Non-profit donation based crowdfunding platform GlobalGiving, has launched an Ebola Epidemic Relief Fund to allow donors to contribute directly to locally driven Ebola relief efforts in West Africa. The fund has been set up to supper nearly a dozen nonprofits that have been vetted by GlobalGiving.
GlobalGiving reports that to date over 1500 individual donors have given over $260,000 specifically to Ebola Aid projects. Last week, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation contributed $100,000 in matching funds to encourage individual donors to take action against Ebola. This $100,000 donation was matched by 739 individual donations in less than four days.
One of the projects receiving funding is a free outpatient hospital in Lakka, Sierra Leone. The hospital is in need of protective clothing for hospital staff and more supplies for the Ebola isolation tents that have been set up on the property.
Another recipient is a community-based organization called West Point Women for Health and Development, made up of resident community healthcare workers from the largest slum in Monrovia, Liberia. The West Point slum was highlighted in the news this past week when community members raided an Ebola isolation clinic. These actions make it clear that there is a need for locally-led 
education and sensitization around the epidemic. The West Point Women are well positioned to engage in culturally-relevant training around Ebola awareness and prevention. Donations will provide educational materials, personal protective equipment, and stipends to support these women who are the key to preventing a devastating outbreak in the overcrowded slum.
“After Thursday’s announcement from the World Health Organization thatthe number of Ebola cases has been vastly underestimated in West Africa, it’s clear that there’s still much to be done to stop the outbreak,” said Britt Lake, GlobalGiving’s Director of Programs. “We’re grateful for this support from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and the hundreds of individual donors who have given to these much-needed efforts to stem the crisis in West Africa.”
In addition to the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, corporate partners such as the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation have supported Ebola relief. Lilly is matching their employee contributions, providing more than $14,000 so far. GlobalGiving invites other companies and institutional donors to email partnerships@globalgiving.org for more information about working together to support local organizations fighting Ebola.
Washington, DC based GlobalGiving was founded in 2002 and states they have raised over $140 million since their founding. The charity platform is highly rated on Charity Navigator.
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