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Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?

You gave $1.4B to help Haitians after the earthquake--we know what happened to that money, and PBS wants to show the nation.

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Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?

Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?

Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?

Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?

Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?

You gave $1.4B to help Haitians after the earthquake--we know what happened to that money, and PBS wants to show the nation.

You gave $1.4B to help Haitians after the earthquake--we know what happened to that money, and PBS wants to show the nation.

You gave $1.4B to help Haitians after the earthquake--we know what happened to that money, and PBS wants to show the nation.

You gave $1.4B to help Haitians after the earthquake--we know what happened to that money, and PBS wants to show the nation.

Michele Mitchell
Michele Mitchell
Michele Mitchell
Michele Mitchell
1 Campaign |
Brooklyn, United States
$2,350 USD 22 backers
33% of $7,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

Our Story

Film@11 started when a few international journalists were having a beer at the Yak and Yeti hotel in Kathmandu and decided to make content that counts. "Bullshit-Free Since 2008," the company focuses on tough stories told in interesting ways.


So it's not surprising that we wanted to know what happened to the $1.4 billion that 50% of American households gave to charity following the Haiti earthquake in January 2010. In November, we found squalid camps of 9,000 with nine toilets, nearly 3 million displaced persons, and charities living in comparative luxury with an utter lack of accountability. This became our five-part web series, "Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?" The PBS station in Oregon then agreed to be the presenting station for a national television broadcast. (That's PBS-speak for: do a TV version and we'll get it out nationally.)


Usually corporations step in to sponsor PBS programming. This is especially critical now, because in the current economic climate, PBS both nationally and locally has no money to help with productions. But in our case, corporations are proving to be afraid. Said one: "We told our employees to donate to the Red Cross and others. We can't tell them now that money was wasted." So, we are turning to IndieGoGo to help defray the costs of production and broadcast.


We believe that it is possible to raise what we need via small donations. There is in Haiti what Refugees International has called an "ongoing emergency response," and by bringing this truth to a wider audience, we hope to bring about an accounting of what has become known as disaster capital.


The Impact

"When you give money to a do-good organization," one source tells us, "you just expect them to do good with it." The lack of accountability (not to mention cooperation) has literally created an on-going emergency situation, where at this point there should be a rebuilding phase. Already, one of our Haitians featured in the web series is suffering from severe malnutrition, and she is just one of too many.


This program on Haiti needs to air this year in order to create further awareness, which we hope will bring resulting changes. Individuals, calling on their politicians or even the NGOs themselves, can get the needle to move towards responsible change (and there are NGOs doing an excellent job--we feature them as well). We want to give them the information to do it.

What We Need & What You Get

We need to raise the production budget to shoot in Haiti again. We need to update some of the stories of certain Haitians. We need to get more information on the purported "counts" after a recent, leaked USAID report stated the numbers in the camps were grossly over-reported. We need to confront some of the NGOs who are not doing their job. And, we need to show camp conditions since we last shot there in November.


We will fly to Haiti to do this shoot in August. If we raise more than the shoot budget in this campaign, that money will go towards the edit and broadcast fees. We are also planning fundraisers in Miami and New York this September to raise that broadcast fee (which is $65K).


The great news here is that your donation is tax deductible, as it goes through the Filmmakers Collaborative, a 501c3 based in Boston. So, not only do you get some great takeaways but you can also let the IRS know about your contribution.


Other Ways You Can Help

In addition to donating to this campaign, you can help by getting the word out to anyone who actually gave money after the Haiti quake. Don't you want to know what happened to that? Share this campaign with them, and anyone else who might be interested, via our links and web videos through your social media and e-mails. We'd love it if you would post our listing on your Facebook page or Tweet about it. We want to get the word out as far and wide as possible, and you can play a big part in that process.


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Choose your Perk

"Text 90999"

$10 USD
A thank you on the Film@11 website and Facebook page, a personal Twitter "thank you" tweet and #FollowFriday, not to mention our eternal gratitude!
2 claimed

"Build a Better World"

$25 USD
Exclusive access to the production diary, an 8x10 color photo from the shoot in Haiti, plus a thank you on the Film@11 website and Facebook page, a personal Twitter "thank you" tweet and #FollowFriday.
5 claimed

"Working Together"

$50 USD
A DVD of the documentary, exclusive access to the production diary plus a thank you on the Film@11 website and Facebook page, a personal Twitter "thank you" tweet and #FollowFriday, and an 8x10 color photo from the shoot in Haiti.
4 claimed

"Unite for Children"

$100 USD
Exclusive access to some video extras including full interviews, a DVD of the documentary, exclusive access to the production diary, an 8x10 color photo from the shoot in Haiti, a thank you on the Film@11 website and Facebook page, a personal Twitter "thank you" tweet and #FollowFriday.
3 claimed

"Providing Solutions"

$200 USD
Personal editorial update from production team via Skype, plus exclusive access to some video extras, a DVD of the documentary, and exclusive access to the production diary, an 8x10 color photo from the shoot in Haiti, a thank you on the Film@11 website and Facebook page, a personal Twitter "thank you" tweet and #FollowFriday.
1 claimed

"Be the Change"

$500 USD
A credited thank you at end of TV documentary, plus a personal editorial update from production team via Skype, exclusive access to some video extras, a DVD of the documentary, and exclusive access to the production diary, an 8x10 color photo from the shoot in Haiti, a thank you on the Film@11 website and Facebook page, a personal Twitter "thank you" tweet and #FollowFriday.
2 claimed

"A Passion to Help"

$1,000 USD
A credited thank you at the beginning of the TV documentary, plus personal editorial update from production team via Skype, exclusive access to some video extras, a DVD of the documentary, and exclusive access to the production diary, an 8x10 color photo from the shoot in Haiti, a thank you on the Film@11 website and Facebook page, a personal Twitter "thank you" tweet and #FollowFriday.
0 claimed

Group Donation!

$3,000 USD
Get your friends together for an all-together, 1-time $3,000 donation, and we'll have a preview viewing party for you! This, in addition to personal editorial update from production team via Skype, exclusive access to some video extras, a DVD of the documentary, and exclusive access to the production diary, an 8x10 color photo from the shoot in Haiti, a thank you on the Film@11 website and Facebook page, a personal Twitter "thank you" tweet and #FollowFriday.
0 out of 1 of claimed
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