Why Your Support Still Matters

Ukraine has faced devastating conflict since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. As of 2025, the war has displaced over 3.7 million people inside Ukraine and driven millions more to seek refuge across Europe. Critical infrastructure — power grids, water systems, hospitals, and schools — continues to sustain damage from ongoing strikes.

Humanitarian needs remain acute. Food insecurity, access to medical care, and psychological support for civilians and veterans are persistent challenges. International government aid is crucial but subject to political fluctuations, which means consistent individual and organizational contributions continue to make a measurable difference.

Your support — whether financial, practical, or political — connects directly to outcomes: meals delivered, medical procedures funded, children housed and enrolled in school, and infrastructure rebuilt. Every contribution at every scale matters in a conflict of this duration and scale.

Best Verified Charities for Ukraine

Before donating, check the organization's rating on Charity Navigator or Give.org. Aim for a score above 80 out of 100 and confirm that at least 70% of spending goes to programs rather than overhead or fundraising costs.

• UNICEF Ukraine — Delivers clean water, medical supplies, educational materials, and child protection services directly in conflict-affected areas. One of the most transparent major humanitarian organizations operating in Ukraine.
• Razom for Ukraine — A Ukrainian-American nonprofit with a 99/100 Charity Navigator score. Donations fund tourniquets, ambulances, hospital equipment, and evacuation logistics.
• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) — The primary organization supporting Ukrainian refugees outside the country. Provides shelter, legal assistance, and integration support across Poland, Germany, and the broader European Union.
• Doctors Without Borders (MSF) — Operates independent emergency medical teams in front-line regions. 83% of total spending goes directly to field programs. Remains independent of government and military entities.
• Ukrainian Red Cross — Coordinates evacuation, first aid, and food distribution inside Ukraine, including in areas near active fighting where access for international NGOs is limited.
• World Central Kitchen — Has served millions of hot meals to people displaced inside Ukraine and to refugees crossing borders. Mobilizes rapidly to acute displacement events.

Never donate in response to unsolicited social media appeals or unverified crowdfunding campaigns. Navigate directly to a charity's official website to make your contribution.

How to Donate Safely and Effectively

Effective giving is about more than sending money — it is about ensuring your contribution reaches people who need it at maximum impact. Follow these steps:

1. Go directly to the official website: Type the URL yourself or use a saved bookmark. Do not click donation links in emails or social media posts without independently verifying the sender and destination.
2. Pay by credit card or PayPal: Both offer fraud protection and dispute resolution. Avoid wire transfers to unfamiliar individuals or unverified accounts.
3. Set up monthly giving: A recurring $20 monthly donation is operationally more valuable than a single $240 gift. Organizations can plan and commit resources around predictable, consistent income streams.
4. Earmark your donation for Ukraine: If the charity operates in multiple countries, select Ukraine specifically at checkout so your funds go where you intend them.
5. Check employer matching programs: Many large employers match charitable contributions at 1:1 or 2:1 ratios, doubling or tripling your impact at no extra personal cost. Check your company HR portal for a list of participating organizations.
6. Keep your receipt: US donors giving to 501(c)(3) organizations can deduct contributions from taxable income. Retain your receipt for any gift over $250 for IRS documentation.

For contributions over $1,000, consider a donor-advised fund (DAF) through Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable. DAFs let you claim the full tax deduction immediately, then distribute grants to specific charities over time at your own pace.

Volunteering Remotely for Ukraine

You do not need to travel to Ukraine to contribute meaningfully. Many critical support needs can be met entirely from home:

• Translation services: Ukrainian-English translators are needed for medical records, legal documents, government forms, and refugee intake paperwork. Translators Without Borders posts regular volunteer requests. Legal aid organizations serving refugees in Poland, Germany, and the UK also have ongoing translation needs throughout the year.
• IT and cybersecurity: Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation coordinates an IT volunteer network. Developers, QA engineers, cloud architects, and security professionals can support government digital infrastructure. Information on how to participate is published at Diia, Ukraine's official digital services platform.
• Legal assistance: Pro bono immigration attorneys help Ukrainian refugees navigate asylum applications and residence permit processes in the US and EU. The International Rescue Committee and UNHCR both maintain pro bono referral programs for licensed attorneys who want to contribute their expertise.
• Online tutoring: English fluency dramatically improves employment outcomes for displaced Ukrainians rebuilding their lives abroad. Volunteer as an English tutor through language learning platforms or directly through Ukrainian refugee support networks active in your country.
• Design and communications: NGOs working in Ukraine regularly need help with fundraising materials, grant reports, social media content, and donor communications. Contact organizations like Razom directly to offer design or copywriting skills on a project-by-project basis.

Supporting Ukrainian Refugees in Your Community

If you live in the US, UK, EU, or Canada, there are likely Ukrainian refugees in your area. Here is how to connect and provide practical support:

• Host a displaced person: In the UK, the Homes for Ukraine scheme matches willing hosts with refugee families and individuals. In the US, Welcome.US facilitates sponsorship matching for Ukrainian families. Both programs include government guidance and, in some cases, financial support for participating hosts.
• Donate essential goods: Local Ukrainian community centers and mutual aid groups frequently collect non-perishable food, winter clothing, children's items, hygiene products, and basic household goods. Search for "Ukraine aid" plus your city name to find active collection drives near you.
• Offer professional services: Doctors, dentists, therapists, lawyers, accountants, and career counselors providing pro bono services to newly arrived refugees can transform their capacity to rebuild stable lives. These services are often inaccessible through standard channels due to language barriers and limited finances.
• Language and cultural support: Run informal English conversation sessions, help with job application documents, or accompany a refugee to a medical or legal appointment as a support person or informal interpreter. These direct, personal contributions have practical impact that larger organizations cannot always replicate.

Reach out to your local city council, an interfaith coalition, or a Ukrainian Orthodox or Catholic church to find established programs. Joining an existing support network is more efficient than building something new from scratch.

Economic Support Through Ukrainian Commerce

Purchasing Ukrainian goods and services keeps the domestic economy running during a period when export revenues are critical to Ukraine's financial stability. Every purchase transfers value directly to Ukrainian workers, artisans, and business owners.

• Shop Ukrainian on Etsy: Search "Made in Ukraine" to find hundreds of artisans selling traditional embroidery (vyshyvanka), ceramics, woodwork, illustrations, and handmade jewelry. Buying directly supports individual craftspeople and small family businesses affected by the conflict.
• Hire Ukrainian freelancers: Ukraine has a deep pool of skilled software developers, UX designers, copywriters, translators, and virtual assistants available through platforms like Upwork and Toptal. Hiring Ukrainian professionals provides stable income to people who may have limited local employment options due to displacement or infrastructure damage.
• Attend Ukrainian cultural events: Film screenings, art exhibitions, theater performances, and concerts organized by Ukrainian diaspora communities generate ticket and merchandise revenue for artists and sometimes donate a portion of proceeds directly to humanitarian relief funds.
• Buy Ukrainian specialty products: Several importers bring Ukrainian wines, honey, sunflower oil, confectionery, and handicrafts to Western markets. Look for them at specialty grocery stores or through direct-import websites serving diaspora communities across the US, UK, and EU.

Political and Advocacy Actions

Sustained international support for Ukraine depends on political will, which in democratic countries is shaped significantly by constituent pressure on elected officials. Individual advocacy actions, taken consistently over time, influence policy in concrete ways:

• Contact your elected representative: A brief phone call or email to your MP, senator, or congressperson urging continued support for Ukraine aid packages is one of the highest-leverage individual actions available. Legislative staff count and categorize constituent contacts, and these patterns directly influence the positions representatives take on votes.
• Share verified reporting: Counter disinformation by sharing coverage from credible, independent outlets: Kyiv Independent, Reuters, Associated Press, BBC, or the Institute for the Study of War. Avoid amplifying unverified claims from anonymous or openly partisan sources, regardless of which narrative they support.
• Join organized advocacy campaigns: Organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Avaaz coordinate letter-writing campaigns, petitions, and targeted advocacy efforts with documented track records of influencing legislative outcomes at national and international levels.
• Educate your community: Organize a film screening, panel discussion, or information session at a school, workplace, library, or faith community. Well-informed, engaged communities generate more sustained political support over the long arc of a protracted conflict.

The most durable form of support combines regular financial contributions with consistent civic engagement. Neither approach alone is as effective as both together, maintained over the long term as the situation continues to evolve.