Giving In Crisis
While we are still watching in horror Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the heartbreaking images with women, children and elderly walking for miles to find safety outside of Ukraine one question comes to mind: how can we help?
Currently in Ukraine and at its border with Poland, Hungary and Romania hundreds of nonprofit organizations are helping the refugees. Millions of people are seeking safe shelter all over Europe and the nonprofit organizations in these countries are overwhelmed. They all need support.
This all brings one question: how do we give in times of crisis? How do we know that our support will reach the right people and the right cause at the right time? Here are some tips to follow when deciding how to give:
Put your emotions aside: When you give at a time of crisis, your support is powerful. This is why you need to pause for a moment before you pledge your support. Do your due diligence. Find the organization’s website, it’s social media, read reviews about its work, find out if it had successful projects in the past. Research other organizations with similar missions and give yourself an opportunity to decide where exactly to direct your donation.
Give to an established nonprofit: Find out if the nonprofit you are interested in supporting is a registered charity with 501(c)(3) status. Organizations such as Charity Navigator and CharityWatch are trusted nonprofit organization evaluators providing free information on registered nonprofits, their management, expenditure and programs.
Verify the crowdfunding campaign: When it comes to crowdfunding the rule is to donate to online fundraisers created by individuals with one degree of separation unless the campaign has been organized by a known charity exp. The Red Cross, UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, etc. When you know the organizer of the campaign or he/she is a friend- of - a- friend you will have direct contact to verify that your donation will support the cause you are interested in.
Helping Ukraine Resources: These are resources on how to support Ukraine.
https://www.obama.org/updates/help-ukraine/
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/countries/ukraine
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