Some donors prefer to make a donation that is as tangible and specific as possible and therefore choose to donate to a particular project. This decision is driven by the legitimate and understandable desire to engage in a clearly defined project. However, it can also have unintended disadvantages.

The disadvantage of such an approach is that project-specific donations significantly reduce an aid organisation’s room for manoeuvre. Project-related donations can unintentionally lead to a situation in which those most in need at a given point in time – for example when intervention is needed following a humanitarian disaster – cannot receive adequate support. Solidar Suisse therefore recommends that all donors refrain from making project-specific donations whenever possible. Should you nonetheless like to make a project-specific donation, please indicate this in the ‘comments’ field.