# Is There a Good Way to Donate to Ukraine? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [February 28, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240 "2022-02-28T16:49:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/1 "2022-02-28T16:49:49Z")
I’d like to help some organizations who are helping Ukraine with humanitarian services. Does anyone have recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/2 "2022-02-28T16:51:23Z")
[International Rescue Committee](https://www.rescue.org/), perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/3 "2022-02-28T17:10:04Z")
There are many organizations targeting specific groups. For example, I’m aware of several organizations working to provide relief to Ukrainian Jews. If you want your money to go to a specific “boots on the ground” type of organization, identifying a few at-risk groups will make it easier to pick one and give you a concrete sense of where your money is going. For general aid, some surface-level Googling indicates that the International Rescue Committee gets good marks for how it spends the money it receives. So does the International Red Cross. ---
**Author:** ![SoToasty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sotoasty/32/2803_2.png) [@SoToasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoToasty)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/4 "2022-02-28T21:50:13Z")
For helping refugees, Here is a link. I am not sure who the “WE” is but as part of a “WE” Ryan Renolds is matching up to $1,000,000 [https://t.co/xCFL1Lptuw](https://t.co/xCFL1Lptuw) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/5 "2022-03-01T02:57:06Z")
I would recommend Doctors Without Borders, in part because they are secular, but UMCOR uses 100% of their donations for relief efforts; administration is underwritten by the Methodist church. > **[UMCOR](https://umcmission.org/umcor/)** > > How we work Originally founded in 1940 in response to \[…\] ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/6 "2022-03-01T11:24:00Z")
Mail a physical check, by physical mail, to the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington DC. Online might be spoofed/hacked by Russians. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/7 "2022-03-01T16:15:51Z")
I’m wondering if Ukrainians would consider foreign-sourced sunflower seeds acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/8 "2022-03-02T18:31:37Z")
If you want to support the armed forces of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine has an easy donation page: [NBU Opens Special Account to Raise Funds for Ukraine’s Armed Forces (updated)](https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/9 "2022-03-02T18:38:43Z")
Huh. Obviously Ukraine isn’t an enemy of the United States, so treason isn’t an issue, but are there any potential legal issues involved with a civilian directly funding a foreign military? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/10 "2022-03-04T18:15:15Z")
Considering the US is giving weapons and intelligence to Ukraine and US citizens are allowed to go fight in Ukraine I wouldn’t think a private citizen donating money would be an issue. But with all things government, sometimes there are some horrible contradictions. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/11 "2022-03-04T18:25:53Z")
The Red Cross? UNHCR? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/12 "2022-03-09T20:37:14Z")
Here are several with high ratings that I have seen mentioned repeatedly across the Internet: [CARE](https://www.care.org/?_ga=2.261243908.826527929.1646858135-1780713017.1646858135) [International Medical Corps: First there, no matter where](https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/) [Direct Relief](https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/ukraine-crisis/) [UNICEF](https://www.unicefusa.org/) is another one, as is [World Central Kitchen](https://wck.org/). ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/13 "2022-03-09T21:51:58Z")
The local Public Radio station in Sacramento put together a list of charatible organizations working to help Ukraine. California based organizations, specifically. I would assume all the organizations on their list have been vetted by their reporters. > **[Here are California organizations supporting Ukraine](https://www.capradio.org/articles/2022/02/25/here-are-california-organizations-supporting-ukraine/)** > > If you’re hoping to get involved with groups providing aid to affected Ukranians, here are some ways to do so. ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2022, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/14 "2022-03-09T23:14:33Z")
We gave to Direct Relief, earmarking our contribution for efforts in Ukraine. Found out about this organization when we were donating our stimulus checks. Unlike most charities, they do not inundate your mailbox with requests for money and junk (like return address labels) that we end up just putting in the recycling bin. We ended up giving half of the stimulus money to Direct Relief and the other half to Feeding America (which does send us solicitations but [so far] not junk). We may put Direct Relief on our annual giving list. We won’t add Feeding America to the list because we already give to Northern Illinois Food Bank. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/15 "2022-03-10T01:22:46Z")
I gave to Direct Relief as well - I am delighted that they don’t spend most of my donations trying to get me to donate more. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/16 "2022-03-10T01:49:37Z")
The Ukrainian restaurant in NYC that was one of my fave hangouts in college has posted a [pretty good list.](https://linktr.ee/RazomForUkraine) I am up to almost $2k raised for World Central Kitchen on my little Facebook fundraiser. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/17 "2022-03-10T17:47:42Z")
I used Direct Relief as well. Their donation page was much earlier to use. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/18 "2022-03-10T21:16:22Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > The Ukrainian restaurant in NYC that was one of my fave hangouts in college has posted a [pretty good list.](https://linktr.ee/RazomForUkraine) (…) Hi Eva. For better or worse I sent some bucks to the Razom Emergency Response from your link. They aren’t rated by Charity Navigator, but their blog seemed sincere and informative – and they took PayPal. I’ve tried to do the Donate Directly to the Ukrainian Army, but they only accepted credit card or GPay. I couldn’t get GPay going on my Mac, and felt iffy about giving my card info. Maybe later I’ll contribute to a well-reviewed mainstream relief organization. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/19 "2022-03-10T21:36:18Z")
DEC and MSF are the two main ones. A charity a friend volunteers for and that I’m certain is legit provides phone credit for refugees. Donors send them money, the charity buy the credit (in bulk with a discount, I think) and sends it to vetted refugees so that they can access their bank accounts, make applications for visas, find the records they have saved in the cloud, contact their family and friends, etc. [https://www.pc4r.org/](https://www.pc4r.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2022, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240/20 "2022-03-10T23:49:46Z")
Thanks. As a lifelong pacifist, I haven’t been able to make myself donate to the military, but if there was ever a moment for it, this is that moment, for sure. For other folks who may want to donate to the Ukrainian military, [here’s another link](https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi) with account information for donations in various currencies (scroll down). Folks should also be able to do donations from anywhere via bank transfer if they like. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-donate-to-ukraine/960240.md?page=2)