Pressure is on Texans defensive end to make best use of money for those in need in Houston.<\/b>
\nHOUSTON \u2014 J. Watt now faces a task more challenging than having raised $20 million for victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. The All-Pro defensive end for the Houston Texans has to figure out how best to spend it.
\u201cThere\u2019s always a ton of pressure if you\u2019 re a charitable entity and you\u2019 re holding cash,\u2019 \u2019 said Reese May, National Director of Recovery for St. Bernard Project, highly regarded for its work rebuilding homes destroyed by natural disasters. \u201cLike people are hurting, get rid of the money, get rid of the money.\u2019 \u2019
Which would be Watt\u2019s first big mistake.
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He seems to understand that, too. He has consulted with members of St. Bernard Project and the Team Rubicon, another organization lauded for its recovery work after natural disasters, in trying to determine how best to spend a fraction of what is needed.
The full recovery from Hurricane Harvey is expected to cost about $160 billion. That makes it even more vital that Watt spend the $20 million wisely, and here are a few things recovery experts say to keep in mind.
\u201cStrategic philanthropy, or business-minded philanthropy that focuses on clear outcomes and goals, is just like any for-profit business,\u2019 \u2019 said May. \u201cIt\u2019s just that instead of returning value to shareholders, you restore peoples lives.
\u201cI think most enterprises, the rule of thumb is not ‘Lose cash as fast as possible.’ It\u2019s evaluate, due your due diligence, figure out what your return on investment is. How do you turn $2 worth of cash into $20 worth of impact?\u2019 \u2019
Moving people back into homes is critical, and Jake Wood, co-founder of Team Rubicon, said $20 million is probably enough for Watt to rebuild a city block.
\u201cYou\u2019 d be a hero for 100 people?\u2019 \u2019 Wood said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s great.\u2019 \u2019
And that\u2019s unlikely to satisfy the more than 180,000 who have donated to Watt\u2019s fund with YouCaring, the company taking the donations.
There are other priorities, too. For example, St. Bernard Project\u2019s May said ensuring the government collects valid data \u2014 used to determine how much money is needed for recovery and where it goes \u2014 is as important as anything. Yet, May couldn\u2019 t immediately think of how Watt\u2019s $20 million could support that vital cause.
\u201cI would make a bunch of investments,\u2019 \u2019 Wood said, \u201cin great organizations that have great leadership with good ideas.\u2019 \u2019
This appears to be the best idea of all and one that appeals to Watt.
On Sunday, he said, \u201cI\u2019 m going to take my time, make sure that I work with local organizations, that we do it right here in the city so that money goes straight to the people here of Houston who need it the most so we can help rebuild.\u2019 \u2019
To do that, Watt\u2019s next task is identifying organizations in Houston that serve those in the most need \u2014 such as people with low incomes, disabilities and the elderly.
Of course, Watt could always give the $20 million to one charity and attach his name to the cause.
\u201cI don\u2019 t think J. wants to take that approach,\u2019 \u2019 Wood said. \u201cHe wants to be very deliberate, he wants to find groups who are maybe a little outside the norm and be a little innovative with the money.
\u201cI think he also realizes that $20 million isn\u2019 t going to change Houston. But if he finds groups that can provide leverage for him, the money will go much further.\u2019 \u2019
That\u2019s not just something for Watt to keep in mind.
That\u2019s something to heed.<\/p>\n

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