF MICHELLE HAS A BETTER IDEA.

>> NOT NECESSARILY GOFUNDME.

A LOT OF CORPORATIONS DO ONLINE DONATION GIVING PLATFORMS.

AND THOSE WHEN CHARITIES RECEIVE NOTIFICATION, PASS THROUGH DOLLARS THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTION OR MATCHING GIFTS FROM THOSE COMPANIES REPORTS THEMSELVES SHOW ACTUAL AMOUNT OF DONATION, IF THERE IS A MATCH AND IF THERE IS FEES INCURRED.

SO FOR GOFUNDME, I WOULD RECOMMEND GOING TO THEIR WEBSITE AND DIGGING AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND THEY SHOULD BE VERY TRANSPARENT ENOUGH TO STATE IF THERE ARE ANY FEES.

>>Lauren: I'M ASSUMING YOU WOULD RECOMMEND?

>> I WOULD RECOMMEND WITH ANY.

IF YOU WANT TO DO A DEEPER DIVE, YOU'RE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

ESSENTIALLY.

YES, WE LET OUR USUAL ‑‑ I'M VERY EMOTION BASED.

>> WHAT'S WHY I STOPPED OFF LOOKING AT A BUNCH OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS REGARDING FIRES AND EVERYTHING.

YEAH, SNIFF TEST.

GUT TEST.

BE IN A DRIVER'S SEAT.

DO YOUR RESEARCH.

AND EVERYTHING CHECKS OFF.

>> THEN YOU WANT TO, I MEAN, EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION.

CALL UP THE NONPROFIT.

GO DOWN AND VISIT.

SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO WITNESS OR PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THEIR PROGRAMS.

GET A FEEL.

>>Lauren: LET'S SAY I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT ARE FUND RAISING FOR FAMILY MEMBER, FRIEND, WHO WAS IMPACTED.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY USE GOFUNDME, MIGHT DO IT THEIR OWN WAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR PEOPLE WOULD WANT WANT TO DO DIRECTLY DONATE TO FAMILIES?

SHOULD THEY AVOID THAT AT THAT VOID BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TO KNOW THEY'RE TRUSTWORTHY.

>> REPEAT.

YOU CANNOT SOLICIT DONATIONS IN HAWAII UNLESS YOU'RE REGISTERED CHARITY ON MY WEBSITE OR ON OUR DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES MAY BE SEEKING DONATIONS WHAT SUZANNE SAID EARLIER, REALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED THE MONEY BUT AS TIME HAS GONE ON, THEY'VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE PROVIDING FRAUDULENT INFORMATION TO TRY TO SEEK DONATIONS.

I'M NOT GOING TO ADVISE WHO ANYBODY SHOULD GIVE DONATIONS TO, BUT I THINK THAT REPUTABLE CHARITIES WE KNOW THE NAMES OF ALL OF THEM, AMERICAN RED CROSS VERY ACTIVE IN LAHAINA AS WELL.

BUT GO THROUGH THAT DUE DILIGENCE.

I THINK CHARITY NAVIGATOR IS A GREAT WAY TO GO.

BECAUSE IT REALLY KIND OF COMPARES CHARITIES TO IT EACH OTHER.

SO YOU CAN REALLY GET A SENSE ABOUT HOW WELL AN ORGANIZATION OPERATES.

WHICH WILL GIVE YOU IDEA WITH SOME OF WHAT MICAH WAS SAYING ABOUT WHAT IS THEIR GOVERNANCE LIKE?

HOW ARE THE REAL OPERATIONS?

YOU CAN SEE IT AND COMPARE.

>>Lauren: YOUR WHAT YOU JUST SAID, MADE ME THINK ABOUT MY OWN SOCIAL MEDIA FEED AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN LAHAINA.

I DID SEE A BUNCH OF ACCOUNTS FAMILIES OR ACCOUNT THAT WAS I THINK PROMOTING FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO GO DIRECTLY TO THEIR VENMO IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT.

IS THAT NOT LEGAL?

>> I'M NOT GOING ADDRESS LEGALITY.

I WOULD SAY DO NOT DONATE THROUGH VENMO TO SOMEBODY YOU DON'T KNOW.

IF YOU SEE IT ONLINE, AND YOU CAN'T RESEARCH THEM, YOU CAN'T FIND ORGANIZATIONS' NAME ON THE AG'S WEBSITE, OR IN THE IRS OR CHARITY NAVIGATOR, THEN I WOULD NOT USE PAYPAL OR VENMO OR ANY OF THOSE AND EVERY ORGANIZATIONS I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN THAT WANT YOU TO BUY GIFT CARDS.

OR VISA CARDS.

AND THOSE ARE ALL THE SAME THING.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING TO GO.

>>Lauren: SUZANNE THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

IF WE SEND IN OUR DONATION TO THE ORGANIZATION, ALOHA UNITED WAY HOW DO WE KNOW THE FUND IS GOING TO GO DIRECTLY TO A CAUSE LIKE THE MAUI FIRES?

WHAT ASSURANCE CAN WE GET?

>> SPEAKING FOR LAHAINA WAY, BEEN AROUND FOR HUNDRED YEARS.

BOUND BY LAW TO GIVE PER DONOR WISHES.

WE'RE HAPPY TO SEND ACCOUNTING OF SOMEONE'S SPECIFIC DONATION.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

100% OF OUR EVERY DOLLAR EVERY RAISE WE AGGREGATED TO MAUI WAY, SENT OUT TO, SUPPOSING TO INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES PROCESSING TO INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES WORKING WITH MAUI TO SEE THAT ACTUALLY SAW FAMILIES INFORMATION COME IN.

SAW THEM GET APPROVED, SAW THEM PUT INTO THE QUEUE AND RECEIVED A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

FORMAT THEY WERE CHOOSING.

WE OBVIOUSLY AREN'T GOING TO PUBLISH LIST OF INDIVIDUALS WE'VE GIVEN MONEY TO.

VIOLATION OF THEIR PRIVACY.

100% OF DOLLARS WENT FOR THAT SPECIFIC TIED.

TIED BY THAT.

MAUI UNITED WAY TIED BY LAW.

HOW WE OPERATE.

EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENSURE DONOR WISHES, WE SAID WE WISH GO TO A SPECIFIC NONPROFIT AND DESIGNATION WE DO THAT.

FUNDED AUW SUPPORT, 100% MONEY GOES INTO THAT SIMPLY HOW WE OPERATE.

>>Lauren: I THINK THIS QUESTION MAYBE ALL YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHIME IN.

MALIA NANAKULI TORN ABOUT WHAT TO DO.

DON'T HAVE MUCH.

DONATE EVERY YEAR TO ONE OF THE FUNDS HELP NEEDY PEOPLE AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

NEEDS ON MAUI ARE SO GREAT.

BUT OTHERS NEED HELP TOO.

HOW DO I DECIDE?

>> WHAT WE JUST TALKING ABOUT WITH THE ARTS.

>> FOLLOW YOUR HEART.

>> GO WITH WHAT MICHELLE IS SAYING, WHAT IS GOING TO GIVE YOU GOOD JUJU FEEL GOOD ABOUT RESOURCES.

SO MUCH OF OUR WEALTH IS TIED UP IN REAL ESTATE.

MOST PEOPLE GIVING HAPPENS AFTER THEY PASS AWAY.

UNFORTUNATE.

TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVING ANNUAL BASIS, STICK WITH TRUSTED ANNUAL PARTNERS.

AND IF YOU WANT TO SPLIT IT UP AND FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT COMING INTO MAUI, I WOULD ENCOURAGE TO SUPPORT ANY ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE.

RED CROSS VERY BEEN OUTSTANDING PARTNER.

OUT THERE.

MAUI UNITED WAY.

OUTSTANDING.

MAUI ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

OUTSTANDING.

COUNCIL FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN ADVANCEMENT.

SO MANY REALLY GOOD ORGANIZATIONS DOING REALLY GOOD WORK ON THE GROUND ON MAUI.

IF THEY WANT TO CALL ANY ONE OF US I'M SURE YOU HAVE TO STAY OUT OF THAT, ANN, RIGHT?

WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE REFERRAL THEY WANT TO MAKE A DIRECTION CONTRIBUTION.

AGNOSTIC WHETHER THE MONEY SHOULD COME THROUGH US OUR OTHER ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MAKE SURE WE'RE VETTING THE BAD PLAYERS.

>>Lauren: FOR FOLKS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO DONATE FINANCIALLY, ARE THERE ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT COULD REALLY USE THE VOLUNTEER HELP?

MAYBE MORE PHYSICAL LABOR?

>> DEFINITELY.

I KNOW FOOD BANK, A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

HUMANE SOCIETY, WHAT'S HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF MAUI, LANAI CAT SANCTUARY, THEY NEED HELP.

HUMANE SOCIETY, HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY, SUPPORT, HAWAII FOOD BANK IN SUPPORT.

FUNNELING THEIR RESOURCES TO THE MAUI.

>> AND AGAIN, IF WHAT NONPROFIT DOES RESONATES WITH YOU, IGNITES YOUR PASSION, CHECK THEM OUT.

AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT, YOU MAY ONLY HAVE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT YOU CAN GIVE.

I MEAN, GIVE IT WHERE YOU WOULD GIVE IT AND THEN FIND OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT.

>>Lauren: AND GOING BACK TO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE AFTER LAHAINA.

IT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OTHER SCAMS OUT THERE.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCAMS OR SCENARIOS IN WHICH PEOPLE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON THAT OUR VIEWERS NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR?

>> I THINK BIGGEST AND MOST OBVIOUS ONES WHAT PEOPLE SEE ONLINE, THROUGH EMAIL OR ON FACEBOOK.

AND I PROBABLY ALL OF US HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE.

BUT IF SOMEBODY ON YOUR EMAIL, OR ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, OR YOUR CREDIT CARD, OR YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS, THEN JUST STOP.

DON'T DO ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST AS THOUGH IF I DIDN'T KNOW YOU AND YOU WALKED UP TO ME ON THE STREET AND STARTED ASKING ME FOR MY BANK RECORDS, OR MY BANK ACCOUNT, I WOULD NOT DO THAT.

SO PEOPLE HAVE TO BE VERY SUSPICIOUS.

EMAILS ARE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT'S VERY EASY FOR ORGANIZATION TO TRY AND MAKE THEIR SCAM ORGANIZATION LOOK EXACTLY LIKE ANOTHER REPUTABLE ONE.

EXAMPLE FROM OUR DEPARTMENT THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY, WAS GOT EMAIL FROM MICRA SOFT.

NOT MICROSOFT.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT UNLESS YOU READ THE RETURN EMAIL ADDRESS.

THIS WAS AN EMAIL.

I GOT THAT I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE IT.

IT WAS ASKING ME TO CLICK ON A LINK.

AND I'VE GOTTEN USED TO NOW LOOKING AT RETURN ADDRESSES.

BUT I THINK PROBABLY JUST THE STANDARD WAY TO DEAL WITH THINGS IS IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THE SENDER IS, JUST DELETE IT.

DON'T OPEN IT.

DON'T LOOK AT IT.

DON'T CLICK ON IT.

DELETE IT.

>>Lauren: I WOULD ADD TO THAT, I'VE ALSO SEEN WHERE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS EMAIL ADDRESSES.

SAME THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

SO PERSON MAY GET EMAIL FROM ME, THINK IT'S ME.

BUT IT'S NOT.

SO AGAIN, TO ANN'S POINT, LOOK AT WOULD EMAIL ADDRESS THAT SENDER.

BECAUSE WITH YOU OPEN THAT UP, YOU'LL KNOW THAT'S NOT ME.

>>Lauren: YOU SAID EARLIER WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT COMES TO CHOOSING YOUR CHARITY OF CHOICE THAT YOU WANT TO DONATE TO.

ALSO IN CASE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE DRIVER'S SEAT AS FAR AS PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM THOSE SCAMMERS THAT ARE SENDING OUT LINKS AND ALL OF THAT.

AND TELEPHONE CALLS AN TEXT MESSAGES.

I LANDED IN MAUI AND I PROBABLY GOT, I DON'T KNOW, 5 TEXT MESSAGES WITHIN THE FIRST THREE HOURS OF BEING THERE.

BECAUSE MY PHONE WAS NOW IN MAUI.

AND SO I WAS GETTING ALL KINDS OF TEXT MESSAGES.

>> SO ALL OF THIS COMES FROM EVERY DIRECTION.

GO BACK TO IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THE PERSON IS DON'T RECOGNIZED THE NUMBER, DON'T DO ANYTHING.

>> IF YOU LOOK INTO LIKE THE SOCIAL MEDIA CATEGORY, TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, FACEBOOK CATEGORY THOSE ARE OUR BABY‑BOOMERS.

VERY COMFORTABLE ON FACEBOOK.

FRAUD IS GOING TO HAPPEN, HAPPEN IN THAT SPACE.

YOUNG PERSON VERY SAVVY, YOU'RE A FAMILY, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU TAP INTO THAT KNOWLEDGE TO HELP OUR KUPUNA NOT GET COERCED IN FACEBOOK.

OUR GENERATION IS FACEBOOK.

YOUNGER IS TICK‑TOCK CLASSIFICATION AND STRATEGIES HAPPENING IN THAT STRATOSPHERE.

>> WE SHOULD BE AWARE.

ELDER USING FACEBOOK TO COMMUNICATE WITH OHANA THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY OR WORLD HAVE BEEN THERE, YOU WANT TO BE EDUCATING THEM, THIS IS HAPPENING.

TEND TO BE A VULNERABLE POPULATION IN THIS SPACE.

SOMETHING WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO.

>>Lauren: WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CHALLENGES OF GIVING.

>> TALKED ABOUT FOLKS TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

MICHELLE BROUGHT UP GOOD POINTS ABOUT COST OF LIVING.

COST OF HAWAII MAKES IT HARDER.

FOR SUZANNE AND FOR MIKE, HAS BEEN CHALLENGING TO KEEP THE DONATIONS FLOWING ESPECIALLY AS WE ENTER HOLIDAY SEASON AND HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THAT AS AN ORGANIZATION?

>> I WOULD SAY EVERY YEAR, THERE ARE CHALLENGES.

HAWAII HAS BEEN EXPENSIVE FOR A LONG TIME AND THERE'S BEEN PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

DESPITE GENEROUS HEART.

HARD TO GIVE.

THAT SAID, EACH YEAR, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT WOULD OUR DONORS ARE AND WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT.

>> MAKING SURE WHAT WE'RE OFFERING WILL HELP THEM MEET THAT GOAL.

WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE CONNECTING THEIR DOLLARS TO AGENCY THAT IS TRUSTED.

>> ALSO HAVING KIND OF IMPACT THEY WANT TO SEE FOR HAWAII.

THIS YEAR REALLY NO DIFFERENT.

KNOW PEOPLE CARE DEEPLY WHAT'S HAPPENING ON MAUI.

WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AGENCY THEY HAVE LOVED AND SUPPORTED FOR YEARS STILL NEED THEIR HELP AND SO WE'RE OUT THERE HELPING THEM.

WHETHER IT'S TALKING ABOUT MAYBE DOING MONTHLY PAYMENTS SO YOU'RE DOING A SMALL AMOUNT EACH MONTH MAYBE EASIER ON THE POCKETBOOK, AS OPPOSED TO ONE CHECK EACH YEAR.

MORE TRADITIONAL WAY TO GIVE.

NEEDS ARE LONGTERM.

STRATEGY SMALLER AMOUNT OVER PERIOD OF TIME, ONE STRATEGY.

>> ALSO THINGS LIKE WORKPLACE MATCHES WONDERFUL WAY TO DOUBLE OR TRIPLE YOUR GIFT.

CHECK IN WITH EMPLOYER IF THEY'LL MATCH A GIFT THAT YOU'RE MAKING.

HOLDING SMALL EVENT WITH YOUR STAFF AT WORK TO RAISE MONEY WHETHER IT'S BAKE SALE, RECENTLY LEARNED PENNY WARS, INCREDIBLY FUN.

GOING TO RAISE ABOUT COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO GO INTO OUR CAMPAIGN AND GO SOME OF THE NONPROFITS THAT WE LOVE TOO.

THERE IS A LOT OF WAYS TO HELP.

AS MICHELLE SAYS, MANY OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED ANY VOLUNTEERS.

SOME CASES THEY HAVE SUPPLIES THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE HOLIDAY WISH LISTS THAT ARE AUW WEBSITE FROM 35 PARTNERS VERY SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR CLIENTS DURING HOLIDAY SEASON.

MANY, MANY WAYS TO GIVE.

>> TRY TO OFFER ALL OF THOSE TO DONORS TO FIND A WAY TO CONTRIBUTE WAY THAT MATTERS TO THEM.

BRING IN RESOURCES PARTNER AGENCIES NEED TO KEEP GOING FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

ALL KNOW THE VALUE OF THEIR SERVICES AND MAKING SURE THAT MONEY IS THERE FOR THEM IS WHAT WE DO.

>>Lauren: WHAT ABOUT FOR HCS?

HAS IT BEEN A CHALLENGE TO KEEP THOSE DONATIONS FLOWING?

HAS IT BEEN PRETTY STEADY.

>> WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MAUI CREATED A DISRUPTER IN THE GIVING SYSTEM.

PEOPLE REALIZE WHAT OCCURRED THERE WAS UNPRECEDENTED.

IMPACTED A COMMUNITY LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

GOING TO BE EXTREMELY LONG JOURNEY FOR THESE PEOPLE.

THE SYSTEM IS QUITE FLUSH WITH RESOURCE NOW BECAUSE OF FEDERAL INFLUX OF FUNDING AND STATE'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN PUTTING CAPITAL INTO PLACES WHERE IT NEEDS BE.

>> IN SPITE OF ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OUR COMMUNITY FACING PEOPLE ARE GIVING RIGHT NOW TO ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF MAUI.

IN WAYS THAT JUST I CAN'T, JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

WE WERE, NEEDED TO BORROW 20 BANK OF HAWAII'S TELLERS IN ORDER TO CAGE THE SNAIL MAIL THAT WAS COMING IN, THOUSANDS AN THOUSANDS OF PIECES.

20,000 PIECES OF MAIL.

>>Lauren: ALL CASH?

>> NO.

CHECKS.

CHECKS PRIMARILY.

EACH WITH PERSONAL LETTERS.

AND SO I MEAN, I THINK DISRUPTER AND THE CONCERN THAT PEOPLE HAVE WHAT HAPPENED IN MAUI, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING THERE, PEOPLE COMING FINANCIAL CONCERNS AND GIVING BEYOND THEIR MEANS RIGHT NOW TO BE HONEST.

>>Lauren: WHAT HAPPENED IN IN LAHAINA WAS SO AWFUL AND TRAGIC.

SEEING THE RESPONSE I THINK FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND FOLKS AROUND THE WORLD HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

JUST TO WATCH EVERYONE COME TOGETHER.

I WANT TO GET TO TWO OTHER VIEWER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE HAVE TO WRAP THINGS UP.

I THINK THIS ONE IS FOR YOU.

JOHN FROM PEARL CITY IS ASKING, I RECEIVE A LOT OF SOLICITATIONS IN THE MAIL.

BUT WHEN I CHECK THEIR ADDRESS WITH CHARITY NAVIGATOR, IT'S NOT THE SAME AS ON THE ENVELOPE.

I THROW IT WAY.

AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING?

I WANT TO GIVE.

>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY DOING THE RIGHT THING.

CHECK IT OUT.

IF IT DOESN'T MATCH, THROW IT AWAY.

>>Lauren: THEN MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS ONE.

BOB FROM NIU VALLEY.

DO CHARITIES TAKE CASH?

WALK IT AND DONATE?

>> ANY FORM OF CONTRIBUTION IS NORMALLY ACCEPTED.

YOU SHOULD GET A RECEIPT FOR THAT CASH CONTRIBUTION TO GET YOUR CHARITABLE DEDUCTION.

ALL OF THE TRADITIONAL VETTING THAT ANN TALKED ABOUT SHOULD BE IN PLACE REGARDLESS OF WHAT MEANS AT WHICH YOU'RE GIVING.

>> I WOULD BE VERY CAREFUL.

WALKING INTO THE CHARITY ORGANIZATION GIVING CASH, IS A GREAT THING, BUT IF SOMEBODY COMES TO YOUR DOOR ASKING FOR CASH, THEN YOU SHOULD SHUT THE DOOR AND NOT GIVE CASH TO ANYBODY SOLICITING DONATIONS.

>>Lauren: AND YOU SHOULD NOTIFY THE ORGANIZATION THAT SOMEONE IS GOING AROUND BEING REPRESENTATIVE OF THEM AS WELL AS GOING TO ANN'S OFFICE.

FILE A COMPLAINT WITH MY DEPARTMENT.

>>Lauren: LEGIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE GOING UP TO YOUR DOOR ASKING FOR CASH.

>> WANT TO CONFIRM THAT.

>> NO.

THEY WILL NOT BE DOING THAT.

>>Lauren: GOT IT.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHY PEOPLE SHOULD GIVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND ALSO, MICAH MENTIONED THIS, THE TAX BENEFITS THAT PEOPLE CAN GET FROM IT.

>> WHY GIVE?

TO CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

TO BE CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND TAX BENEFIT.

YOU KNOW, YES.

IRS REQUIRES FOR ANY 501C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, TO GIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENT LETTER FOR ANY GIFT OF SINGLE GIFT OF $250 OR MORE I WORK FOR A LOT OF NONPROFITS OVER THE YEARS.

HERE IN HAWAII, EXPERIENCED IT DOESN'T MATTER ABOUT THAT.

YOU GIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR EVERY GIFT.

THE BENEFIT ITSELF, YEAH, IT DOES MAKE DRASTIC DIFFERENCE ON SOME PEOPLE'S TAX RETURNS.

OTHERS IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL.

BUT TO HAVE THAT RECORD OR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE GIFT, AND REALLY RESPONSE FROM THE CHARITY THAT THE GIFT THAT YOU MAKE MAKES AN IMPACT.

>>Lauren: SUZANNE WE JUST HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT.

CAN YOU LEAVE US WITH A FINAL THOUGHT HOW A DONATION CAN REALLY IMPACT SOMEONE'S LIFE IN HAWAII.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OTHER, DAY I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TALKING WITH SOMEBODY, PARTNER AGENCIES PROGRAM.

WORKS IN THE PROGRAM.

AND ALOHA UNITED WAY INITIATIVE FUNDS THEIR WORKS.

MEETING WITH OTHER NONPROFITS ABOUT HOW THEY DO THEIR WORK.

SITTING WITH CLIENTS AND WORKING WITH A WOMAN WHO HAD GONE THROUGH UNCREDIBLE MEDICAL CHALLENGES, AND AT THAT POINT, WAS IN DEEP DEBT AND 80 SOMETHING BEFORE SHE WAS OUT OF DEBT.

WITH HELP OF THIS PROGRAM AND THIS PERSON SPEAKING, SHE IS NOW SAVING ALMOST $100 A MONTH, WHICH MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A MASSIVE AMOUNT, BUT TO HER, THAT IS A SAVINGS SHE CAN DRAW ON IF SHE HAS TO GO TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

THAT GIFT, THAT AMOUNT IS IN HER BANK ACCOUNT NOW.

CAME BACK TO HER AND SAID, THIS IS WHAT GIVES ME HOPE.

28 YEARS OLD, I HAD NO HOPE AND NOW I DO.

HAPPENS 100% BECAUSE OF GENEROUS CORPORATE DONORS.

INDIVIDUALS SEND IN CHECKS, CASH, SO GENEROUS WITH EVERYONE, LAHAINA, ALSO THROUGH ALL THE YEARS, AGENCIES IN OUR ISLAND AS WELL.

>> EVERY ONE OF THOSE GIFTS GOES TO THAT TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL STORY AND GIVES SOMEBODY HOPE, WHATEVER THAT IS, NEW PET, FOOD FOR THE WEEK, HELP WITH MEDICAL BILLS, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT NEEDS, ALL CRITICAL.

AND I THINK WHAT MICAH SAID EARLIER, FOLLOWING YOUR HEART, GIVE TO WHAT MATTERS TO YOU, GIVE TO WHAT YOU COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT.

I THINK IMPORTANT THING IS THAT EACH PERSON FINDS THAT AND DOES GIVE.

THAT'S REALLY THE TAKEAWAY FOR ME.

>>Lauren: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

ALL OF THOSE PERSONAL LETTERS THAT YOU MENTIONED I'M SURE PROBABLY SPARKED SOME EMOTIONS AND TEARS YOURSELVES READING THEM.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

SUZANNE SKJOLD FROM THE ALOHA UNITED WAY, MICAH KANE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, ANNE LOPEZ, THE HAWAII ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND MICHELLE MORIHARA FROM THE ALOHA CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR THE WONDERFUL ADVICE.

INSIGHTS WILL BE TAKING A BREAK THIS DECEMBER.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAM.

WE WILL RETURN JANUARY 11TH FOR A PREVIEW OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M LAUREN DAY FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

ALOHA AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

¶¶ ¶¶