With the recent natural disasters in Haiti, Chile and right here in our own country, it’s no wonder that well-meaning groups are heading out to provide relief efforts. But before you sign up, make sure you’ve properly vetted the company or organization, or you may be doing more harm than good.

When researching a volunteer organization, find out if they already have a presence in that destination, and for how long.

Some companies have staff on the ground, and others work with local non-profits and NGOs.

The bottom line is that they should have some history in that location.

In an area where the infrastructure has been damaged, relief efforts can face major challenges.

Navigating these roadblocks requires having contacts on the ground and a familiarity with the lay of the land.

What you DON’T want to do is jump on board with a group that decided to show up in a disaster-hit area, no matter how good their intentions are.

Find out what the program’s short, medium and long-term goals are.

The more clearly defined the plan, the more they can assign specific roles and prepare.

Ask if you can talk to former volunteers (consider it a big red flag if they outright refuse).

Find out about the individual volunteer’s experience, and what they liked and didn’t like, and what (if anything) surprised them.

This type of due diligence applies to all volunteer vacations, not just disaster relief.

Although there is no accrediting body that can vet organizations for you, check out the Web site CharityNavigator.org, which evaluates how much of the money goes toward programs versus administrative costs.

For more ways to give back when traveling, check out the Volunteer Vacations / Voluntourism section.

Or learn more about Volunteer Vacations & Disaster Assistance in Chile, Haiti & Beyond.

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