Better Business Bureau

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, concerns continue to grow around current and potential emergency needs of the Ukrainian people. Generous donors want to help by supporting charities that are raising funds for assistance, but times of crises often flush out fraudsters waiting in the shadows to take advantage of high emotions and emergency situations.

Better Business Bureau offers the following tips for donors to consider, along with a list of BBB Accredited Charities that have announced Ukraine-related activities or plans on their websites.

“We certainly encourage generosity to help the people in Ukraine, but caution donors to avoid questionable appeals,” said Jane Rupp, President and CEO of BBB.

Tips for avoiding scams when giving to Ukraine

Can the charity get to the impacted area? Not all relief organizations will be positioned to provide relief quickly. See if the charity already has a presence in Ukraine.

Should you send clothing and food? Local drives to collect clothing and food to send overseas may not be practical as the logistics and timing to deliver and disperse such items will be challenging. Relief organizations are better equipped to obtain what is needed, distribute it effectively and avoid duplication of effort.

Does the relief charity meet BBB Charity Standards? You can verify a charity’s trustworthiness by viewing an evaluative report completed by BBB Wise Giving Alliance. See the list provided below of charities that are soliciting for relief assistance for Ukraine and that also meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

Is the charity experienced in providing emergency relief? Experienced disaster relief charities are the best bet to help deliver aid as soon as possible. New entrants may have difficulty in following through even if they have the best of intentions.

Does the appeal make exaggerated financial claims? Claims such as “100% will be spent on relief” should raise red flags. Charities have fundraising and administrative expenses. Any charity claiming otherwise is potentially misleading the donating public. Even a credit card donation will have a processing fee.

Are you considering crowdfunding appeals? If engaging in crowdfunding, it is safest to give to someone you personally know and trust, and review the platform’s policies regarding fees and distribution of collected funds. If the crowdfunding request is from a charity, check out the group by visiting Give.org. Keep in mind that some crowdfunding sites do very little vetting of individuals or organizations that decide to post for relief assistance. Sites that take security measures will usually provide descriptions of these procedures.

“We’re seeing a lot of crowdfunding appeals on social media, with requests to send money to help a person’s elderly parent, children, or themselves to escape the violence in Ukraine. We never like to imagine anyone would fake something like that, but it does happen. You have to be careful,” added Rupp.

Social media can help spread the word quickly for those in Ukraine who need assistance, but it can be difficult to verify the authenticity of these posts. If you see a post that also includes a link to donate, BBB recommends donors go instead to the charity’s website on their own to make a contribution.

More tips for making informed donation decisions

Variety of relief activities. Keep in mind that relief charities can be involved in a variety of different efforts (food distribution, shelter, medical care, etc.). See if the charity’s website provides a description of their planned efforts, if not ask for clarification. Don’t assume what they do based on their name alone.

Refugee destinations. The UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, reports that over a million people have left Ukraine to neighboring countries such as Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia. As more refugees are on the way, donors might also consider charities engaged in assisting refugees located in those specific countries.

Deducting donations. Relief charities that are based in the U.S. are eligible to receive contributions that are deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes. In general, donations to foreign-based charitable entities, such as those created and established in Ukraine, are not deductible. In addition, it is difficult to check out foreign-based organizations.

“The greatest risk is taken when a contributor seeks no verification before a donation is made,” Rupp said, noting that most charity scams seen at BBB happen during major events like natural disasters, tragedies, and holidays.

The following nationally-soliciting charities are BBB Accredited (i.e., they meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability). Their respective websites indicate that they are either currently raising funds for assistance efforts in Ukraine or preparing for needs that could arise if conflict results in population displacement.

Alight

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

Americares Foundation

CARE USA

Catholic Relief Services

CHC: Creating Healthier Communities

Direct Relief

Episcopal Relief & Development

Heart to Heart International

GlobalGiving

International Medical Corps

International Rescue Committee

MAP International

Matthew 25: Ministries

Medical Teams International

Mennonite Central Committee

Mercy Corps

Operation USA

Salvation Army

Save the Children

United Methodist Committee on Relief

United States Association for UNHCR