Philanthropy

An Ounce of Advocacy

When disaster strikes, governments often rely on nonprofits and businesses to pitch in with relief efforts. But making up for the public sector's shortcomings is neither an appropriate nor effective use of the private sector's strengths. Instead of mopping up after government failures, nonprofits and businesses should lobby governments to focus more on disaster mitigation and less on disaster relief. An ounce of the private sector's advocacy would be worth more than a pound of its response.