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As the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24th, a humanitarian crisis unfolded. Reports of Ukrainian citizens and residents evacuating their homes, hiding in underground shelters and subways, and families separating at the borders poured in through the news and social media.
As Americans it is difficult to watch an unprovoked invasion of a democratic nation. As a parent, the desire to help Ukrainian citizens and their children as they abandon their homes to flee violence feels urgent, regardless of political affiliation.
There have been many announcements of relief efforts from local and international charities, as the region braces for a large-scale influx of Ukrainian refugees. But use caution when selecting a charity to ensures the money you give benefits those you intend to help.
Charity watchdogs are available to vet charities for reliability, and financial responsibility including Charity Navigator, Candid GuideStar and BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Review these scores before donating, keeping in mind not all nonprofits are rated.
After assessing the most commonly recommended organizations working to help Ukraine, these are the highest rated, with established histories and a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator. Each one is actively engaged in fundraising for Ukraine humanitarian relief efforts:
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If you would prefer to give directly to a Ukrainian nonprofit, the Kyiv Independent news site has shared a list of recommended charities for humanitarian relief, and direct military aid. These smaller organizations are harder to vet from afar. You can read this list here.
Avoid scams: Give.org also shared a list of tips when donating to help Ukraine relief efforts. Most charities are requesting only financial support, international shipments of clothing or food are difficult to coordinate and deliver in areas of active conflict.
The UN has said they estimate up to $2Billion in aid will be needed to provide food, medical supplies, clothing and shelter to Ukrainian refugees over just the next 3 months.