BBB tips on donating to help Ukraine relief activities

By the Better Business Bureau 

News reports of Russia’s attack on Ukraine may encourage concerned individuals to reach out and help victims affected by the conflict. Concerns grow about the current and potential emergency needs of the Ukrainian people. Generous donors want to help by supporting charities that are raising funds for assistance. 

Give.org notes that not all relief organizations will be able to provide timely assistance unless they already have a presence in Ukraine.

Before giving, BBB has the following tips:

√ Can the charity get to the impacted area? Not all relief organizations will be positioned to provide relief quickly. See if the charity already has a presence in Ukraine.

√ Should you send clothing and food? Local drives to collect clothing and food to send overseas may not be practical as the logistics and timing to deliver and disperse such items will be challenging. Relief organizations are better equipped to obtain what is needed, distribute it effectively and avoid duplication of effort.

√ Does the relief charity meet BBB Charity Standards? You can verify a charity’s trustworthiness by viewing an evaluative report completed by BBB Wise Giving Alliance. See the list provided below of charities that are soliciting relief assistance for Ukraine and that also meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

√ Is the charity experienced in providing emergency relief? Experienced disaster relief charities are the best bet to help deliver aid as soon as possible. New entrants may have difficulty in following through even if they have the best of intentions.

√ Are you considering crowdfunding appeals? If engaging in crowdfunding, it is safest to give to someone you personally know and trust, and review the platform’s policies regarding fees and distribution of collected funds. If the crowdfunding request is from a charity, check out the group by visiting Give.org. Keep in mind that some crowdfunding sites do very little vetting of individuals or organizations that decide to post for relief assistance. Sites that take security measures will usually provide descriptions of these procedures.

√ Does the appeal make exaggerated financial claims such as “100% will be spent on relief.” Charities have fundraising and administrative expenses. Any charity claiming otherwise is potentially misleading the donating public. Even a credit card donation will have a processing fee.

The following nationally soliciting charities are BBB Accredited (i.e., they meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability). Their respective websites indicate that they are either currently raising funds for assistance efforts in Ukraine or preparing for needs that could arise if conflict results in population displacement.

Alight | Ukraine Relief Activities

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee | Ukraine Relief Activities

Americares Foundation | Ukraine Relief Activities

CARE USA | Ukraine Relief Activities

Catholic Relief Services | Ukraine Relief Activities

CHC: Creating Healthier Communities | Ukraine Relief Activities

Direct Relief | Ukraine Relief Activities

Episcopal Relief & Development | Ukraine Relief Activities

Heart to Heart International | Ukraine Relief Activities

GlobalGiving | Ukraine Relief Activities

International Medical Corps | Ukraine Relief Activities

International Rescue Committee | Ukraine Relief Activities

MAP International | Ukraine Relief Activities

Matthew 25: Ministries | Ukraine Relief Activities

Medical Teams International | Ukraine Relief Activities

Mennonite Central Committee | Ukraine Relief Activities

Mercy Corps | Ukraine Relief Activities

Operation USA | Ukraine Relief Activities

Salvation Army | Ukraine Relief Activities

Save the Children | Ukraine Relief Activities

United Methodist Committee on Relief | Ukraine Relief Activities

United States Association for UNHCR | Ukraine Relief Activities