Though misunderstood at first, Doctors Without Borders’ bold decision to stop accepting tsunami-relief donation could help revive public trust in nonprofits.

By Paul Barbagallo

For its part, MSF raised more than $20 million to help tsunami victims, $16 million of which was contributed via the Internet. Worldwide, the organizational network raised more than $117 million. By as early as Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004 — three days after the earthquake and resulting tsunamis devastated South Asia — MSF had, in effect, raised the funds needed to deploy more than 200 international-aid workers and 2,000 metric tons of relief materials to the ravaged area.