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.

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 Giving. NGOsource 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) Ednannia is 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 Ukraine is 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 Foundations has 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 Group works 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. *

Read the full list of resources to help Ukraine at The Philanthropic Initiative.