Independence Square in Kyiv Ukraine

The war in Ukraine, as with other conflicts around the globe, has triggered a cascade of crises around which philanthropy can play a critical role. Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, more than 2 million people, mostly children, women, and the elderly, have fled Ukraine, making this the fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II. Millions more are either internally displaced or living in increasingly dire circumstances with medicines, hygienic supplies, and even food beginning to run out. Targeted funds and other support opportunities are being established to help supply food, shelter, transportation, healthcare, communication support, and security for those who choose to remain or who cannot travel, as well as for refugees. Funding is equally needed for issues with long-term horizons, such as advocacy and the protection and support of democracy, independent journalism, free speech, and civil society.

The desire to act quickly is universal, often matched by uncertainty as to how to choose the best ways to respond. TPI’s Center for Global Philanthropy put together this resource page to guide funders through the self-education and decision-making processes quickly. In addition, the blog post Philanthropy’s Critical Role in the Crisis in Ukraine helps guide funders in narrowing down how to be most useful in response to humanitarian crises.

Please note that the following list is a compilation of nonprofit, NGO, and governmental resources by which leaders in the global aid community are educating themselves as the crisis evolves and through which they are directing general crisis response support or specific humanitarian aid. This list is evolving. Please contact Jennifer Montone if you see or hear of other helpful resources.

Originally published on March 9, 2022.

Educational Resources and Information Hubs

Funds and Organizations to Support

Please note that US citizens and funders can give directly to a 501(c)3 or through intermediaries that assist with international giving such as the King Baudouin Foundation United States or Global GivingNGOsource also has a repository of vetted organizations and can assist in conducting equivalency determinations to verify that non-US-based charities qualify for tax deductions. Because the situation is so volatile, you may want to consider short-term funding through intermediaries and organizations in neighboring countries, which can funnel and pivot resources to offices and partners in Ukraine. Local and national Ukrainian organizations, as well as others that directly grant to local NGOs, are marked with an asterisk (*).

 

DEMOCRACY, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND PEACE AND SECURITY

  • Initiative Center to Support Social Action (ISAR) Ednanniais a Ukrainian national network for the development of local philanthropy. ISAR Ednannia, one of the largest Ukrainian NGOs, established the Emergency Fund for civil society organizations across Ukraine. They have 20 years of reliable grant making experience in Ukraine, including as an implementing partner of USAID and the EU Delegation to Ukraine, and have a vast network that allows them to provide rapid grants for emergency response. Berks County Community Foundation has established the Fund for Ednannia to aggregate individual donations to be distributed to ISAR Ednannia for its Emergency Fund. *
  • Nova Ukraineis a small Ukrainian-American group dedicated to raising awareness about Ukraine in the US and throughout the world and providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. *
  • Open Society Foundationshas launched the Ukraine Democracy Fund and urges other funders to join them. Funders can contact gregory.maniatis@opensocietyfoundations.org for more information. *
  • Peace and Security Funders Groupworks on an ongoing basis to promote peacebuilding in areas of current and potential conflict.
  • Ukrainian Philanthropists Forum (UPF)has an “About Us” page and is fundraising for Ukranian organizations here. *

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE (IDPs) AND REFUGEES

  • Americareshas an emergency response team in Poland and is sending “large-scale shipments of medicine and relief supplies” and is prepared to “deliver medicine, medical supplies, emergency funding and relief items to the region” at will.
  • Choose Love,supported by the Global Whole Being Fund, established a fund to support grassroots efforts in and near Ukraine around emergency medical care, food, shelter, clothes, legal support, support for the LGBTQIA+ community, and mental health support. Choose Love is providing longer term grants in addition to emergency funds. *
  • Global Empowerment Missionis US-based and on the ground in Poland, using donations to buy refugees transportation to reach family and friends in Europe.
  • GlobalMedichas worked closely with local Ukrainian partners over the years and is now working with local agencies in neighboring countries to support the distribution of food, hygiene items, and more to people leaving Ukraine, and work to support and facilitate cross-border distributions into Ukraine. *
  • International Justice Mission, which works internationally to combat trafficking and slavery as well as violence against women and children, is at the Ukraine-Romania border, collaborating closely with local NGOs to protect children, women, and youth displaced by the conflict.
  • International Rescue Committeeis supporting displaced Ukrainian families with critical aid.
  • MitOstis a leading, trusted partner of civil society organizations directly supporting on-the-ground efforts to secure people, provide protection, facilitate evacuations, and connect to temporary accommodation. Their role involves communications, financial support, needs assessments, and connecting networks and offers of support. *
  • Operation USAis currently mobilizing alongside American aid groups and calling on partners in Poland–where a massive influx of refugees is arriving–to facilitate the delivery of much-needed material aid to refugee camps. OpUSA is also working diligently to distribute emergency cash grants to community-based organizations supporting displaced Ukrainian families. *
  • People in Need, one of the largest NGOs in Central Europe, has mobilized to support the population of Ukraine, including families and the elderly, directly and through local partners, to supply water, food, hygiene, and other urgent needs, including psychological support. *
  • ShelterBoxworks globally to provide emergency shelter for displaced peoples and have a special appeal for their work now in Eastern Europe supporting Ukrainians.
  • Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recovery Fundhosted by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy focuses on both internally displaced peoples (IDPs) and refugees.
  • The United Nations High Commission for Refugees(UNHCR) is working with the authorities, the United Nations, and other partners in Ukraine to provide humanitarian assistance.
  • United Way Worldwidelaunched the United for Ukraine fund to provide refugees with food, shelter, medicine, transportation, and critical childcare supplies such as formula.
  • USA for UNHCRfundraises for the UN Refugee Agency, which provides “lifesaving aid, protection, and hope for displaced families from Ukraine.”

HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICAL, AND FOOD

  • Direct Reliefis seeking funding as it coordinates emergency medical support.
  • Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)is setting up emergency response activities in and around Ukraine.
  • European Food Banks Federationis assisting the Kyiv City Charity Foundation “Food Bank” and food banks in five neighboring countries. Kyiv is expected to be depleted of reserves within one month. They ask for support in the medium and long term. *
  • International Medical Corpshas worked in Ukraine since 1999 providing medical, mental health, and other healthcare-related services.
  • Leleka Foundation,founded in 2014 in the US by Ukrainian-American leadership, raises charitable funds for implementing various medical and social support projects in Ukraine.
  • Polish Medical Missionhas launched an immediate relief operation to provide medical assistance in Ukraine.
  • Project C.U.R.E.has an extensive history of working in Ukraine since 2000, sending cargo to local hospitals. They are continuing to support this key infrastructure now through the Caring For Ukraine fund.
  • Project HOPEis activating an emergency response team to provide immediate health and humanitarian relief. They have medical teams on standby to provide health screenings and care for Ukrainian refugees and those inside the country who do not have the ability to flee.
  • Razom, a Ukranian organization established in 2014, initiates short and long-term projects, or collaborates on existing projects with partner organizations, which help Ukraine stay on the path of fostering democracy and prosperity. The current Razom Emergency Responseis focused on the most urgent need for medical aid – tactical medical supplies and medical supplies and equipment for Ukrainian hospitals. *
  • Refugee Trauma Initiativeis providing psychosocial support in the region.
  • Sunflower of Peaceis a small nonprofit with a mission is to provide medical and humanitarian aid for people affected by violence in Ukraine. It is fundraising for first-aid medical tactical backpacks, which they say can save up to 10 people. The group has worked mostly off its Facebook page.
  • United Help Ukraineis providing life-saving individual first aid kits containing blood-stopping bandages and tourniquets and other emergency medical supplies to the front lines and is cooperating with other organizations to prepare humanitarian aid to civilians on the ground.
  • World Central Kitchenis serving hot meals to refugees and displaced persons at many locations bordering Ukraine.
  • WHO Foundationis seeking to raise $57.5 million to fund “immediate large-scale emergency response and health needs in Ukraine and the humanitarian response in neighboring countries.”

MEDIA FREEDOM

  • The GroundTruth Projectan award-winning, independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization with a mission to serve under-covered communities by supporting the next generation of journalists to do on-the-ground reporting and to advance sustainability, innovation, and equity in journalism worldwide.
  • Internewssupports independent media around the globe, including in crisis zones.
  • “Keep the Kyiv Independent going”is a GoFundMe supporting The Kyiv Independent whose staff are working to update the world in the face of fear for their lives, families, and homes. *
  • “Keep Ukraine’s media going”is a GoFundMe campaign run by The Fix together with media across Europe raising funds for a broad group of Ukrainian media. This fundraiser is aimed at helping media relocate, set-up back offices. and continue their operations from neighboring countries. *

SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Children

  • Global Fund for Childrenis sending grants to local partners who are mobilizing to provide food, warm clothing, fuel, and shelter to children and families under attack. *
  • Save the Childrenis on the ground helping to deliver lifesaving aid to children in Ukraine who currently are at high risk of physical harm, emotional distress, and displacement.
  • UNICEFis working close to conflict-affected areas delivering water, medical and hygiene supplies, and emergency education. They also work to ensure immediate aid for children and families who have been displaced in “Blue Dot” hubs along travel routes.
  • Voices of Childrenis a Ukrainian-based organization that has served the psychological needs of children affected by the war since 2015. Voices of Children is providing non-stop assistance to affected children and families from all over the country, providing emergency psychological assistance, and assisting in the evacuation process. *
  • World Visionis on the ground in Eastern Europe preparing to meet the needs of children and families forcibly displaced due to the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

Women

  • Urgent Action Fundhas created the Ukraine Response Fund to support women, trans, and nonbinary activists on the ground in and surrounding Ukraine by providing flexible funding and security support. *
  • Ukrainian Women’s Fund, the only Ukraine-based women’s fund, is mobilizing resources to support its rapid response grants to women’s rights and feminist groups. *
  • Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, a United Nations and civil society partnership, is mobilizing on behalf of local women-led organizations providing humanitarian aid. Donations can be made here, or donors can contact matthew.rullo@unwomen.orgfor more information.

LGBTQIA+

Jewish Populations

  • Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), Greater Boston’s Jewish Federation, has established the Ukraine Emergency Fund, which will provide direct support to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and partners on the ground in Ukraine to help the most vulnerable. *
  • HIAS(Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) provides legal aid for people affected by conflict, including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people (IDPs). They work in partnership in Ukraine with Right to Protection (R2P), an independent Ukrainian NGO. *
  • Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is providing emergency services to Ukraine’s Jewish communities.

Ukrainian Veterans

  • Revived Soldiers Ukraineis a Ukrainian-American organization dedicated to providing aid in support of human rights and medical rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers. *
  • Women’s Veterans Movementis organization of Ukrainian women veterans that prepares for action in case of emergencies and defense situations. *

BROAD HUMANITARIAN AID